In case you missed it, here the tutorial I recently guest-posted at Thrive:
Let's talk a bit about my ahem *cough* ironing board *cough*
OK ... it's horrible, not dirty but sadly a couple of burn marks and goop from Wonderunder, hem tape and other interfacing oopsies made it look pretty embarrassing. That doesn't wash off. Paying $15 for an ugly new ironing board cover.... nope, paying $25-30 for a cute one, I don't think so. So I made one the Thrive way: I only used what I had in my stash. This is how:
Before you get started:
Measure the width and length of your ironing board, and add twice the thickness + 1 inch for the sewing allowance. For me it came down to 20"x 54".
Measure the perimeter of your ironing board and add 1/2 inch for the sewing allowance. For me: 122".
Supplies (substitute your own measurements):
- 20"x54"cotton fabric
Pieced fabric is OK (unless you are fussy like me about pressing seams for sewing like me that's 99% of the ironing I ever do). I used a donated home decor fabric remnant (55" wide) but you can use most cotton fabrics. No synthetic fibers: Remember it shouldn't melt when you use the iron on it.
- fabric strip 122" long by 2/12 to 3 inch wide. Can be the same as the top
A fat quarter is enough to make the length needed here. If you are friends with a quilter, that's the type of strips used to bind quilts. I had some left overs from a previous quilt. You will have to piece several shorter strips together to make up the whole length.
- string or ribbon - about 12 foot long
I had a pack of old bias tape that I zig-zag stitched to make the length but cotton packing string works fine.
- your sewing gear - including a sewing machine
- OPTIONAL: Left over cotton batting 20"x54"
Quilters always have smaller pieces left over from large quilts, you can even piece several together using a wide zigzag stitch to make the size but if you keep the old cover underneath you won't need this.Ready ? Let's tackle the job:
- Take the "ugly beast" and lay it upside down on your fabric
- Trace the outline with an extra allowance for the thickness of you ironing board plus 1/4 inch for seam allowance.
- Cut the fabric following the outline
- Repeat with the batting (optional)
- Take the long fabric strip and fold it in half lengthwise
- Use your
nastyold ironing board cover one last time to press it- Cut to size (i.e. perimeter of the ironing board + 1/2")
- Press the ends folding 1/4 inch in and hem them
- Place the batting and top fabric pieces together (again - optional)
- Pin the folded strip as shown starting in the middle of the square end of the board
- Stitch all the way around with 1/4 inch allowance
Now we are getting somewhere
- Use a safety pin to thread your string/ribbon through the channel
- Put your pretty cover on your ugly beast, tighten and knot the ribbon/ string
And there it is all prettified
One last look at the before and after
Much better right ?