Friday, April 29

Tutorial - Ironing board cover

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 nasty old 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 ?

19 comments:

  1. What a great fix!!

    Thanks for stopping by and linking up!

    Ashley
    www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh, I am so in NEED to fix my board as well. Thanks for the tute. It will help me a lot!

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  3. Very cute! I' just started my ironing board redo! Excited now to finish it.

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  4. Very nice. Perhaps one of these days my ugly ironing board will overcome my laziness, and I will be back to look at your instructions more closely.

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  5. Yes, so much better! I need a new cover for mine, too, but I can't sew! lol

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  6. I just found your blog and am your newest follower. Thanks for creating such an inspiring and fun place to visit. Ironing board cover looks AMAZING!!

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  7. Great post! I just did the same thing with my steam press ironing board cover, only I purchased drill cloth for the cover and used ironing board batting. But I bought everything with a 40% off coupon at Joann's so that's a savings!

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  8. I need to do this--right.now! My current cover looks exactly like your before pic. Thanks for sharing this tutorial!

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  9. Wow! Thanks for sharing! You did a great job! Your newest follower. Hope you can visit me sometime.

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  10. Girl, we have the exact same ironing board! My came with a really ugly floral print fabric on it though. I have loads of burn marks pieces of melted stitch witchery and glitter that will not wash out. This tutorial is perfect for me, thank you so much!

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  11. Ohhh... YES! thank you for the tutorial! My ironing board is just embarassingly awful and I need a new cover badly!

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  12. Great tutorial! Please stop by www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party!

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  13. Stopping by from QuiltStory - thanks for posting this, I had an *ehem* inncident with my ironing board cover this week and was JUST thinking I should make a new cover. Now I know how!

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  14. Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I have been wanting to recover my ironing board forever!!! I'm a new followers of yours--love your blog. I'd love if you linked up to Sew Woodsy!

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  16. I am so glad I found this because I was just thinking that my board really needs a new cover!

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  17. Great tutorial!! This is on my list of things to do. Stopping by from A Little Knick Knack EBTKS. Your post caught my eye. I'm your newest follower too.

    This is what I shared this week:
    http://craftybrooklynarmywife.blogspot.com/2011/05/wool-buffalo-check-coat-finished.html

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  18. I've seen a lot of tutorials, but I think yours is the best - I love the binding to form a casing - much simpler than making an even casing around the main fabric. I have mine all cut out, so now i'm off to sew!

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