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From: pucktricks
Date: 08-03-2005, 06:30 PM (1 of 16)
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So, I was wanting to create a bigger ironing surface. I had this brilliant idea (and that is said with great sarcasm). Here's my thought: I would take a board of some sort and cut it to the size I want, which I haven't measured yet. Then I would cover it with a piece of foam an inch or so thick, and then a layer of batting and then the cloth. I would then staple this on. My thinking behind this is I like the fact that my current ironing board I can pin into it, using normal stick pins (no bead on it or anything), but I'd like a larger surface (and yes I know about the big board you can order from Keepsake, but I'd like to create one that would fit in perfectly in the area I have). So, what do ya'll think of my plan? Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
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From: paroper
Date: 08-03-2005, 07:50 PM (2 of 16)
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For years my mother had an old woolen blanket that she covered our ironing board with and then used an old worn-out sheet pinned underneath to cover it. When the sheet became stained, she would unpin and put a new one on. Over the years I guess the woolen blanket probably shrank and fluffed, but it worked great and gave a solid paded surface underneath.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: mamagoose
Date: 08-03-2005, 09:39 PM (3 of 16)
| I have both a 20 year-old metal board and an early 1900's wooden one. I prefer the wooden one for sewing. It is extra wide and firm. I have it covered with a very thin cotton batting and a cotton calico top. I've use nail tacks underneath to hold the fabric in place. If you make it too thick you get too much resiliency and can't get a good firm press on seams and such. I've used metal boards that give way too much which is a real problem. Ironing boards are not all created equal no matter what the time period. I think making your own is a great idea. 1/2 - 3/4 inch plywood would work. Good luck! |
User: mamagoose
Member since: 01-26-2002 Total posts: 168 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-04-2005, 07:15 AM (4 of 16)
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I think it is a great idea. I love my table with an ironing cover over it. I put rotary cutter mats on top make it a cutting table too. But it was outrageously expensive and I think you can have something just as good or even better to suit your needs if you make it yourself. Let us know how it turns out. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 08-04-2005, 09:57 AM (5 of 16)
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I have to say, I don't think foam would be a good idea. Woollen blankets and a cover are fine.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: blackie
Date: 08-04-2005, 10:30 AM (6 of 16)
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I agree with Mary - no foam. The woolen blanket idea sounds like a good one. I have a big, scary, metal industrial-sized ironing board that I got from a local quilting shop when they moved. It is adjustable height and big. It's cover is a homemade one. It is stained and I want to replace it but I'm scared to start! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-04-2005, 12:00 PM (7 of 16)
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I have a commercial canvas ironing board cover that is foam backed as well as one of those silver ones for my table that is foam backed. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 08-04-2005, 12:45 PM (8 of 16)
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I made an ironing board sorta. I took and old flat door, removed all the hardware. I put batting on first, then a layer of the silver backed material you can buy to make oven mitts, then a layer of material for the top. Out of the hole that the door knob handle was in, I slip the electric cord from my iron into that plus a hook to keep the cord in the air. Where that hole was I cut out a hole in the batting, did like a round buttonhole, but it was bigger for the top two layers. I placed all of this on legs, and put coasters on them that locked. It was big but at the time I had a huge room for sewing. I also have the table from JoAnn's that you can fold into a skinny table with the ironing mat. This is what I am using now and I like it for big projects.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Sancin
Date: 08-04-2005, 01:57 PM (9 of 16)
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I think the foam 'rubber' in commercial ironing board covers is a special type of foam. I purchased one at a fair once that was being demonstrated with someone ironing directly on it. It tore when I put it on my ironing board (sucker born every minute). There seems to be 'foam' shops cropping up lately with new foam mattresses - a phone call to one would give you info if safe to iron on. Apparently there are a lot of different foams - as I found out when trying to purchace a new ottoman top.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: oklahomanana
Date: 08-05-2005, 04:35 PM (10 of 16)
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I got 2 empty fabric bolts from WMART (they trash this and are free for the asking) I have also gotten them from Joannes, and Hancocks. Duct tape them together along the longest sides. Then I covered my front side with 3 layers of warm and natural batting. This is thin but good batting. Then I covered with some muslin fabric. I made a sleeve for it, much like a pillow case and then taped it closed on one end. I then did the final covering with that ironing board cover stuff you can get at Joanne's. Looks just like that silver stuff on ironing boards. All is duct taped to the back. Not the prettiest board in the world on the backside but hey who is looking at the backside, right? This fits very nicely on my cutting table which is a long church fellowship table I call it. My Hubby jacked up the legs for me with PVC pipe and it is at my height I need to keep me from straining my back. I can cut fabric for a vry long time and not be wore out! My table I got from Sam's Club and it was around 35.00. My ironing board was cheap to make, and I have it down at one end, and my large cutting mat at the other end. I turn around and there is my sewing machine all ready to go. All close together for me. Hope this helps ya with some ideas One of the best gifts to give a child/grandchild is your listening ear.
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User: oklahomanana
Member since: 09-07-2004 Total posts: 406 
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From: oklahomanana
Date: 08-05-2005, 04:37 PM (11 of 16)
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Ladies, When I get those empty fabric bolts from Wmart, If you will cut them in half, they will serve as nice fabric bolts to store your fabric on on your shelves. You have to re fold your fabric to get it to fit, but looks nice to me.
One of the best gifts to give a child/grandchild is your listening ear.
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User: oklahomanana
Member since: 09-07-2004 Total posts: 406
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From: blackie
Date: 08-05-2005, 05:04 PM (12 of 16)
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Great tips, oklahomomanana! This thread has inspired me to re-cover my ironing board. It is just a large board bolted to an industrial-looking ironing board. It has some batting and tightly woven linen-ish fabric stapled to it. Nothing heat reflective. Can I do the same treatment, with batting and a quilting cotton? I like the idea of using a cute fabric, and refinishing it every couple years. It is such a large part of my sewing room, it would be nice if it looked good. Anyone think this would be a bad idea? Do I have to have a special fabric? The board has served me well w/o it, the last couple years (got it from a quilt shop when they went out of business, it was their classroom board). http://kelly.hogaboom.org/images/20050805ironingboard.jpg http://kelly.hogaboom.org/images/20050805boardcloseup.jpg see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: Longblades
Date: 08-06-2005, 03:26 PM (13 of 16)
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Blackie, why not? The cotton will wear out sooner than your linen did, can't take as high a heat but is easily replaced. My ironing board is neat, it has "wings" at the narrow end that can extend to make the board rectangular. This is great for ironing bolts of fabric but I can no longer find pre-made covers to fit it. So, I made my own with a thrift store wool blanket, shrunk all up to be nice and tight. And I like the silver heat reflective stuff for the top. Cat hair doesn't stick to the silver like it can on the cotton or linen and I often have a feline "helper" with me. I too put my olfa cutting board stuff on my ironing board. Perhaps my batting layer is too thick but the cutting board is just about done from the pressure going through it and sinking into the batting. Now I put another piece of board, the leftover bit of counter top from a double sink cut out, on the ironing board first. |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 08-06-2005, 08:47 PM (14 of 16)
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Kelly, I took off my old cover, undid all the stitching and used it as a pattern for my new cover. It worked great.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: xraylady65
Date: 08-08-2005, 08:25 AM (15 of 16)
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I had found at a yard sale and old iron baord that I thought was really neat. It was 14x48. But the cool thing about it was the one corner. It folds down for a triangular edge or leave it up for a rectangular edge. But I could not find a cover to fit it anywhere. So I made my own. Laid it upside down on floor and drew around it on newspaper then added 2 inches on each side. Folded down an inch put a drawstring in it. Before I put it on the board I took old beach towels put them on the board, used the elastic tabs you buy to keep your sheet corners in place to the bottom side of the towels and then put the new cover on, pulled up the drawstring till it was tight and viola it was done. Ann xraylady |
User: xraylady65
Member since: 08-06-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: MaryW
Date: 08-08-2005, 10:02 AM (16 of 16)
Xraylady, hi and welcome to Sew Whats New. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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