Need a quality ironing board
 

DH thinks it's hilarious that I am now shopping for an ironing board. I, who avoided ironing all these years, took up a hobby that requires lots and lots of ironing :D

I'd picked up an el-cheapo tabletop board when I started my first quilt. Now I need to find a real/full-size one to handle larger projects (especially since I prefer prewashing the fabrics before cutting, so I have yardage that needs ironing). I don't have a dedicated sewing space, so I need the traditional-type board that collapses and can be stored in a closet.

I looked online and reviews of the models currently sold at Target, BB&B, etc. are pretty poor. Even a $100 board at BB&B had complaints of rusting (and fabric staining) after only a few uses.

I realized that all my mentors here on Quilting Board were my best source for input. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's suggestions! Thanks!

Michelle

don't know what part of the country you are in, but I would wait until spring, go to garage or estate sales and look for a Mary Proctor double flip. Very sturdy with an extra large ironing surface.

I bought an expensive ironing board at Costco and I hate it. The built in iron rest catches the iron wire with every pass, and it is not large enough. Last month I made my own. My husband bought a piece of wood at Home Depot, the edges and surface were smooth. I covered the front and edges with four layers of cotton batting and stapled it to the back. I had cotton fabric, so I covered the whole front and sides and stapled again to the back. It is 24" x 48", and I keep it behind my bedroom dresser when not using it.

For all of my quilting ironing I took an old 24x48 folding table that had the top ruined. I than layered on 2 layers of insulbrite (?) and one layer of ironing board fabric. Turned the table over and staped down the edges on the underside. Makes just the right size of ironing board for my quilting fabric and it folds up and stored when I need extra room. (haven't done it yet, but the need may arise!!)

Several years ago I splurged on a Big Board which I use on my bed when I'm ironing quilt pieces (and reluctantly ironing other things too). I love it. There's no pointed edge, just a large flat surface. It's heavy duty but lightweight enough that I can put it away easily. I just stand it up on the side of my dresser and it's always there. It's also doubled as a bar (over a regular ironing board) and/or extra table when I've had company. One of my best investments.

I made one and I just sit it on top of my existing ironing board. I can take the big board off and lean it against the wall (or stow it under the bed) when I want to use my ironing board for shirts (rare).

I cut a sheet of 3/4" plywood 16.5" wide by 52" long (long enough for 44" fabric WOF and room to rest my iron). I then covered it with "Bo-Nash Iron Slide 2000" which is a stick-on silver thermal cover. The iron slide is 19" x 59" so I had enough to wrap around my 3/4" plywood and then around to the bottom on all edges. I then stapled it with a gun to secure it (highly suggested .... the reviews for it staying stuck on it's own are not that great). To clean it ... I just wipe it with a damp cloth.

I've had it on my board now for almost 3 years and it's perfect! Fabric slides easily when you want it to, it wipes clean easily, I never need to take it off to wash it like cloth covers, and with stapling it to the bottom edge it has stayed in place quite well.

Amazon and a few others are out of stock ... but I found it here ....

http://www.royalyarns.com/Bo-Nash-Ir...B_p_36298.html

My dad made me a board to go over my ironing board. I got the pattern off ebay. I did have him make it wider than the 22" it called for. He made it 24" X 60", enough to lay a fat quarter out and iron. I also covered it with the Bo-Nash Iron Slide as it comes in a large size also. Love my board.

My "big" board is 22 by 60 inches done with 3/4 inch plywood covered with batting and Insul Brite fabric. In the past, I have used cotton fabric but the Insul Brite is very durable and lasts longer. It used to sit on top of my Mary Proctor ironing board (my daughter has it now). Six years ago half our basement was finished off and most of it is my quilting space. I purchased a really neat dresser at Salvation Army and cleaned it up good and replaced the hardware drawer pulls, etc. The center has pull out drawers, perfect for threads. I use the back of the dresser to store rulers, etc. One of my better decisions!

I have a friend who recently bought one at Joann's - I think it was about $100 but she used a coupon and got it half off. She has had nothing but good things to say about it, it is very sturdy. Worth taking a look at

I got a Big Board a few years ago, and I love it! :)

Where did you find the extra large size? I would love to have one this size.

I have a homemade big board I made myself and a large stationary table I got a piece of melamine (my friend used plywood) cut at Home Depot. Covered it in 2 layers of Warm and Natural and one layer of ironing board fab (she used cotton duck). I have telescoping legs from Ikea to make it just the right height for me. The big board I take to quilting groups with me

I've seen a video of how to make your own custom board especially for quilters (sorry I can't remember if it was on here or YouTube). The person did what others have suggested and got a piece of plywood the desired size and some bolts from the hardware store. Their new piece of plywood has padding put on it, people here have suggested insul bright but people I know (including Ricky Tims at one of his seminars) have suggested going to the thrift store and getting one of the wool (often grey) army surplus style blankets. several layers of this go onto the board and top it off with good quality drill cotton. Attach it to the back of the plywood with heavy duty staple gun or upholstery tacks. Lay it on the floor padded side down. Take your current ironing board and remove the cover and any padding, turn it upside down and put it on top of your new custom made top (so the top of the metal ironing board will be facing the back of your new plywood top). Take the bolts that you purchased with the plywood and screw them through the metal of your old ironing board into the back of your new custom top (you may be able to use existing holes in the ironing board or you may need to enlarge them).
At the end of the process you will have your own great custom made ironing board top that's nice and flat, but still able to be folded up if necessary.
If I find the video, I will post a link so all of this makes more sense :)

Great suggestions for the home made board toppers - first I have to get an actual collapsible ironing board, though. I don't have a normal-height dresser or desk to put one on and no room for a permanent freestanding base, hence my original question about what's a good brand/model. My current setup is a small, cheap portable board on the kitchen counter which makes ironing yardage somewhat challenging.

I will try the garage sales (and thrift stores) for a classic one. We live in a suburban area in Texas where the garage and yard sales seem to be mostly kids clothes and toys.

Thanks!

Michelle

I bought this one. I knew I had to have this board when I used one at a guild workshop. Yes my guild has this board!!!!! http://www.reliablecorporation.com/P...ome-Tables/C88

I have a 2' x 2' piece of wood that I covered with batting and fabric and I don't use it on my existing ironing board but rather anywhere I want it. I used to put it on my spare bed but I like the height of the my kitchen counter so I usually put the board on there. It's awesome.

I too have a homemade big board that DH made for me out of plywood & I covered it with several layers of old sheeting fabric. I keep it ontop of a storage cabinet in my cutting room. It's portable & large enough to iron fairly big pieces of fabric. I use my regular ironing board for my husband's shirts where I need a tapered end on the board but my main board is my big board.

I have a homemade big board also that someone local made. I keep it behind my couch. I have a table that is adjustable for heights, and when I want to use my big board, I get out my table, and raise it to the highest height.

My ironing board dates back to the 1970's. it is yellow. No rust. Nothing is built to last anymore. Sad.
Sandy

My GF made herself a large "table mat" type ironing cover that fits her table with all the leaves in so she can iron her yardage. Just a thought.

I just had an run of the mill ironing board that I made my own cover with heat resis material inside and pretty fabric on the out...that being said, it is a pain when ironing big quilts but works great in everything else....big boards???....now i have something else to google and maybe purchase...haha....