Ironing board cover
 

My big board needs recovering. Before I had a layer of batting then a silver cover I got from JoAnns. I've been reading on here about wool pressing mats. I was gifted a very large piece of black wool. Now I have a layer of batting with the wool on top, not tacked down yet. Should it be left like this and tacked down or could I put a silver cover on top? I use a lot of Best Press if that matters.

I would just cover it with a sturdy cotton fabric. I have my wool pressing mat covered with ticking, the kind with the woven stripes. I like the stripes as it makes it easy to keep the patches straight, especially long strips.

I haven't used those silver covers in years. I just use the heavy cotton ones from Joann. They work really well. I have a wool blanket that I've been meaning to put under my cover on my ironing board.

I don't think it matters whether you put a cotton cover or silver on top, next to the iron.
All personal preference .... some will swear either ways is the best!

I'm not even certain myself. The last time I changed things up, I put the silver stuff (sorry, don't know what they call it!) as I was convinced by the LQS that it was the answer.

I use a lot of Best Press too .... either ways, the fabrics need to be changed up and washed with the excess Best Press.

For the silver (again because of the LQS) I had stapled mine onto my big board ... it eventually got coated, and I scrubbed it down and it seemed to be fine. I have quite a build up again, and need to go at it and scrub. Not sure how well it will clean off this time?


I'd be happy to hear comments from others re Best Press and the silver.
Please? and Thanks!

Thanks for these answers. The main reason I was thinking silver is because you can get them at JoAnns to fit a big board and it has a drawstring.

My first cover for the big board was ticking cause I liked having those stripes to go by but replaced it with the silver fabric. Now my iron just glides smoothly. Before my ticking got so stained from starch. Now I should think I won't have that issue. Should be able to wipe the cover after each use of starch. I did leave the ticking cover underneath so added cushion.

I use the home made vodka substitute for best press and it works wonderfully. I put it in a small cosmetic spray bottle and spray the seams as I piece.

Make sure that whatever you use doesn't block the heat and steam from penetrating to the wool. The whole idea of the wool pad is to reflect both back to your block so you press from both sides, not make it cushy. Putting a reflective metallic cover over the pad may defeat the purpose.

Vodka spray? What is that?

Also, what silver pad? Is this the stuff you use in making pot holders?

I don't know how to make the vodka starch. The silver pad is an iron board cover you can buy for regular ironing boards and for big boards with elastic or a drawstring. I think you can also buy the fabric if you want to make your own.

Um....are you sure that your wool is 100% wool? I once used wool to make an ironing board cover, and it looked really great. Until the hot iron touched it and melted it all over my iron. That stuff STINKS! :( It was 80% wool, and 20% not wool.
I have a new iron now....
:/

I just took the old cover off, and used it for a pattern. I sewed 3/4” bias tape loosely to the edges, and ran 1/4 inch elastic inside the bias tape. Much easier to wash than the ones with the ties. I now have two so I can use one and wash the other. I did use the idea of 1” gingham for the second one for keeping lines straight on the second one, the first is just stripes. Both work great. I have two layers of 100% cotton batting under the covers.

Here's a trick I used to keep the cover snug on my big board. I use elastic in a casing around the edge and then use lengths of elastic with a "mitten" clip stitched on each end. I just clip the elastic on the saggy area and bring the other clip to the other side and clip again.
I usually cover with duck cloth but love the idea of ticking. Next re-vamp, ticking! Thanks for the idea.

Being from a part of Texas where it rarely snows, what is a mitten clip & where can I get them?

I use a heavyweight unbleached muslin on my ironing board with cotton batting and one layer of insulbrite, when I use one. I recently bought my first wool mat for using at sew days and liked it so much I bought a second one for my sewing room.

You could also use some of those "mattress pad garters" they sell to hold the corners of the mattress pad or fitted sheets. I bought some maybe 20 years ago so maybe they don't sell them anymore. They were clips attached to bands of elastic. Come to think of it, my Mom used something similar on her ironing board so maybe they sell some specificially for ironing boards. Or, if you happen to have an old garter belt....

Vodka Starch
1 1/2 c. vodka
2 1/2 c. liquid starch
1 gal. distilled water.
Mix and shake well.
Put into bottles.

[QUOTE=Conchalea;8030712]Being from a part of Texas where it rarely snows, what is a mitten clip & where l.p.can I get home

on my big board, i use a piece of white cotton broadcloth and anchor it with three or four strips of elastic (running it under the ironing board) safety pinned to the broadcloth.

i wash the cover every so often because it gets cruddy - and i am not a starch/sizing fanatic.

The silver stuff for ironing board covers has always claimed to be Teflon coated.

Conchalea:
I know, I live in Upstate SC and we don't have much need for mittens either....I first used them to make a pacifier clip for a baby. One end of ribbon attaches to the pacifier, the other end gets a mitten clip to attach to baby's clothes. Falls out of their mouth but not to the floor. I had a few left over and came up with the idea of clipping on the ironing board cover. I think I got mine at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joanns, maybe even Walmart in the sewing notions department. Here is a link to Michaels that show what they look like.

http://www.michaels.com/suspender-mi...RoC5TMQAvD_BwE

Oh and I never thought of suspender clips until I saw these labeled as such.

There are tons on ebay. They call them "sheet grippers". You can get them fairly cheaply...this listing has them 4 for $1.07...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Great-4-x-B....c100505.m3226

Thank you! I ordered them.

You're quite welcome! As an afterthought...if they are too short for the widest part of your board, just cut them in half and sew a doubled up strip of material in between the 2 elastic ends..fast, and easy.