[QUOTE=mengler;7832193]
I don't have room in either of the rooms that I use for studio space, or I'd d something like that., but my board is fairly light weight so I can move it on and off the cutting table as needed. One thing I'd do different is look for a longer and wider board, mine's only 40 inches long and 14 inches wide. But it was a freebie, so I can't complain. I did dream the ther night that I had a 10 foot x 10 foot board-- it was really nice- I could iron an entire quilt top without having to shuffle it around, but it was hard to pick up and put on my cutting table LOL. Come to think of it, I woke up before finding out if I my arms would stretch enough to reach the center :shock:

Rob

I recently captured a wonderful BIG ironing board at Saver's. I love it. It cost me about 10% of what a similar board would cost new. Best of all, it has sturdy legs with grippy rubber caps that spread out enough to give me the kind of stability that I have never had before in an ironing board. I liked it so much that I made it 2 covers right away, so I can wash one without any inconvenience. I have one of those shelves underneath and I love it. I put a light basket on the shelf with my pressing cloths and spray starch. I even keep a pair of scissors in that basket for snipping tails. It also has a metal shelf on the end for the iron when not in use (that's where I keep a spray bottle of water). Look for features that will make your quilting easier--stability, size, handy features, and height adjustment and you'll find the right ironing board for you!

When I want to press something large, I just lay the wool blanket I bought for 50 cents at an estate sale over the end of one of the tables in my sewing room. It works just fine. I don't especially like that silver ironing board cover fabric anyway and don't have one of those covers on my regular board. The wool seems to work really well.

Does the wool blanket protect the table? I tried one of those ironing pads that you're supposed to be able to put on any surface and it works great on my dryer which is metal, but when I tried using it on my table, the heat on f the iron went through and caused the finish of the table to turn white (oops). That's why I went with a board covered in batting and ironing board fabric. What don't you like about the silver ironing board cover fabric?

Rob

I've turned my table white also. I don't remember what I had on the table, but I know I didn't have the iron on there very long. My granddaughter has the table now. It was a tall table with four tall chairs.

I have an old ironing board, don't even know the brand. I also have an ironing board my daughter and son-in-law made for me that is wider and can be used for ironing or cutting fabric - it folds up and attaches to the wall with a heavy duty magnet - I love it. It's from wood, covered with batting and fabric.

The "big board" - which I truly love - does not work out well for ironing shirts. I am wondering if placing a small portable ironing board on top of a big board would work out for ironing shirts? (I suppose I could go downstairs and actually try it out to see if it works - but I rarely iron shirts now.)

I have an old one from the 70's and love it. It's sturdy, doesn't wobble around, and when raised into position, it stays there. We (us ladies in the family) were just talking about ironing on the weekend when company was over, and I was surprised at how few still iron.

I have a "regular" ironing board in Florida - purchased at a thrift store - it's a big wider than "average" - but I did find a "ready made" cover for it. I will iron DH's pants and/or shirts when I need some brownie points with him.

Wow! I love the Parker board with shoulder wings. Looks like it would be handy in pressing fabric as well.