Making Your Own Ironing Board--Did you use canvas or silver ironing fabric?
 

I am getting ready to make my own custom ironing board that will fit on my kitchen island (3 feet by 4 feet). I purchased a few yards of silver ironing board fabric from Joann's but have seen on a number of blogs and "how to" videos that most people are using canvas.

Is there a reason to use one or the other? I thought the silver fabric stays cooler so you don't burn your hands as much when picking up the pressed blocks, etc.? The silver fabric I got is pretty thin though so I'm not sure if I should look for a higher quality one somewhere else. I'm thinking I'll make a small iron pad first to see how it works.

If you made your own iron board/pad, did you use one, two or more thicknesses of batting? Sharon Shamber used only one thin layer of batting for hers--she says it is best to have a hard surface. However, I saw lots of other blogs/video use 3 to even 5 layers of batting.

If I decide to use canvas, is there a particular kind I should search for (or quality type)?? Thanks.

I have taken a couple of classes from nationally known teachers and they all say to take that silver stuff off your ironing board because it's slippery. I have cotton duck on my board and it grips nicely so I don't get distortion when I press. It has one layer of a felted type cotton padding that's not much thicker than one layer of cotton batting.

I covered mine with the silver stuff but I cover that with an old sheet so I can take it off and wash it when it gets stiff from all the starch I use, been working good for about 5 years now. I tie a piece of elastic around the sheet on the table to hold it in place.

I put one layer of warm & natural and then one layer of the insulbrite and then topped it with a heavy cotton twill for my "big board" and it works great. Mine is all stapled onto a sheet of plywood & sits over my regular ironing board. IF the top gets too discoloured, I will just add another layer of the cotton twill. I don't like a really soft surface to iron on and this is perfect for me. Good luck with yours!

I used a layer of Warm n Natural and covered that with duck cloth (unwashed). Mine is stapled on; I would not use duck cloth if you are making a cover that will be taken off and washed.

I think Sharon Schamber is correct and a hard surface works better for quilting. You can get the seams flatter. Cushioning is more important for embroidery.

Thin plywood 38" x 28".
Covered with plastic garbage bag - one layer.
One layer Warm and Natural batting.
One layer silver ironing board fabric.

My mom used the silver stuff and its now lifting off onto her fabric when she starches. I used the canvas with 1 layer of 100% cotton batting and it works great! It does grip your blocks to help cut down on distortion while pressing.

I used 2 layers of warm and natural - and made a pillowcase out of cotton duck that fits snugly, but can be taken off and washed if I want - I just did it with a 2x2 piece of underlayment - not too big, but big enough .

plywood, cotton batting, and canvas on mine.