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.

I used the silver stuff -it's on an ironing pad that I use on my cutting table so it's washable. No problems so far.

My old experience wants a hard surface to press on. If the padding is too soft or has some give and cushion, it is to soft. Being soft will distort fabrics when pressing them.

My Ironing station is 5/8" thick plywood w/ holes drilled in it for steam to escape and covered w/ one layer of warm & natural batting and a cover of a heavy cotton muslin. It works great for me.
peace

EDIT: If I am using starch I will lay another piece of muslin over the board in the area where I am using starch. This absorbs the extra starch and I can just throw it in the wash and re use it with out having to change the whole cover.

My ironing station is big. About 3'w x 4.5'l. I love it. Great for ironing yardage.

What do you use if you have an ironing board that pulls the steam through? I have a Pfaff board. The board came with a foam pad, but the top was more of an open weave, not tight like canvas. The board is a real odd size.

I use a Steady Betty when pressing quilt blocks and pieces. For yardage I have plain cotton fabric on a big board. I have used duck canvas and I like it. Put the cover on wet and let it dry and it will be tight on the board.

What is a Steady Betty?

I purchased pillow ticking at Joann's. I liked it better than the canvas or the duck cloth. I do prefer a thicker pad than is mentioned here -- but that's me. I bought this one from Joann's with a coupon and am very happy with it.
http://www.joann.com/heavy-duty-ultr...prd_10687572a/

Plywood, cotton batting, pre washed flannel. Done!

I bought some of that silver stuff and it stuck to my iron on the highest settings. I've never had a commercially made ironing board cover of that fabric to stick like that. I am glad I tried it out before I stapled it down. My board now consists of 1" thick plywood, a layer of heavy duty foil, two layers Warm & Natural, topped of with some blah old cotton twill the color of dirty dishwater. (I think it is supposed to be blue?) I didn't have any other use for it but it made a perfect cover for the board. When it gets dirty, I will make a new cover with elastic to pop over that one.

My mom had a layer of cotton batting covered with heavy canvas then over that she put a couple layers made of sections of old sheets that were traded out periodically.

This was for one of those nifty old ironing boards that folded up into a cabinet recessed in the wall of the kitchen.

I used a Terry cloth towel for my covering... as nothing slides off , it holds blocks in place when pressing( so no stretching) and I take it off and wash it frequently. Its amazing how fast an ironing board cover can get dirty. When I first put it back on after a wash I just run the iron over it once , and its smooth but enough friction to hold things in place.

http://www.steadybetty.com/

I have a steady betty but have found that cotton duck works just as well for keeping fabrics from slipping all over the place. It's inexpensive, widely available, and if you don't prewash it, with a good spritzing of water it will shrink tightly around your ironing board for a perfect fit.

More than 10 years ago, DH and I made the Big Board, using plywood, cotton batting and canvas type muslin. Since then I have replaced the cover whenever it gets gross :D:D:D. I've used different cotton fabrics and the silver ironing board material (which is on the board right now). They all work fine for me. The cotton batting is still good. Love it.

I was also told to make one, you needed to use a thicker wood like 5/8" pressboard and drill holes, cover with a layer of warm & natural batting, then staple on a layer of cotton duck. This would keep the wood from warping when you use steam and be hard enough to get a good press. I have 2---one is smaller that I take to classes and applique day, and the other is about 18"X24" that I can sit on kitchen island. I LOVE mine!

DH made me a big board ironing board several years ago and I love it. I did use the silver ironing board material. Works great!

I just made one using Sharon Schamber's advice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGbXou_u4c

The only thing I did differently was I used a home dec fabric from Joann. I thought it would be fun to look at when I'm pressing. I bought a precut board at Home Depot 24x48" x 1/2" thick to keep the weight down and I love it!! By getting the 1/2" thick board instead of 3/4" it isn't too heavy for me to move from one room to another as needed. Sometimes I use it in my sewing room and other times I put it on my kitchen counter.

I used 1 layer of warm & natural, a layer of the silver stuff, then a layer of 100% cotton home decor fabric. (Because it's pretty) I just love mine.

I always heard in the quilting industry that you should have holes in the board to let the steam go through, and to never use insulbrite because it doesn't breathe. (downside- I sit while ironing and steamed burns in my knee twice:()
Does it matter really?

So much great information. I have been meaning to take a wooden TV tray table and make it into a small ironing board - and this has helped with that idea greatly. I have 2 portable cutting mats/ironing surfaces besides my ironing board, but they take up room on my sewing table. Wanted to have something "on its own", and I saw a few who have made a pressing table from a TV table, looked good to me. Now I know what to cover it with. Thanks!

I'm looking for a picture of a changing table that was made into an ironing board. The name of the thread was something about her husband, I think. I've used the search tool for ironing board but can't seem to locate it. Carpenter wants it this a.m.
Marcia

In the new Quilting Quickley magazine, there is a photo demo for making an ironing board. They use a towel for batting and do not use the reflective or silver fabric.

I made mine with plywood, then silver lining, a layer of warm and natural, and on top a heavier cotton. It works great. My thinking was the silver lining would keep the moisture from damaging the plywood.

I have made many ironing boards. My family owned a drapery manf. company and we had 4x10 tables!! Since then I have one that is 2x4 3/4" plywood with pipe fittings on the bottom so I can put galvanized pipe into and have a separate board. I originally used the horsehair padding that an upholsterer uses, then a layer of thick batting, then canvas. I have made one for my travel trailer that is 15" x 3' x 3/4", it is padded with a thick layer of cotton batting scraps and whatever batting fit, then covered it with canvas and stretched and stapled all on the back. I used the small one when I am sewing blocks and need an ironing board next to me. It works great to iron a white shirt on in a fifth-wheel too!

plywood ,thin layer cotton batting and canvas. I love mine!

I have a wooden TV table (the kind that usually come in a set of 4) that I purchased at WalMart. I put a layer of Insulbright, a single layer of cotton batting, the Teflon material, then a muslin cover. I stapled each layer on separately. Now, the muslin is brown and fraying from using starch when I press, so I will probably cut it off and make myself a couple covers with elastic so that I can take them off and wash them. I keep it set up next to my machine and it is great to take to retreats and workshops.

I bought a portable ironing "pad" from Nancy's Notions years ago that is silver on one side and foam on the other. I wasn't really quilting back then and found out very 'quickly' (when I was too lazy to set up ironing board) that a 'burst of steam' from my iron burned my fingers! Can you say hot! The silver reflects the heat back ... but it also reflects the steam back!

Not sure if this will be helpful or not, but I made a small ironing board to use next to my sewing machine so I wouldn't have to drag out my full size ironing board. I used a layer of Warm and Natural over a piece of very thick card board from a box that came with something my DH purchased. I then used a layer of the silver thermal fabric over that, which seems to be working well, as the silver thermal fabric I've used to make pot holders. If you're worried about stains, you could just add a piece of muslin over the top, tape or tack it down and when it gets dirty, take it off and wash it. Hope this is helpful.

I just redid my ironing board. Three layers of batting and the cover is the silver and that's what I had before. I usually put long sheet of backing paper from the pelon iron on interfacing on before I spray starch. I also use the ironing sheets.

I have a big board that fits over my ironing board that has pillow tick on it. I just love it and the lines helps keeping my strips and blocks stright.

Mine has a layer of warm and natural, then a layer of the silver ironing fabric and then a layer of heavy cotton fabric, I mitered the corners (since my board folds) to make it much easier to make the cover tight when laying flat

Well let me tell you I made an emergency one. I had the opportunity to go to a quilt retreat but I only had 2 hours notice. I asked my husband for a piece of plywood about 18x18. I took and old towel, doubled it and duck taped it to the back of the board. Then I took an old pillowcase and shoved the towel covered board into the pillowcase and folded the excess around the back and taped that down with duck tape too. Well, that thing is AWESOME!! Not fancy but it works like a charm and I use it all the time now.