kwhite

I have a desk I am going to use as an ironing table when the room finally gets done, but I have looked all over the net for the metalic ironing board fabric in yard form but can't find it. Instead I think I am going to use Gingham so I have the squares to use for measuring/squaring. My issue is what to put under it for the best ironing results. I hate ironing so I would like it to be as painless as possible. should I use all cotton batting only, Wool blanket, Foil, Foam???? What do you use and why? Thanks

Shemjo

I am curious to see the answers for this. :?

fabuchicki

I got this from Sharon Schamber's book, Piec-lique. I got a piece of 3/8 inch plywood, covered it with all cotton batting, fusible web and then a piece of fairly thin canvas. I put in on a folding table a friend found cast off somewhere and it works like a charm! I used to paint and I think I got that canvas at an artist's supply store. It is more firm than the regular ironing board and a better shape for making my art quilts. Also I don't have room for that long board in my studio and anyhow, the regular ironing board too high. This is right next to my machine in an "L" shape so I can just turn to the side and iron. When I'm not using the board I move it and use the table as a desk or I put the cutting mat there for a cutting table.

butterflywing

when i redid my sewing cave, dh set up an unfinished door, 30" wide and full length, across a dresser and other assorted cubbies, on top. i covered the door with old wool army blankets, washed and dried several times, wrapped around and stapled. lots of staples. then i covered the whole thing with heavyweight muslin. i can iron large pieces or small. i can put my largest cutting mat on it. i can cover it with all kinds of junk so i can't find anything.
but i wouldn't use muslin again. it stretches as i press with steam. i plan to recover it with....what? anything cotton will have the same result. i don't like those silver-coated fabrics. they don't let the steam through.

i must say, the door takes up nearly the whole cave, but i don't have far to go to use it LOL! and it's worth it's weight in gold.

peaceandjoy

I love the concept of the "Big Board," but wouldn't spend the $ on one. Nor do I really have room... So what I did was to get a 3/4" thick piece of wood from Lowe's (they will cut for you if needed, 1 cut free, I think 25 cents/cut after that), had it cut 2'x3'. I wanted to put it on top of a table I had purchased at Walmart, which was about 18" by 2', has X legs and is white plastic on top. Not big enough, but the next size is too big. I originally bought it as a work table, and had a portable Omni pressing mat on it, but didn't like the set up or size.

Next, I took a 2"x1" and cut it into lengths that are about 1/2 the length of each of the 4 sides of the board. Putting the board on the floor, wrong side up if there is one, I centered the table upside down over it and drew a line at the outside edge of the table top. I nailed the cut pieces of 2"x1" at about the center of each side and end. This allows you to put the new board on top of the table, giving more room, while keeping the larger top stable.

I laid a piece of muslin (I use Robert Kaufman's, which I buy on sale) that is about 2" bigger all around than the wood, on the floor. Over that I centered a layer of Warm & Natural cotton batting, then a layer of Insulbright, also made by the Warm Co (it reflects heat) and a a couple more layers of batting. The layers are such at this point that they are upside down from what they will be on top of the board, and except for the muslin, are about 1" bigger than wood on each side. Lay the board over the layers and center. Bring muslin up and stretch over the wood; use a staple gun to attach to board; you want it to be quite taut.

I LOVE it! It's portable, so I take it to retreats or sew-ins that our guild has. Works like a charm and gives me a lot of extra room for ... stuff ... while still leaving room for pressing blocks. Or if it's cleared off, a pretty decent sized pressing surface. I haven't had any problems with the muslin stretching, maybe b/c I stapled it very tautly?

And, okay, I'm pretty proud that I did it myself rather than adding to DH's already too long list of things to be done :wink:

butterflywing

i probably didn't use good enough quality muslin on top. i read somewhere that when you steam iron, the steam vapor should be able to go through the cloth and what's beneath it. that's why i don't want to use the silver stuff. i like my table top because it uses space that would have been there anyway (tops of dresser and cubbies) and does double duty. also, i chose to have it stick out into the center of the room so i could work on three sides. very tight but very efficient. and the whole thing is blocked up to the right height for me, so my back doesn't ache. :thumbup:

i have no windows, a too small room and no natural light. i work in sewer's hell, but it's the best WORKING LAYOUT i've ever had. and i've had my own room or space wherever we've been (i just miss those windows).

littlehud

That sounds like a great idea. I don't have the room for it, but if I did thats what I want.

LindaR

you can get he silver material at JoAnns by the yard. I cover my big board with it

mpspeedy

I also made myself a big board. I used a 1/4 sheet of plywood that they cut for me at Lowes. I covered it with batting and the teflon fabric from JoAnns. I have since covered that with muslin. I glued a three sided frame of 1x1 molding on the bottom to make it fit snuggly on my kitchen island top. It makes a great ironing surface and is just the right height. I purchased the kitchen island at one of those unfinished furniture places. It has a large shallow drawer and two shelves underneath and is on wheels. It acts as storage, cutting and ironing surface.
One major drawback is the extra width. I have some serious health problems and am not getting any younger. I have discovered that the extra width is wonderful for ironing or cutting but allows me to over reach. My back is not happy.

Skeat

I too had a homemade 'add on' to my real ironing board....plywood w/a long trim piece..lay the real iron board upside down to where the top and sides are...draw a line (marking the edges)cut trim piece and nail it to that spot...flip plywood over, I added my warm and natural batting staple gunned it on the underside of the plywood...then put a cute country gingham and stapled it too. The wood board sits snug on my real ironing board and won't slide around..if I ruin the top fabric...easily replaced. So, if you have a table, then just put your cotton batting in a couple of layers, add what fabric you want on top (a thicker muslin or 2 layers of thinner would be great)..if you can staple to the underside of the table, then that is exactly what I'd do:)You will love it! Skeat