help making ironing board
 

Where do you find the fabric to make the large ironing boards??
Is it specificate for ironing boards ??
Thank You

Are you loking for the fabric that reflects heat?I made a small ironing service using a wood T.V. tray and 100 % cotton batting and then covered with heavy dec. fabric and set it next to sewing machine area to iron as I piece,it works great. Would think same would work for ironing board.Joann fabrics sells the reflector fabric,it's what you would use for potholders.Download coupon first.

I buy the silver ironing board fabric at Joann's. They have it online too.

I've heard of a people using canvas, duck cloth, reflective material, etc. I just used an old sheet and made a "pillowcase" type slipcover. I covered the board with thick batting first and then just slip the cover on and tuck the open end under. Works great.

I bought cotton duck. Covered the board with batt and then stapled the cotton duck on the back pulling tightly as if you were upholstering. Then I sprayed the cotton duck with lots of water and let it dry. Makes for a very tight covering.

I made mine with a square board 2 ft. square. Then I fold an old heavy towel in half, sew the sides together. Slipped it over my board. Made a cover with old sweatshirt material. It works fine and I haven't had any problems.

I made a big board out of 3/4" plywood to sit on top of my ironing board. The bottom has "guides" to hold it in place and prevent slipping. It is covered in aluminum foil, then a layer of thin batting and finally a fabric top, all stapled tightly around to the back. The fabric is some that I had found in a clearance bin at WalMart and bought with the thought of making some tote bags. I no longer remember what it is, but it's heavier and more like a denim than lightweight cotton. I'm very conscious of always lifting my iron to sit on its stand and don't leave it hot side down where I might scorch the ironing board or start a fire. If you make yourself a big board, you will LOVE it!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGbXou_u4c
Sharon Schamber shows her method of making a pressing surface. I've made one 24" by 48" and covered it with a "pillowcase" made from canvas (cheaper if purchased from an art store, but fabric stores carry it).

Fabric all at Joanns everything you need .

You may be surprised at the price of the silver reflective fabric at Joanns...price has gone through the roof. I am in need to replace mine and am planning on going with Muslin, I'm going to make it with a string loop so i can remove and wash.

Which is better to have a thick pad or thin pad for an ironong board??

Aluminum foil works just fine under you ironing board pad--I made a ironing board on top of a cuboard and its great---

I use just 1 thickness of warm and natual batting, canvas for the top and the USB board, then cover the back of the board with felt. It is Sharon Schambers method and I don't even use my ironing board anymore. I have been using these boards for over 2 years now and wouldn't trade this method.

Good Luck Suzy

Thanks to all for your help....

I used some wool flannel that I bought on sale and never made into a coat. Some use an old wool blanket instead of yardage. After washing and drying to "full" the wool, I stapled it to a plywood base scrounged from DH scrap wood and then draped with a leftover piece of decorator cotton twill. Free 24" X 48" ironing table top!

I researched this and read that wool makes a great base under cotton duck for steaming fabric. I think it's because of the evaporation rate compared to cotton batting. From my research, the silver cloth is not recommended for garment construction because it reflects back the heat instead of absorbing it. I don't know if this applies to quilting cottons, I love it for block fusing with tricot interfacing.

The padding should be firm and not too "cushy" because the fabric you are pressing can get distorted or stretched if the pad is too thick and soft. IMHO

My guild has one made with heavy ply 4x6". I asked DH to make me one. He suggested that I use my folding plastic "banquet" table. I made a sandwich of a sorry old mattress pad and a piece of uphostery canvas I got at a garage sale for almost nothing. On each side I made a wide, open ended sleeve. I threaded rope though the sleeve. Now when I put it over the folding table, I can tie it tightly and iron wide fabrics, even extra wide backing quite easily. Total cost, under $5.

How did you make your big board? Do you have any instructions you could share?

joann's has it and you can get % off every week with coupons

I made a big retangular ironing board using 3/4" plywood. They cut it to the exact size I needed (many thanks to the lumber yard) and put cotton batting around it and then used 100% cotton to cover it. I used a staple gun on the back to hold the material in place. I've had to change the material once, which was no big problem. I now have it sitting on a long dresser (one that usually has a mirror on it) and it needs some boards on either side to stop it from moving. Before it was on my ironing board and didn't move. But putting it on my dresser, I have 6 drawers to put my fabric and things in. Got the idea here on the board.

I took an old wood door off of a cabinet and laid it on the floor, I placed my ironing board on it upside down (plate against the wood) and screwed wood slats into the door surrounding the ironing board on the two long sides and the pointed end. This leaves the right end open. Stand the ironing board up put the door on top and voila, you have an large ironing surface. The slats keep the top from moving around or falling off. Now make a cover and your good to go.

What a great idea, so handy !!!!!!!!!!! a tv tray, awesome. My daughter is letting me use her oak desk, a flat top one, and it has a pull out drawer that is used for keyboards, i use that to iron on and the big drawer i use for my templets. The smaller drawer I use for scissors, etc.

Nancys notions has the fabric (the silver that reflects heat) It is wonderful

I made a "Big Board" with plywood (22" X 48"--should have made it 24" X 55"). It had guides under the board to keep it from moving. I covered it with a layer of 1. old wool blanket, 2. layer of flannel and topped it with a decorative fabric (that has a casing with elastic in it) The fabric matches the one that I made a window valance with, covers for my machines and a cover for my chair. I suppose you could put the reflective ironing board fabric on, but it is rather pricey. I made mine pretty cheaply.

My very FAVORITE ironing board is one I bought from stencilnstitch.com. It is 7x14 and clamps to my sewing table with the long end hanging out from the table. It's GREAT for all those times you need to just press a seam before you sew the next piece. Take a look.