*This is not my original idea. However I have made one and really like it so I am posting a tutorial.

Good Afteroon,

Today I created a large pressing pad. WHY did I do this you might wonder? Well I wanted to be able to press a full piece of cloth from selvage to selvage. On a traditional ironing board you end up only getting a sliver of fabric at the end, this way I have a large surface to press yards of fabric or even lay out many squares or blocks to iron at a time.

Total cost to me $11.00

Here's what you need:

* Precut ply wood - I got mine from Home Depot it was 1/4" thick and the measurements are 24x48. The cost is around $11.00
* 100% Cotton Batting cut to size (2 layers) - Here is a good way to use up larger pieces of left over batting and joining them together using your joining foot. Also leave enough batting so that it covers the edges of the plywood when wrapped around
* 100% Cotton Fabric - I also used a larger peice from my stash to cover the board
* 505 Basting Spary (optional) I had this for embroidery and sprayed some between the layers of batting as well as to the plywood to keep the batting in place.
* Stapler and staples - This can be a hand / electric / or air powered stapler with 1/4" staples. Be sure the preasure of your gun is seto the lowest setting so the staples don't go though the other side of the board.

Step 1 - smooth your batting over the plywood. If you wish to apply the 505 spray between the 2 layers of batting as well as to the plywood. Smooth the top.
Step 2 - Smooth the fabric over the top of the batting and flip the plywood over
Step 3 - Staple the batting first being sure it's pulled tight. Pretend you are wrapping a present, this will give you nice corners
Step 4 - Staple the fabric, pretend you are wrapping a present, this will give you nice corners

Once that's done flip it over and you're done! You now have a nice pressing surface you can put on a table, or countertop and use to press. When you're not using it, you can put it in a closet out of the way.

Hopefully I have remember to add everything here. If I have omitted something / or you have questions please let me know.

Good Tut! Thanks for taking the time. Happy Quilting!

thanks great idea...

Thanks I want my son to make me one...

Thanks for the tute!!!!

thanks for the tutorials this is an "Oh honey" see what I want. He going to love it. :lol: :lol: :lol:

You can also screw wood "guides" on the bottom (the width of your ironing board) so it will set on your ironing board and not move around. These are wonderful. Thanks for the 'tut'.

Great idea. Only one comment on batting, shouldn't the batting be cotton or cotton blend, wouldn't poly batting melt from the heat?

That's a good question, and it should be 100% cotton batting. I know some people have also used Instulbrite, but I just do a double layer of 100% cotton batting. You don't want any poly as it melts, as you mentioned. :)

In the "what you need" list it says 100% cotton batting, but I didn't include that tid-bit in the rest of the instructions. ;)

As usual I can't read!! You did say 100 % cotton.

No worries, it's a good point to reitterate, because I would feel bad if someone went to the trouble, then used poly and had a melted mess. ;-)

thank you for tutorial you make it look easy ,even i can try this as im still waiting on husband or sons to make one for me lol but if i lose controll over stable guy watch out guys lol

I made one of these a couple years ago as an L-extension to my sewing table so i could sew then press then sew again..

I got the idea from another one that goes over my regular ironing board, i wanted something just a little bit longer but not wider.. I screwed in clip straps to secure it on my ironing board..

Wonderful - thanks for posting

Wonderful - thanks for posting

1 question, should I put holes in the board, I read somewhere it will get hot, so add holes for ventelation, is that necessary?

I am laughing at myself and thinking that I really need to go get my eyeballs in (contacts). The ironing board is a wonderful idea and the tute is great. As I was looking at the pics I thought "Wow! How clever this man is. He put fabric on top of the board that looks like wood grain. Really clever and cute!" Looking at the next pic I realized it was the wood I was looking at and it did NOT have any wood grain look fabric on it. Oh well, I will put my eyeball in before sewing. LOL. Sue

I haven't heard of doing that, but I'm not sure that the wood would ever get THAT hot..."back in the day" they had wooden ironing boards that were just wood, so I think it can absord it. As well as having 2 layers of cotton batting.

But like I said I have never heard of it, so it will be interesting to see others experiences with that. :)

On another thread re large ironing boards, a number of people said to drill holes for sure because it can get so hot that it will scorch your fabric. Maybe safe than sorry, huh?

I agree, it would probably never get that hot; but I will add that it has been recommended to put a layer of aluminum foil on the wood, first.

Wouldn't that reflection from the aluminum foil produce more heat?

That is a great pressing board. I am going to copy your design just as soon as I can order some inexpensive cotton batting. I have 1 of those really small apartment ironing boards. This will be like moving from a tent to a penthouse!!!

This is a great tut. I have made a "big board" that fits over my ironing board. One thing I did was to round the corners of the plywood so the material doesn't catch on the corner.

Well I did get to use it today when I was pressing fabric for a "Cheese & Crackers" quilt. I will say....it REALLY helped cut down my pressing time. I was kinda excited because I was able to get the pressing done with and on to the cutting very quickly. :)

Another tip: Cover the board with 1" x 1" gingham - gives you a quick measurement tool - not precise - but enough to know approximately what size fabric you're working with!!!

can't wait to get home to make this. There are 24 x 48 pieces of plywood in the garage left from making deck boxes for cushions. It will be $0.00 cost!

Cool!! Thanks!

Thanks for the tut.

Thanks so much for posting this. Showed it to DH and he is going to get right to it. Wish I would get ideas like this!
Keep it up, I look forward to reading your posts.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. HOPE I CAN GET MY HUSBAND TO MAKE ONE. YOU DID SO GOOD.....YOU SHOULD MAKE THEM AND SELL THEM.

How far is it from Cedar Rapids to Murrells Inlet, SC ? Could use some help now that you are experienced. Love your helpful posts, looking forward to more. Let's see some of your beautiful quilting projects, and would mind sharing how long you have been quilting? Great work.

I've new to this group and have been only 'stalking' up to now. I love this idea, having made mine a few years ago. I used the special batting made just for ironing boards. It comes in 2 widths and can withstand the heat and steam of an iron over an extended period of time. Also, I covered mine with gridded flannel, making it easier to 'line up' seams and blocks without distortion when pressing.

I remember my mom making her ironingboard covers out of an old cotton sheet. She had a larger than normal ironing board which was made for her by her grandfather.

Nice tute.

Thanks you so much. This is exactly what I've been thinking about and wanting. It's so nice that quilters share.

Welcome to the group from Murrells Inlet, SC Lots of smart people on this site and always willing to share

Thank you Michael for your tutorial. I made one of these for my sister this weekend. It just fit in her car for a 4 hour drive home. She was tickled pink to have it.

If the maker feels extra handy, here is something they can do to 'fit' the new pressing board to their folding ironing board: when you are finished covering the new pressing 'board', lay it top-down on an even surface. Fold the ironing board you intend to put the pressing board on and lay it top-down evenly in the middle of the new pressing board.

I drew an outline of the ironing board on the underside of the new pressing board. I used the outline to position three cleats or long strips of wood outside the outline. This will act like a lip or edge to keep the pressing board from shifting while you press large objects. I used scraps of 1x3/4 lumber or any such sized scraps that are handy.

One other thing one might do is use two layers to cover the batting. Staple on a plain muslin layer, then staple on a second layer of what ever color fabric you like. This way, when the fabric surface wears badly, you can pull the staples and still have the first layer of muslin cover everything and keep it neat while you put on a new top layer of fabric.

You guys are great for offering so many helpful ideas!
Thanks again for all your ideas and help.

Aardie.

What a great idea , also a smaller model the same
size as your cutting mat , to take to classes
would be great.

Michael. Thank you so much this is something I think we all would love to have and your tute was wonderful.

thanks for posting this-my husband will love making it-now if I just had more room....

I made one out of the bottom piece (wood) of an old crib that my daughter found out for garbage. It has a lip on the bottom, so I cut the end off of an ironing board and it fits over the top. Easy to fold, and I love that I too can iron a piece of fabric selvage to selvage.