SUPER Easy Ironing Board Cover Tutorial

Thanks for your ironing board cover (IBC) tutorial requests. Calling this a tutorial might be pushing it slightly as it is outrageously easy, but then, really easy is really good right?  This one is for everyone who asked for it (especially Ian, because I love it when fellas drop in for a read).

You won't need to make a casing, obtain cord for ties, or even thread a cord for the casing (which is fantastic for lazy busy ol' me) because we are going to use the casing from the old IBC. Of course, in order to follow this tutorial the casing on your old IBC will need to be intact.  If it isn't you will need to make a cover with all new casing - and if that's the case check out Anna's IBC tutorial where she shows you how to start from scratch and not be lazy like me (and hers is a funky orange 70's number).

My old IBC removed from it's frame.  The old cover has gooey fusible interfacing adhesive all over it, (I'm always getting that stuff on the flipping ironing board), and anyways this cover isn't very good looking.  I'm keeping the fleece padding, it's worn in the middle, but I can do something about that.

'Well hello there pretty thing, let's slip and slide together...!"   Here's my travel iron getting fresh with the new IBC.  The fabric is some Kaffe Fasset which I've had in my stash for yonks.  Perhaps it's a little extravagant, but ironing is so tedious that a cheerful IBC might just make it a bit more bearable...perhaps not.

Here’s How I put it all together

Shopping list (as if you were shopping and not using your own stash fabrics)

• 100% cotton fabric (quilt to medium weight works best)
• Some heavy-ish weight 100% cotton furnishing (home dec. weight) fabric
  

 NB: all seam allowances are 1cm (3/8”) unless otherwise stated. Pattern includes 1cm seam allowance.

1. Remove IBC and padding from ironing board - IMPORTANT: do not cut the ties or the casing, we need to keep them in one piece for later.  Smooth out the IBC completely flat and press (heh! now you've no ironing board to press the IBC on: you can use a towel on the table).

2.   Mark a 1" margin all around the IBC -  measure 1" (2.5cm) from the outer edge of the casing all around the IBC.

Measure & mark a 1" (2.5cm) margin all around the old IBC.

3.  Cut the 1" (2.5cm) margin off from the old IBC -  be careful NOT to make the first incision from the outer edge of the IBC.  Keep the precious margin for later.

Make the first incision straight into the 1" (2.5cm) margin.  Don't cut through the casing and string.

4. Cut out the new IBC fabric - lay  the old IBC (minus the margin you've just cut off) onto your new IBC fabric and using the old IBC as a guide cut out the new IBC plus a 1" (2.5cm) margin.  Set aside the old IBC, you're done with it now.

Snip snip all around the old IBC adding a 1" (2.5cm) margin.

5.  Pin the 1" (2.5cm) margin (with casing and tie) of the old IBC to the new IBC fabric - bring the right sides (and raw edges) of the margin and the new IBC fabric together.   Match the position of the flat edge and pointed ends (of the IBC) on the margin to the new IBC as best as you can - it doesn't have to be exact as all of this will be on the underside). 

Start pinning the two fabrics together at the flat end (or bottom end) of the IBC working your way up evenly on both sides (in other words do not pin one side to the pointed end before doing the other side).  Stop pinning before you reach the tip (see pic below).

I have stopped pinning just before the tip and there doesn't appear to be enough old IBC margin for the new IBC fabric.  That's OK; it's all part of the plan Stan.

I have made a pen mark at the approx centre of the tip of the new IBC.  I have also made a corresponding centre mark on the tip of the old IBC margin.  I'm am now going to pin the 2 centre points together and continue pinning the margin to the new IBC fabric....

...as you pin the margin to the new IBC you'll notice that the new IBC fabric ruffles up (can you say 'ruffles' up?  Maybe it should be 'bunches' up...achh. You know what I mean).   Ruffling up is OK, just keep the ruffles reasonably equal in size and be generous with the pins.

6.  Stitch the margin to the new IBC fabric - I would suggest no less than a 1cm (3/8") seam allowance, and stitch on the margin side, it's easier.

If you have a stitch on your sewing machine (like the one that my scissors are pointing to) use that because it does a straight stitch and a zig-zag all in one go which is handy because it stitches fabrics and prevents the raw edges from fraying at the same time.  Use a short length stitch for strength (because the margin is going to take a lot of tension from having the ties pulled taut in side the casing) with a wide zig-zag.
   
If you don't have a stitch like this on your sewing machine just sew using a short length straight stitch and then go over the raw edges with a zig-zag stitch.

7.  Cut furnishing fabric to fit ironing board frame - this heavyish fabric will bulk up the old ironing board padding and will prevent the grid of the frame coming through on my ironing  (which is sooo annoying!)

Use your ironing board as a guide and cut around with approx 2cm extra.

8.  Assemble your brand spanking new ironing board - righty, starting from the bottom: lay the new IBC wrong side up, then the old padding, then the furnishing fabric piece, and finally the ironing board frame on the table.  Jiggle the layers around until all is even.   Pull the ties until your fingers go white, tie into a bow, and you're all done.  I bet you can't wait to attack that mountain of ironing now...hmm... perhaps you can.

One new IBC using old casing and ties; clever eh?

I hope you enjoy giving this tutorial a go, if you do I'd really love to see a pic of it in the new "Bags made from my tutorials' Flickr group.  I'll be checking it regular!

   

Comments

[Christina]

Yay,

Love the kaffe fasset fabric, I saw it in a quilt book of his, and I do adore it. What a cool tut. I bought a sleeve ironing board on your recommendation and adore it, but the fabric is tatty (and burnt - tee hee) and can I say that they make an excellent resource for ironing children's school trousers! (my son is 5 and the board fits right inside the leg!) So now I can recover it with my own stash of lovely fabrics!

Thanks again Lisa, what would we do without you!

Christina :O)

[Anina]

You are a genius! And your timing is perfect. My IBC is a mess and the padding is non-existent. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Lilia]

Great! What's furnishing fabric? Like home decorating weight?

[Lilia]

Great! What's furnishing fabric? Like home decorating weight?

[Anna]

Thanks for the link. I never thought of using the old casing, you clever thing. And it's not lazy, it's being time-efficient.

[Risja]

Wat een klus, heb je tijd over?

[Tina in Boston]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have been wanting to change my cover for ages. I have one that I bought years ago at IKEA. The fabric is fun, but it's definitely time for a new one. I also have the same question Lilia does... What is furnishing fabric?

[LisaAlso]

Fabulous and easy! Could you give some suggestions for what to look for or avoid in purchasing new padding! My IB came with a thin, lumpy foam pad that has to go!

[kathi]

I would never have thought of re-using the old casing! If your padding is really shot, a few layers of quilt batting (I believe you call it wadding in the UK?) works very well--in your scenario, I would just cut it about the same size as the furnishing fabric and layer it underneath.

[Anary]

What a clever gal! I have the exact same IB...and I had just bought fabric to make a new IBC for it few weeks ago! YAY...

[Jennie]

The metal grid on that ironing board is so annoying, I just haven't gotten around to fixing mine yet.
Love the Kaffe Fasset fabric

[Sarah @ Sewer-Sewist]

Ooh! This is so fortuitous! Our ironing board is super, super funky from all of the fusible interfacing we've used and the subsequent dust that sticks to all of that interfacing residue. It was annoying me because I didn't want to buy a new one (such a boring purchase), and it never occur to me to just make up a new cover.
Brilliant! Thank you!

[Alison]

Oh thank you Lisa, your tutorials are so clear and inspiring, we'll all have such glamorous ironing boards now. The Kaffe Fasset is one of my favourites - what a treat.

[Marianne]

very very very clever...my ironing board cover is worn out and has sticky interfacing bits on it too so....I will copy your wonderful tutorial! Perfect timing too as I am about to embark on my wedding dress, three bridemaids dresses and a few bowties and cummerbunds!! I wonder if I'll have time for a handbag??!

[Liz]

Yay! Great tutorial, and thanks for the email letting me know it was up. Good info on fabrics and padding. I'm currently putting together my sewing room (hubby and I bought our first house in August) and will be ready to start on details like this soon. Thanks!

[planetjune]

How ingenious - I would never have thought to reuse the old casing. Thanks for the tutorial!

[Ian]

Thanks for the shoutout and especially for the tutorial. I never would have thought of reusing the old casing like that. I'm going to try and do my IBC this week. I'll send you a link to the results.

[gingirljen]

Oh thank you! I've got this cute fabric I know will be perfect to cover my iron. After using the board the other day I realized how poor the cover has become. I'm new to your blog and perfect timing!

[Joanna]

That is fantastic although unfortunately my IBC is completely knackered so i will have to start from scratch

[missy]

fabulous, just fabulous!
Missy

[Bella]

Absolute best idea this year....and I've seen a bunch...wow, I love your mind!

[Cindy]

I am not a sewing person (I am an art person) but I love personalized things rather than items bought at the store. Anybody out there want to make me one of these ironing board covers? I can pay you or we could barter if you need some artwork.
Please email me directly if you are interested.
familyerickson@cox.net

[Ady]

Thanks for this tute Lisa! I have the exact same ironing-board! And my cover is getting pretty manky - so I shall use this to make myself a new one! Clever idea using the old casing! By the way - I'm looking for a small travel iron ... what's that Morphy Richards Orbit like? Any good? Is it small enough to get into the bags?

[Wendy]

Thanks for this tutorial Lisa. I have the exact same ironing board and was in desperate need to replace the cover. I was just going to remake the whole thing but I love your method of using the casing, very clever. Thanks again it turned out great!!

[Julie]

wow, so easy! Im going to do this at the weekend!! Thanks for the tutorial :)