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

[Julie]

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

[Kristin]

Great timing and great tutorial. I need to make three ironing board covers (not all for me), so this will be so helpful. Thanks so much.

[sandra]

Great, just great! and so easy. I know, what my next sewing session is...
what a brilliant idea. Now I can use whatever nice fabric I want. Thank you!

[Kimmie]

THANKS~ I so need a new cover and was thinking a few weeks back that I wish someone would graciously walk me through a how-to. So sending a big hug and praying that I can brighten up the old board (without screwing it up ;-)

thanks again so much!
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted

[Paula]

Thanks Lisa, I used your tute to recover my ironing board, and it worked a treat! Great idea!

[Volt]

Good tutorial. I was wondering exactly what is that middle layer padding that you use. I'm having a problem with the mesh grating stuff the ironing board is made of. I want something in between the cover and the mesh grating so it won't show on my clothing. Have you tried using anything sturdier? Thanks.

[Elizabeth]

Hi and thank you for this tutorial! I made a link to this post of yours from my blog on Wordpress- the Elizabethian Tea.

[SummerSadie]

Yeah, I finally did this today. thanks for the tutorial!

[Лилия]

Спасибо большое за ваши уроки.

[NancyLee]

Great tutorial - You're now my new best friend!! I found you quite by mistake & what a wonderful surprise you've turned out to be. My old IBC was an absolute tragedy that I've wanted to rid myself of for ages but as you know one project leads to another & blah, blah, blah, but I'm a happy camper now & it was so-o-o easy. Thanks for your insight, inspiration & sew on - LOL :)