My ironing board has been looking rather sad and sorry for itself for a while now and it’s been in the back of my head to recover it in some funky fabric, then when Mr Plush informed me that our current ironing board cover was made by the same company which have caused us such a headache over the word minky I decided urgent action was needed! (For some of the back story see this post. The iron-y (boom boom!) that we have one of their covers
Sad cover 🙁 Needs to be a happy cover 🙂
I hate ironing, passionately, so anything to ease the pain and make it a better experience for me is a winner. I need all the help I can get. With this in mind I decided to use a layer of Insul-Bright which is a reflective fabric so the heat from the iron will get reflected back to the reverse of the garment so it should make ironing easier. I also added a layer of polar fleece for an extra bit of cushioning.
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You will need the following (I have added approximate measures for the materials as the exact amount needed will depend on the size of your ironing board)
1/2m – 1.5m approx. 100% cotton, depending on the width of your fabric and whether the pattern has a direction (I used an Alexander Henry fabric as his cotton sheeting is a little bit heavier weight than other other quilting cottons)
1/2m approx. Insul-Bright insulating fabric
1/2m approx. polar fleece (optional)
2.5m approx. 25mm Fold Over Elastic
Make it easier with:
A walking foot
Step 1
Lay out your fabric and place your ironing board on top
Step 2
Draw around your ironing board, I used a 3 inch guide but you may want more or less depending on the height of your board
Step 3
Cut around your line so you have something that looks like this
Step 4
Repeat for your other layers
Step 5
If using polar fleece (I think this extra layer helps to stop the metal mesh marks from the board transferring on to your garment when ironing, but it does make it trickier to sew) Use a temporary fabric spray adhesive (I used 505 Spray) between each layer of fabric to help stop it shifting whilst sewing and then trim around all 3 layers so the edges are all even.
Step 6
Pin the layers, or use these clips which are awesome when sewing layers!
Step 7
Sew the fold over elastic to the edge. NB, a walking foot on your machine will make this much easier.
The best way to do this is to fold the elastic in half and then place the layers in the middle of the elastic making sure the edges of your fabric are at the half way fold of the elastic.
Using a 3 step zig-zag stitch on your machine sew a few stitches to start off and then, with your needle in the down position, pull the elastic as taught as it will go and sew all the layers together, keeping the edges of the fabric butted up to the mid point fold in the fold over elastic.
Step 8
Sew the elastic all the way around. Where the ends meet just over-sew so the 2 ends of elastic so the over lap.
Your cover should have a gather where the elastic pulls the fabric in and it should fit your ironing board snuggly!
Voila! Here is the finished result, the best looking ironing board cover in town!
Thank you that looks a very easy way t make an ironing board cover. The shop ones are never thick enough to prevent marks from the little holes on the ironing board leaving an imprint.
Why thank you! I was quite surprised how quick it was to do too, good luck with yours
Brilliant tutorial, this has been one of those jobs that has been on my list for ages. You have just made it look so straightforward. I just have to decide what fabric to use now!
Thanks so much Lisa! It was pretty straight forward to be honest… Good luck with yours
Your cover looks great! I’ve got a sad cover as well – time for a makeover!
Great tutorial, and love the fabric choice. MAy have to copy. My cover died a very long time ago and is in desperate need of a face lift. Ref the Minky debacle, told the girls at quilting last night and one suggested you should have just changed the spelling to Minkie?
Glad you likey and thank you. Phonetically similar words are also in breach of trademark apparently!
Love that your board already had three covers! I have a pet hate of shop bought ironing board covers and always make my own. well done for planting the seed for nationwide ironing board revival!
I have no idea why they stack so… Each time I think that the extra padding can only help so they never get removed!
Great ideas for new ironing board covers. You can come and do mine any time! I don’t think I could look at that pattern for too long though. I need something easier on the eyes 😉
Thanks! I am sure to follow your tutorial to update my ironing board cover! Up until now I have been entertaining the idea of buying a new one, but could now bring myself to spend the pennies!
It’s so much nicer when you can choose a print you *really* like. Good luck and thank you for your lovely comment
Got my supplies for this yesterday but a quick question – can you clarify ‘3 step zig zag stitch’?
Ooo how fab! Please send a photo when you are done. A 3 step zig zag stitch is as stitch on your machine, it’s a dashed zig zag stitch, so each of the sides of the zig zag is made up of a couple of stitches. I hope that makes sense!
Thanks Kellie Rose, all cut out and ready to sew when I get my little one to bed!
Love this going to try myself. Alexander henry fabric is ace but what was this one called, is it discontinued now 🙁 really love the bright colours, make great cushions Very retro. (wasn’t in your shop)
It’s an Alexander Henry called “Rivoli Bubble”, and yes sadly out of print now. I just placed an AH order last night and there’s some lovely new prints out so hopefully there might be a new one that fits the bill 🙂
Hi,
I’m just about to emma to on my first ironing board cover. I have a question regarding sewing on the elastic. Do I stretch it taut when I see it onto the layers? Thanks.
Hi Sarah, yes you do… the info is in step 7. Best of luck!