Did you buy an ironing board that is not as smooth and cushioned as you would like?
Or perhaps, the foam cover of your current ironing board gives you zero stability for your fabrics while ironing?
Relax, you don’t have to throw away your current ironing board/table and get a new one.
There are a variety of things you could do to make a new board or modify your current board to suit your ironing needs and preferences.
Whether you want a larger pressing board or an ironing board that is firmer this article is for you.
Before we go into the methods of making a quilting ironing board, we would first go over the benefits of making your own ironing board.
Why Should You Make a Quilting Ironing Board?
Building your own board has a number of advantages over buying a readymade board from a store and a few of them are listed below.
The size of the board (width or length) can be varied depending on your preferences. You can easily customize your board choosing, not just the shape and size but also the color, pattern, and design of the board you would like to make.
What’s more, you can determine the amount of padding that goes on your board or no padding at all if you wish; and if you change your mind about your padding preference all you need to do is change the cover of your board.
Also, this is a rather easy and affordable project that can be carried out even if this is your first ironing board DIY project. You can have your board cut for you at most hardware stores and most of the other steps are easy to carry out.
These ironing boards are also very durable and last for long periods. They can easily be refurbished by changing the cover of the board.
What are the Materials You Need to Make a Quilting Ironing Board?
The following are the materials needed to make a quilting ironing board:
1. Cotton fabric or canvas (cut 4 inches larger than your plywood board on all sides)
2. Cotton batting (cut 2 inches larger than the plywood board on all sides)
3. ½ inch thick plywood cut to your preferred size ( You can get this cut at most hardware stores)
4. 8 screws and 8 washers
5. Standard metal ironing board
What are the Tools Required To Make a Quilting Ironing Board?
The following are the tools you need to make a quilting ironing board
1. Staple gun and staples
2. Drill
3. Screwdriver
4. Tape or Scotch brand Super 77 Spray Adhesive
5. Measuring Tape
6. Pencil
7. Handsaw
8.Sandpaper
What are the Steps Involved In Making a Quilting Ironing Board?
The steps are as follows:
1. Buy plywood from your hardware store.
2. Use your hand saw to cut it to your desired size.
3. Trim the edges of your plywood board to smoothen them. You can buy a measured and trimmed plywood from the store.
4. Place the padding on the wood and hold in place with a staple or glue.
5. Place a cotton fabric and wrap it around the wood. Hold it firmly in place with a staple and screws.
3 Easy Methods to Make a Quilting Ironing Board
Method 1: Making a Large Removable Ironing Board for Quilting
This board, while easy to make, is pretty versatile and space-efficient.
This method makes storing the board easier because you will still be able to fold up your ironing board once you are done using it. This is especially useful when you have limited space.
If you ever get tired of your regular ironing table or would prefer to iron on an actual table, you can easily adjust your big ironing board for this. By removing the wooden braces you can place the board on a table and iron as well.
Procedure
- Get your plywood board that has already be cut according to your preferences. The ½ inch thick plywood board would be most suitable because since you plan to remove the board often it is light enough to lift easily.
- Place your regular board down on the plywood board and trace the outline.
- Mark the places where you plan to put your braces. After this, you can then screw the 5 wood braces on your wooden board in place.
- Cover your wooden board using the cotton fabrics/ cover and the cotton batting depending on how hard or padded you want your board to be.
- Use the staple gun to staple down the fabric to the board. Alternatively, the adhesive can also be used to achieve the same purpose.
Your quilting ironing board is now ready for use and all you have to do is place it on top of your regular ironing board and enjoy your new and improved board.
Method 2: Large Wooden Board Affixed to Your Ironing Board
This method is very similar to method 1 because they both involve a large board.
However, the major difference is that, in this case, the board is affixed permanently or semi-permanently to your old ironing table. This method is more ideal for people that have plenty of storage room.
Also, if you are worried about the removable board falling off and would like a more permanent structure then this method is for you.
Procedure
- Just as in the previous method, take your already cut plywood board and cover it with your cotton fabric and cotton batting.
- This is then fixed on the board using the staple gun. You can also achieve this by using the adhesive to hold the materials on your board together.
- Next, instead of wooden braces, affix your board directly to your ironing table frame.
How do you replace your old ironing board with a quilting ironing board?
You can replace your old ironing board with a quilting board by doing the following:
1. Remove the cover of your old ironing table and place it upside down on your large board ensuring you line it up correctly.
2. Using a pencil, mark where you would place each of the screws.
3. Use your drill to make 4-8 hole where you want your screws to go.
4. Using your screwdriver, tighten the screws and the washers to the board through the holes in the ironing table’s mesh.
Method 3: An Ironing Mat ideal for Quilting
This is a much simpler method and doesn’t really involve making an actual ironing board.
This method is also a bit cheaper and the method may be more convenient.
It is much easier to travel around with a mat as opposed to a large board
Also, whenever your mat is not in use you can roll up your mat and tuck it in somewhere without giving up so much of your real estate.
If you also use a heat-resistant material you can be sure that ironing on this mat while placing it on any surface will protect the surface.
Procedure
- Measure and cut your fabric to your desired size leaving an extra inch or two as an allowance for the sewing.
- Cut the cotton batting. Now, unlike the fabric, the batting should be cut to the exact size you want the mat to be without the extra allowance.
- Pin the cotton and the heat resistant fabrics together and sew around the edges starting from the middle but leaving a small opening of about 6 inches.
- Trim the corners and turn the fabric to the right side out through the opening.
- Iron the material to straighten the edges, then insert the cotton batting through the opening and sew around it.
- You can sew ribbon pieces to the sides of your mat to make rolling it up and storing it easy. At this point your ironing mat is ready and you can use it on your preferred tabletop.
Just in case, you’ll rather buy a mat than make one, you can check out this ironing mat for quilting. It is durable, heat-resistant, and comes with a silicone iron rest.
For more ironing tips, check these articles:
- How to Make an Ironing Board Cover Like a Pro
- How to Iron Without an Ironing Board — A Guide
- How to Get Wrinkles Out of Curtains Without Ironing
- How to Close an Ironing Board with Broken Lever
- How to Get Wrinkles Out of Polyester Tablecloths Without Ironing
- How to Remove Ironing Stains from Clothes
Conclusion
It is pretty easy to make a quilting ironing board and the materials to be used are also quite affordable.
There are different methods to make Ironing boards for quilting.
The second method listed (the affixed board) which is the most technical is a good choice for anyone looking for a large board and isn’t too concerned about storage space.
With this method, you don’t have to worry about your ironing board falling off the table.
However, if you are at a loss for space, one of the other more space-efficient methods would be more suitable for you. That is the removable board method or the method for the ironing mat.
These DIY methods also allow you to customize your board to suit your specific ironing preference in terms of design, padding, size, and even aesthetics; which is a huge plus.
Note that you can refurbish your ironing board over the years by simply changing the cover.
Up for another challenge? You can check out our posts to learn how to make starch for ironing or how to make an ironing board pad.
How to Make a Quilting Ironing Board in 3 Ways — Related FAQs
How do you start quilting for beginners?
To start making quilts as a beginner, start with a small project. You can start by making a baby quilt. Study your tutorial and cut out the required quantity of the batting, the binding, and the backing fabric.
Cut the fabrics according to the design you want. Put the quilt sandwich together and sew. This is known as basting. You have to carefully baste the fabrics so that they do not appear distorted.
You can make your quilt become smoother by gluing them together before sewing. Fold the edges of your quilt and add a binding fabric to it. Sew the binding fabric and trim off the excesses.
Is patchwork the same as quilting?
Although patchwork and quilting are used interchangeably, sometimes, they have different meanings. Quilting is done by joining three fabrics to form a quilt. The three layers are the top layer fabric, the backing, and the padding.
Patchwork is the forming of patterns or blocks by sewing fabrics together. Then the blocks are sewn together to create a quilt.
In patchwork, you can use different fabrics and pieces of different garments to create a beautiful design. In quilting, it is ideal to use a single type of fabric as the top layer and you can use another as the backing.
How do you stabilize an ironing board?
To stabilize your ironing board, do the following:
1. Place a rug on the floor before placing your ironing board. This will provide cushion to the stand of your ironing board.
2. When buying an ironing board, look out for boards that have wider legs or have contact with the floor at four points instead of two.
3. You can turn the ironing board around, iron on the wider part of the board, and place the iron on the narrower part of the board.
4. You can look out the stand of the iron that is uneven with the others. Place an old towel to make it stable and at the same level as the other stands on the board.
Why are ironing boards shaped that way?
The ironing board is shaped the way it is because of the following reasons:
1. The narrow part will allow you to pull over the sleeves of your garment to enable you to iron the details.
2. The rounded edges of the board prevent your garments from holding on to the edges as you pull them around while ironing.
3. You can wear your skirts and trousers on the narrow end of the ironing so that you can iron one side at a time.
4. The wide side is for ironing a side of a shirt without folding or ironing the other side in the process.
Can you iron a quilt with batting in it?
You can iron your quilt if it is made with cotton batting. Also, if it is wrinkled after washing and the batting is made of polyester or poly-cotton fibers, it is best to use the dryer to straighten it.
If the fabrics and thread used in making the quilt is not cotton (which is more heat resistant than other fabric types), do not use hot iron in ironing it.
If the quilt is to be used often and washed frequently, it does not need to be ironed.
Can I use flannel instead of batting in quilting?
You can use flannel in quilting instead of batting. It makes your quilt softer and lighter but there are some things you should know before choosing flannel when quilting. They include:
1. Flannel fibers shrink over time, especially after the first wash. You should wash your flannel with a mild detergent first before using it to quilt. This way, your quilt will not shrink a lot after making it.
2. Flannel frays easily so you have to add some inches to your seam allowance when quilting.
3. Flannel is thicker and harder to sew than cotton batting. Therefore, use a longer stitch length when sewing it so that the flannel fabric does not stretch too much.
