Ironing Board Cover How To

Perky Polka Dots!  

This light twill washed up nicely, so I did not bother ironing it before starting this project.  It is going to spend the rest of its life being ironed, so it seemed redundant.

My assistant is showing you how you simply use your own cutting board for a template.  Lay it on your fabric, and trace around it allowing four or five inches for the cover to wrap over the edge of the ironing board.

Make sure that when you fold in a bit around the curves, that all of your folds lay the same way.  It makes threading the tie or elastic through much, much easier.  I added extra pins in-between the folds to keep the presser foot up at the same level, because  I sewed right over them.

The hem is folded over a quarter of an inch to make a nice edge, and then folded over again to create a channel for the tie or elastic.

Did you think I had placed Tilda the Turtle on the ironing board for a cute photo?  Nope, she followed me around like a puppy dog through the whole thing.  With Little Miss is public high school, Tilda is my daytime buddy.  I know, I know, she just wants me for food.

Anyways, back to business.   When you are done pinning you will have a folded channel all the way around.  It does not matter how wide it is as long as a safety pin, and your choice of tie or elastic will fit in the channel.  Just make sure to leave a small opening at the squarish end in order to insert the tie or elastic.

Off to the sewing machine!  Use any stitch you want in any color you want.  This is a really casual project.  Stitch next to the folded edge all of the way around making sure to leave that small opening at the end.

Who has cupid spied?

Yep, my supervisor, Tilda the Turtle.

In Wisconsin she would be hibernating right now.  Here in Dallas she is perky and peppy.  She is a Southern Three Toed Box Turtle after all.

The two of us did a good job!  No need to buy a new ironing board.  The old cover was a thin cotton one, and lasted sixteen years.  Since this one is a light twill, which is two to three times the thickness, it should last a good long time.

 Colors, colors, colors!  Why should an ironing board be dull?  It even goes with the table scarf on the coffee table.  That is pretty handy, since I have been known to use it as an extra buffet table.  

Remember, if we have to use something, we may as well enjoy it. 

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