Introducing my new vintage ironing board Martha (after the maid in one of my fave old movies, The Ghost and Mrs Muir), isn’t she a beauty? I was toying with the idea of a new ironing board and got all excited about this expensive board but there was no way I was happy about the price tag. So after cruising around the net looking and learning, I found that lots of people in the sewing community love the old wooden boards. The are strong and stable and if you’re lucky it might have an attached sleeve board. A quick look on eBay turned up my beauty for only $5! But I had to pay $50 shipping… I still think Martha was worth $55.
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Of course Martha came, umm well, nude. I’m going to show you how I got her nicely dressed and how you can make a pretty cover for your more modern board.
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You may need more or less but to dress Martha I used:
5m bias binding
4m ribbon or cord
1.5m 100% cotton fabric
1.5m 100% cotton quilt batting
Matching thread
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Modern boards will have their own padding/foam but you can cut new batting, using the old one as a template, if you want to replace it. I used four layers of 100% cotton batting (DO NOT use polyester or other fibres that may melt or scorch) on the main board but only two layers on the sleeve board. More layers on the sleeve board would have been too awkward. Use as many or as few layers as you like. I laid the batting out on the floor and laid the board on it, upside down. I trimmed down the batting, leaving a border of about 8cm so that there was enough batting to pin down. Traditionally the batting and covering fabric would be attached to the board with upholstery tacks but we just used a staple gun to attach the batting.
As soon as I saw this Amy Butler fabric, I knew it would be perfect as an ironing board cover. I pre washed it in hot water and dried in the dryer to avoid shrinking or dye transfer before getting started. 
I laid the fabric right side down on the floor and laid the ironing board on top, just like I did with the batting. I used a washable fabric marker to trace the padded board. You could draw in an 8cm seam allowance but I just eyeballed it as I cut it out.
Next, I ironed some striped bias binding flat and then in half along the length, making it 1″ wide. I find it just as easy not to pin the binding in place. I also don’t cut the binding until I get all the way around but feel free to do what’s comfortable. Line all the raw edges up and sew all the way around, leaving an opening to thread ribbon, cord or elastic through. I used a 6mm seam allowance. You can either thread the ribbon through with a safety pin once everything is sewn up or do as I did and pin the ribbon right into the fold of the binding and sew with it in there. Of course you have to be careful not to stitch on the ribbon, so think about the width of your ribbon (mine was 6mm) before you buy it!
Once you have the ribbon (or cord or elastic) in the casing, cinch it up a little, fit it over the board and pull up the ribbon to fit and tie in a knot. Now, step back and admire your pretty board!
If you decide to make an ironing board cover I’d love to see pics, so please take pics and post them to my Facebook wall. Don’t forget to ask for help if you need it, just Ask Sarah! If you need to get your iron all clean and tidy, then have a read of this post or perhaps learn about press cloths xxx
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