HOW TO MAKE A SMALL DIY IRONING BOARD THAT YOU CAN USE ANYWHERE - EVEN NEXT TO YOUR MACHINE!
Is your sewing room too small to fit a full-sized ironing board inside? Or do you need a portable tabletop ironing board to bring close to your sewing machine?
Here's your quick solution: an easy DIY pressing board tailored exactly to your space and needs.
Small, portable (even bring it to class if you want), and easy to make with some leftover materials you probably have hanging around. You'll love this while quilting if you don't want to get up a hundred times to press seams. (Although, that's where I get my daily steps in, lol).
You can make a small portable ironing board that fits on top of the dryer, on your kitchen table, or on any flat surface.
It is so easy and quick to make.
Inexpensive.
Stable surface.
Perfect for small spaces
Easy to switch the top layer when it gets stained (I might even just staple it over the existing fabric. Even quicker.) - no need to keep buying board covers all the time.
Customized size - tailored exactly to your needs.
Supplies needed
a piece of plywood the size you need for your ironing purposes. You can ask the workers at Home Depot or Lowes to cut it to size for you. I read about someone who used an old cutting board from their kitchen - just big enough to press the seams between quilt squares at the table. If you plan to travel with it or move it around a lot, consider the weight of the wood you use.
a piece of batting (I use cotton batting, the thicker the better. If you don't have any, let me know, I have LOTS of scraps I can share. It must be a bit bigger than your plywood board; you can use several layers - as long as your batting is on the thicker side, two layers should do. You don't want it too bulky. I've also read about people using a couple of towels or cloth diapers instead of batting. And another that cut up an older full-sized ironing board cover.
a layer of fabric, preferably something with a good weight to it and is smooth. If your fabric is thinner, double it.
staple gun
scissors
Cutting Directions
Cut the batting pieces to the size of your board PLUS an inch or so (you can trace the board and then cut an inch or so outside your lines (depending on the thickness of your board) to get it the size you need.
Cut the fabric to fit all the way around the board with at least an extra inch or more on the end edges. Think of it like wrapping a gift box.
Assembly Directions
Place the batting on the board on the side that you want to be the top. Tack it down with a couple of staples or thumbtacks on all of the side edges (NOT the top) of the board - just enough to keep it in place while wrapping.
Then wrap the fabric from one long side of the back around the front towards the other long side overlapping slightly on the back. Leave enough to fold under the fabric edges, hiding the raw edges. Put in a few staples just to keep the layers from slipping around on the BACK. You don't want staples on the surface you'll be ironing on. Cut off any excess fabric, making sure to leave at least an inch of fabric extra to turn raw edges and to fold onto the short sides so that you have enough to cover the wood on each side. You don't want it to be bulky or uneven because it will move around when ironing. Tuck the short fabric edges inwards and towards the board. Hold tight when stapling. Then cut off any excess again, leaving corners covered.
Use your staple gun to be sure the fabric will stay in place, on the back side only. Make sure all the staples are 'recessed' and if any staple is only halfway through or is sticking out at all, remove it. If your board is really tough to staple into, (some woods are very hard) you could use a hammer and thumb tacks then cover the bottom with batting or felt so that you won't scratch or catch whatever surface you are using your board on. You can cover the back either way just to add a layer between the board and any surface.
Bonus idea - you could hot glue a cutting mat to the bottom side so you can use it to cut OR iron - saving more space. You'd have to be sure to cut your board size to match your cutting mat.
Bonus idea #2 - If you plan for it to be very portable, you could make a handle from any material, or even a piece of leather, then staple it onto one of the short sides so you can carry it easily. If your board is heavy, the staples won't hold - use short nails. Just be sure to attach on a side, not the top or bottom where it will be in the way or not allow it to sit flat without wobbling.
I'm going to use my mini iron - I love that little thing. It's handy, and it gets really hot. And it won't take up a lot of space on the table. Here's a link if you are looking for a good one (I am not an affiliate, I will not make money from your purchase, lol)
If you want to make one, but don't have a staple gun or the confidence to use one - make it an open workshop project! Get your supplies together and sign up for a Sunday workshop where I can help you assemble it.