Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of your ironing board? Good grief, I never had such a struggle. It is surprisingly difficult to make those things look good. You have to get way back to get the whole thing in the photo and then all sorts of other ugly things you don't particularly want to share sneak into the picture.
I found an awesome tutorial on how to make an ironing board cover. Eva over at Sew Much Good (is that not the best blog name ever?) made one, and has featured the clearest instructions on how you can make one too. It took no time at all, and I am so pleased with how I transformed my grody looking ironing board into something much nicer. I highly recommend that you check it out. The best thing is, with two yards of fabric, you can make TWO ironing board covers, one for you and one for your best friend!
Here is one photo, not the best, but it is what it is. I was moving this darn ironing board all over the room trying to get good lighting. Excuse the mess of wires under the sewing table. I still have not figured out how to deal with them.
The cover has a simple casing with 1/4 inch elastic passed through it to make it fit nice and snug. One great feature is how simple it is going to be to get it off and on again if I want to wash it. Honestly, this was so darn easy to make, and I did not need to even leave my house to buy anything. The fabric was left over from a quilt I made years ago and the elastic was on hand in a drawer of sewing notions. That's all you need. You know you have two yards of fabric and a package of elastic somewhere, don't you? Go on, find them, check out Eva's tutorial, and make a cute new ironing board cover!
What a great idea and tutorial!! Thanks!
Love the fabric you chose for your new cover. Isn't it just beautiful?!
About two years ago DH made a wonderful rolling ironing cabinet for me. It has a broad rectangular top with two wings that can be put up if I need the extra length. I'm not sure this top would lend itself to a new cover, but that cabinet pictured in the Sew Much Good tutorial gives me ideas about jazzing up the plain sage green ironing cabinet itself!
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | May 24, 2012 at 05:42 AM
How encouraging to be able to make a new cover practically at whim. Thank you.
BUT, I want to see Barbara Anne's rolling ironing cabinet. I have been wanting something new and that sounds like what I want.
Posted by: Christine Thomas | May 24, 2012 at 08:13 AM
Love it! You're so smart.
Posted by: Susan Ramey Cleveland | May 24, 2012 at 10:37 AM
I need one badly! ;p
Posted by: ina | May 24, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Your new cover makes me green with envy. (Groan -- sorry, couldn't resist.) That is a great tutorial and I may have to try it out one day when I'm not preparing for daughter's high school graduation and all the ensuing parties. Yikes!
Posted by: sillysally | May 24, 2012 at 12:17 PM
I'm so glad you made your ironing board cover and found out it was FAST & EASY! Thanks for sharing my blog. I feel another tutorial coming on. Stay Tuned!
Posted by: Eva | May 24, 2012 at 04:53 PM
BTW Barbara Anne -- That dresser, painted ala Mary Engelbreit, was just an ugly old dinged up oak dresser left over from the kids. It got its new life last fall in my garage. Watch for a future post where its transformation is featured. It is now the focus of my little sewing studio(aka spare bedroom).
Posted by: Eva | May 24, 2012 at 04:59 PM
Hey, Nicole
Luv luv luv your new ironing board cover. Don't know if I could've sacrificed such a gorgeous piece of fabric but now that I see it done up, it makes such a statement...beautiful.
I just tackled the cords under my sewing table last weekend and am loving the results...it certainly clears up all the visual clutter and tripping hazards. Simply attach (I used screws but not all the way in...3M removable hooks might also work) the power bar to the inside of the table's skirt. Then you can bundle up any electrical cords that are hanging down from the power bar and secure to the underside of the table...voila...messy cords are outa sight! Here's the bonus...I have my sewing machine, ott lamp and radio all plugged into the same power bar so I never forget to turn anything off as the radio and lamp are a reminder to turn off the power!
Posted by: teresa mk | May 24, 2012 at 05:41 PM
It looks so nice! I'm headed over now to check out the tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Kim | May 24, 2012 at 06:16 PM
Thank you so much for this! Can't wait to try it! :O)
Posted by: Bari Jo | May 24, 2012 at 11:00 PM
Great tutorial and its always good to have something pretty to admire when ironing, which is something I do not like to do.
Posted by: Teresa | May 25, 2012 at 02:09 AM
Someone already said it, but I was going to suggest attaching your cords to the underside of your table to hide them and run it down the leg to the plug, not sure where your plug is. Great job on the ironing board cover.
Posted by: Karen CA | May 25, 2012 at 03:39 PM