Many quilters long to have a large, square surface on which to iron their projects, yet standard ironing boards are not rectangles or squares. They are made with a tapered end for ironing shirts and pants.Ironing surfaces that are custom-made for quilting are either built onto expensive or too large cabinets or they are costly despite being made from inexpensive materials. For around $50, anyone with basic carpentry skills can build a quilter's ironing board.
This is a simple project for building an ironing board that fits over a standard ironing board and allows quilters to iron fabric or quilt tops in a single pass rather than hassling with the narrow end of standard ironing boards.
Materials Needed for a Quilting Ironing Board
All the materials used in this project can be found in either a local hardware store or in a quilting or craft store. The entire project takes about an hour to complete.
- 1 Standard ironing board
- 1 2-foot by 4-foot by 3/4-inch sheet of high quality, smooth plywood (can be larger if desired)
- 2 1 1/2-inch by 4-foot by 1/2-inch furring strips
- Batting to cover board (Warm and Natural cotton, which is thin, was used in the photos, so two layers were applied)
- Heavy duty cotton or canvas fabric
- Staple gun and staples
- 6 Wood screws
- Screw driver
- Electric drill
Note: Most hardware stores will cut boards and furring strips to the desired size if asked.
Instructions for Building a Quilting Ironing Surface
- Measure the standard ironing board at its widest point. This will be the distance the furring strips will be attached to the plywood, so be accurate.
- On the back of the plywood, measure and mark where the furring strips will be located, being sure that the gap between strips is marked from board edge to board edge, not from the center of one of the furring strips to the other. To ensure stability, center the furring strips' placement so that they are equidistant from the plywood's center.
- Align the furring strips on the marked lines. Tape can be used to hold the furring strips in place.
- Drill three holes through each of the furring strips and into the plywood itself.
- Screw the wood screws into the holes, tightening firmly.
- Spread out the batting, then lay the plywood in the center of the batting. Make sure that there's enough batting on all sides so that it can wrap around the board and can be securely stapled to the back side of the wood. Brush out any wrinkles and pull the batting taut. Staple the batting in place, folding corners neatly.
- If desired, attach a second layer of batting to the plywood.
- Spread out the heavy duty fabric, and smooth out any wrinkles. Lay the batting-covered plywood board in the center of the fabric. Wrap the fabric around the board, pulling it taut, and staple it securely to the board.
- Flip the board over, and place it gently over the standard ironing board. The fit should be snug to keep it from wobbling.
The quilter's ironing board is now complete and ready to be used!
Mary Beth Miller - Mary Beth Miller is the author of two Young Adult novels from Dutton Children's Books, Aimee (2002) and On the Head of a Pin (2006). Some ...
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