Patchwork Ironing Board Cover

Your ironing station should be just as jazzy as you are! Create this fun and easy cover to bring new life to your ironing station. This is a great way to add new décor to your sewing space while maintaining functionality. Throughout the instructions please keep in mind that ironing board sizes vary and you may need to adjust width to accommodate the size of your board.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS WITH ADDITIONAL PHOTOS.

Supplies

• Baby Lock Sewing Machine
• Baby Lock Serger (optional)
• 1.5 yards Main Fabric
  • Cut into (2) 25” x WOF pieces
• 1 fat quarter Patchwork Fabric #1
  • Cut (3) 2.5” x 21” strips
• 1 fat quarter Patchwork Fabric #2
  • Cut (3) 2.5” x 21” strips
• 3 yards ¼” elastic
• Bodkin (or similar substitute)
• Madeira Sewing Thread
• Rotary Cutter Ruler and Mat
• Wonder Clips or Pins
• Marking Pen
• Iron and Ironing Mat
• Fabric Shears
• Optional: 2 layers of Batting OR Insulbrite if you need to replace the ironing board liner as well

Instructions:

Create Your Design Element

A great way to make this ironing cover your own is to add a pretty piece of patchwork. A simple 9 patch can add a ton of fun! Whatever design you choose keep in mind that you want to minimize seams and bulk to ensure your ironing still comes out crisp and neat.

1. Create 2 strip sets with alternating Patchwork fabrics using a ¼” seam allowance. One set will be Color 1 Color 2 Color 1 and the other with be Color 2 Color 1 Color 2.
2. Press all seams open to reduce bulk and minimize any bumps in your ironing board cover.
3. From each strip set Cut (6) 2.5” subsections.
4. Create (2) 9 patch blocks for each color combination pictured above. Continue pressing all seams open.
5. Sew all (4) 9 patch blocks together creating one long checkerboard segment.

Create the Quilt Top

1. Sew each 25”x WOF Main Fabric segment to the long side of your patchwork strip using a ¼” seam allowance. (This may result in an excessively long piece but this will allow you to choose where to place your patchwork on your ironing board cover)
2. Place your new patchwork piece wrong side up on a large flat surface.
3. Place your ironing board on your patchwork piece. You can use your ironing board as your template to shape your cover. Take note of where your patchwork strip lies. Keeping it to one end will minimize the seams you will iron over on a daily basis.
4. Using a marking pen loosely follow the outline of your ironing board leaving a 6-8 inch gap. Don’t be too concerned about perfection the elastic will fix all of this in a later step.
5. Cut along the line you’ve marked.
6. Optional Using your Baby Lock serger serge the outer edge of your newly cut out piece in order to minimize fraying. If you don’t have a serger you can use your Baby Lock sewing machine with a zig zag foot attached and a zig zag stitch to minimize fraying.
7. Optional If you notice that the lining on your ironing board can use a refresh this is a great time to do so. Using either a double layer of batting or a single layer of InsulBrite trace your ironing board (or the old foam) to create new lining. Once you’ve cut out your new lining set it aside.

Insert Elastic

This is when your ironing board cover really takes shape.

1. Fold the edge in about half of an inch. Stitch in place using an 1/8” seam allowance. This creates a tube to insert your elastic into. Keep in mind the size of the bodkin you’ll be using to guide your elastic. You may need to enlarge your fold over.
2. While sewing you’ll run into some curves. Create small pintucks to ease the fabric around the corners of your template. If you have a square or rectangular board you won’t run into this issue.
3. Be sure to leave a 4-5” opening at the wide end of your cover so that you can insert your elastic.
4. Now it’s time to insert your elastic. Take one end of your elastic and pin it to the middle of the 4” gap you left open in the previous step.
5. Take the opposite end of the elastic and insert it into your bodkin.
6. Using your bodkin guide your elastic through the tube you created along the outside of your cover. Be sure to smooth out the fabric to avoid bunches that will make it difficult to pull the elastic through.
7. Once you guide the elastic through to the other end and you’ve smoothed the fabric as much as possible pin the bodkin end of the elastic next to where you pinned the opposite end. Be careful not to let go before you pin!

Finishing Options

Time to fit your cover to your board!

1. Place your ironing board cover on to a large flat surface right side down. If you’ve chosen to replace your batting you can layer that inside as well.
2. Insert your ironing board being sure to shift your cover to evenly cover the nose of your board and the sides.
3. The easiest way to ensure that your patchwork is straight and aligned is to use elements on the underside of your board as markers.
4. Carefully unpin the 2 ends of elastic and hold them securely. Pull them evenly to gather the cover. Be sure to adjust the fabric and gathers so your cover is neatly aligned. Don’t pull too tightly you want to make sure there is still stretch in the elastic so that you can put the cover on and off easily.
5. Once you’re satisfied with your gather tie the elastic in a knot.
6. Pin the knot to the inside of your ironing board cover. Sew a straight stitch across your elastic close to the knot. Be sure to back stitch at the beginning and end of each stitch.
7. Voila! You’re all done. Happy Creating!