Happy Tuesday! Today's project is about how to make your own ironing board or ironing station and the "tool" of the day is a staple gun!!
Over the years, I've used a regular ironing board in my sewing room. They work great to adjust the height up and down, but the size of work surface is better for ironing clothing. I do like the feature of bringing the ironing board down low when I'm sewing at the sewing machine and need to press things quickly, but I do need a larger work surface. Larger areas are great for ironing larger pieces of fabric or quilt tops.
Here is my new ironing station!!
My friend Tabatha from work gave me this table. Hi Tabby! Thanks You!! I love the size...long, but narrow.
The first step to make an ironing board is to cover it with quilt batting. I used 2 layers of super thin batting. You can decide how thick you would want your own board.
Love my staple guns...I actually have 3 of them!!
For the batting, you just need to tack it down in a few places to start. Most of the stapling will be done when the fabric goes on.
Depending on your staple gun and the wood you are stapling into, some staples may not go in all the way.
Just tap them in with a hammer.
Just a few tacks here and there to hold it in place.
All covered.
Now for the fabric...I ironed my right on the table to start, because of the wrinkles from storing the fabric.
To make the fabric tight around the edges, I turned the table over to get good pressure on the staple gun. Staple all around and trim off excess fabric.
I stapled every 2 inches or so, pulling tight as I went along. I did have a pretty black and white fabric, but it had a specific directional pattern and it would drive me crazy if it were pulled more in one direction in the pattern. This smaller, all over print was better.
Pull corner fabric and staple the heck out of it!! LOL
All set and ready to go.
I have one of the rubber ironing pads.
Helps when you are ironing along and need to move fabric along, but just put the iron down for a second. Won't scortch the board.
This is long enough for 2 friends on a sewing day!! Tina, are you ready?
You can use any size table to make an ironing station fit your sewing room. Look for old tables in thrift stores, yard sales, from your family or maybe even in your own basement. You might have something that you don't know what to do with because you don't like the way it looks. Perfect...cover it up and make an ironing board out of it!!
Happy ironing,
~Karen~
Thank you for this tutorial. I really like this idea. Very clever!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan
On Sunday I was in my basement looking at a sofa table I have stored because I didn't have anywhere to put it in the house after I moved. It would be PERFECT to convert into an ironing board. The best thing is that I have all the items to complete on hand. As soon as my son comes to visit at Easter I will have him carry the table up 3 flights of stairs to my sewing room. Another great post!!
ReplyDeleteMy "bee" made ironing tables out of TV trays ($9 from Walmart) Did it just like yours only smaller. They're great for taking to retreat or to place beside you at home for quick sew/ press.
ReplyDeleteNow you've got a lovely new ironing board I'll send me ironing over to you!! :0D
ReplyDeleteHi Karen LOVE the ironing board table idea! Might I suggest using The silver Teflon lining under your "fashion fabric"? The table will absorb water from any steam you might use when ironing plus the heat from the iron may also cause the table to warp over time. Thanks for sharing such a cool idea with us!
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny that you posted this because I had just posted about making a much smaller version for my sewing table. I got tired of getting up all the time. I'd rather be lazy (lol) and stay seated. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteI am so ready! Pick a day and I'll be there! I'd like to play with the red & white charms that are still in the original stack.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI made a similar ironing board awhile back, but rather than attaching it to my table, I bought a piece of small plywood and I used Insul-Bright batting, because it's made for things that can take heat like potholders and casserole covers, etc. Then I used a home-dec fabric to cover it. Staple guns are great! Now I can take the board off the table when I need the table for something else. I originally had it sitting on top of my regular ironing board, which worked well too. Then if I needed to iron clothing, I could take the large board off. I also have a silicone iron rest as well. Great minds think alike they say!
This is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteTerrific idea! I made a pressing surface with a long, narrow (5 feet by 2.5 feet) piece of OSB and covered it as you described. It's a table topper and rests behind my sewing table when not in use. It's a little heavy so not everyone would like this setup. I've considered making a smaller one for pressing seams, etc. Your table is handy because you don't have to fool with lifting the pressing surface up and down. :)
ReplyDeleteNice table, I'd love the room for one, even though I'd have to do a kitty hair (and probably kitty himself) removal every time I needed to use it.
ReplyDeleteI second the thought of putting something under the batting to protect the table from the steam. Not only could it warp, but the finish will be ruined, should anyone want to return it to the original use someday.
Oh - I see you have an electric staple gun. May I warn anyone thinking of buying one - don't buy the cheap ones. I did, and it jammed about every 5 staples. I tossed it in the trash, then I bought one of the manual staplers where the lever is "backwards" from the normal staplers. I believe it's a Black & Decker. It keeps more pressure on the staple end when using it. It has never jammed and does an awesome job putting in the staples.
ReplyDeleteQuilterMary - thanks for the reminder about the TV tables. I may use one of those to make a small one for my sewing room.
L*VE it! I wish I had the space ;(
ReplyDeleteKaren my sister did that about 10yr ago. She took a piece of plywood and screwed it to the top of her old wooden ironing board.
ReplyDeleteShe covered hers with the batting and fabric too. It works great for sewing quilts and other large projects. Great idea Karen for an
extra table.
Cool! Hope you enjoy the heck out of your 'new' ironing board.
ReplyDeleteI love to iron. My sewing is a little slow but boy can I iron. I'll be right over. Should I bring my own Dr. Pepper? lol
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI love your idea. I will have to keep an eye out now for a used table to pick up. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled onto your blog from a pinterest link, and just want to say THANK YOU for all of the easy, inexpensive upcycle tips! You are being added to my "frequent visits" list. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this! What a great idea...now just to find a table....and by the way, I LOVE my staple guns!
ReplyDeleteouroldhomestead.blogspot.com
Great idea
ReplyDeleteHugs Janice
So love that!!! Need to find space & a table--minor issues!! VBG!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - I think I may need to invest in a staple gun...seems I can use for many things :)
ReplyDeleteI have a wonderful rectangular iron surface built by a friend. However, on mine, I just made a cover that goes over a cotton mattess pad. That way, when the fabric cover needs washing or replacing, it's simple to pull off. Thanks for sharing your design ideas.
ReplyDeleteThis is on my list...it gets longer and longer and longer...
ReplyDeleteI did a similar thing on a small scale with an old wooden cutting board. I covered it first with aluminum foil to stop the steam from warping the wood.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!!! I've made smaller ones but love this biggie. I use old sheets as the "final" ironing board cover.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great ironing board, Karen--and I'm a little envious of you now;) My sewing studio isn't quite big enough for one of those. However, I do keep two ironing boards in my sewing room because I set one next to my sewing table (dropped to the same height at sewing table) as an extension when I am machine quilting. It works great. When not in use, I keep it folded up in the corner.
ReplyDeleteYou are a re-purposing genius! I'm looking for a sofa table wherever I go from now on.
ReplyDeleteLove this Karen. It would be great for those very large quilt tops and backing.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI read your post awhile ago about ironing and really identified with it. I sell vintage linens and might iron 5 tablecloths in a day. I too enjoy ironing and I loved what you said about admitting to owning at least two Rowenta irons.
I remarried 5 years ago and I told my new husband to be that I needed an iron so he bought a black and decker. I tolerated it as long as I could and ordered a Rowenta on line. We live in a rural area so that was the only way I could find one.
Keep ironing it is very relaxing.
Carmen
Such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Thanks for all your projects and inspiration. I enjoy reading your blog daily.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine had a piece of mdf cut to size. She did the batting like you suggest on one side only, but she covered the entire board in canvas duck. When she needs a large ironing surface, she places it on top of her regular ironing board and goes to town! When not in use, she simply stores it slipped into the space between the wall and her bookshelves. I've often thought of making one like that myself - since space is an issue - just haven't gotten around to it yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, Karen, for a larger ironing surface. I always thought you needed to cover a wood surface like that with Insul-brite to keep the moisture off the wood, or am I wrong? I have a large square piece of MDF that I covered & use that right next to my sewing area. I'm even toying with an idea I saw on Pinterest of covering a wooden TV tray that you can just open up right next to your sewing area & then just fold up when it isn't needed. I'm really curious about the insul-brite & would rather not have to purchase something additional. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCAS
Karen, I love the table idea! How long is it? I also want to tell you I read and absorbed what you wrote about blogs. I'm going to try to put your suggestions into practice on my own blog; and I'm going to post more often. I fell out of the habit a while back.
ReplyDelete