Saturday, August 24, 2013

Space Saving Ironing Board Ideas and More...

Hi everyone! I moved a few things around in my sewing room and wanted to share a space saving idea for your ironing board and few little tips too!

An ironing board, in any size, ranks pretty high in my craft room...right up there with my sewing machine and a sharp pair of scissors. You can't sew or cut wrinkled fabric, you need to iron your seams open and the finished sewing project isn't truly finished without a good press!

Well, I found a new spot for my ironing board. It's on top of the bottom section of an old hutch.

ironing board ideas

Come on in and see and lots more too!!

Here's an old picture of my sewing room. I have since dis-assembled that hutch. The top part is on my desk and the bottom is under the windows with my ironing board on it.


craft hutch


It's the perfect floor space saving idea. I can use the ironing board and the bottom hutch is filled with crafting supplies.

It's a two for one space saver.

You can still adjust the height that you need. Mine is set all the way down due to the height of the cabinet.

ironing board ideas

My board is on a storage cabinet, but yours can be on any piece of furniture that works for you.

You could put it on an old kitchen table ( legs cut down to fit the size you need). Then you could use under the table for storage, file cabinets, boxes etc. Half the table top could be ironing and the other half as a work surface.

ironing board ideas

Here are a few other ironing tips for you.

A silicone mat to prevent that brown scorch on your cover. When I'm ironing, I have the tendency to leave the iron flat and then grab it again quickly. Leaving it flat can cause brownish marks on the ironing board cover. The silicone mat prevents that.

I also have a magnetic pin dish.

ironing board ideas

The magnetic parts dish is from the automotive store. Mechanics use these and attach them to the car...then nuts, bolts and screws go in the dish so they won't lose them.

For sewing, the large magnet sticks to the ironing board and the pins are safe and sound. You can't knock this off at all.

ironing board ideas

It had a super duper magnet on the bottom.

ironing board ideas

Another benefit of the ironing board on top of something is the space UNDER the board. Great for your pitcher of water to refill your iron.

So technically, that's 3 areas in 1 space...the ironing board, the space under it and the storage from the cabinet.

ironing board ideas

and don't forget your old toothbrush holder to store scissors by your ironing board. If you keep scissors in each area of your sewing craft room, you'll never be searching for them again.

ironing board ideas

I also have a old mini ironing board that was my mom's. I covered it with new fabric and it's great for ironing quilt blocks and small projects right next to my sewing machine.

ironing board ideas

If you can't have your ironing board onto top of something, another tip is to have this configuration I had a few years ago. Place your ironing board perpendicular to your sewing desk. Then lower it to your chair height. It's perfect to iron as you go without getting up out of your chair.

Bring it even closer to your chair, at that same desk height and it will carry or hold the weight of your quilt as you sew it.

ironing board ideas

I've also used an "over the door" ironing board. They are another great space saving idea. I can't use it anymore, because the doors next to my sewing machine are exterior doors. The hooks are too small and don't fit over the wide door.

Hope you can use some of the ideas I shared today.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
~Karen~

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30 comments:

  1. Thanks again Karen, these are great tips. I must remember to use my ironing board to carry the weight of my quilt when quilting :)

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  2. Thanks again Karen for these great tips. I haven't got loads of room in my sewing room but I'm rearranging at the moment so I will think about space for the ironing board. At the moment it's in a bedroom which is inconvenient. Have a great weekend Xx

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  3. They're some great ideas for ironing boards! Unfortunately I have pretty much no sewing space and nothing to put it on, but I do spend the whole time tripping over it (and risking knocking the hot iron off!) when it's in the middle of our living room! Will definitely remember these for when I actually have a sewing room!

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  4. Hi Karen,Thank you again for these great tips!!!I won't have a lot of space in my new home and yesterday I spent an hour or so visiting your blog for clever space saving ideas and of course I was not disappointed!!!Thank you!!!Have a fab weekend!!!
    Love
    AMarie

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  5. Great ideas as usual if I ever get my own craft room I would love to have my things out like this. As it is I have a small foldable ironing board from Ikea in my wardrobe and my scissors are in a tin so nobody else can just grab them.

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  6. What wonderful ideas !
    Especially the magnetic parts dish from the automotive store.
    I don't think I will ever be able to walk into Lowes or Home Depot, without thinking of you !! Because I know you are always repurposing something and sharing it with us. lol ;)
    Rose

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  7. Another great idea! It always seems like my ironing board is in the way. I tried a couple different ways but I'm limited by space. If I ever move to a larger room this is a keeper. Pinned, thanks for sharing.

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  8. Karen..your sewing space is beautiful! Even though I have a craft room in the basement, I will stil haul my sewing machine up to the dining room and I end up running up and down to iron....oh well, I guess that sewing is a cardio activity for me! LOL!

    Lori @
    Bee the Change
    Mrs. Faas’ First Grade

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  9. Karen, I love the new look of your blog! These are terrific tips- so helpful! As my little sewing business grows, I'm drowning in piles of fabric and all the notions too...time to look over some of your wonderful organization posts from the past again, too! Have a great weekend! =) Bethany (in NH)

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  10. Fantastic post--great ironing board ideas--am looking around my cellar for an older table to use...thank you Julierose

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  11. Ovo je i moja zelja,da imam sobu za moj hobi.Divno je sve.:)))

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  12. One idea I'd like to share with you is to turn your ironing board around (if you are right - handed) so the wide end is on your left side. I do this and like having a wider pressing area. Of course on the few occasions I have to actually IRON CLOTHES I do have to turn it or move to the backside to use the narrow end.

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  13. What a great idea, thanks for sharing again. It has given me an idea for my own sewing area. I bought a desk for one of my machines but its a little low so I think I'll try my ironing board on top of that it will save hurting my back leaning over to far.we always come away with a new fresh idea lol.

    Peg xx

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  14. I love your site and all the tips I get from you. I too use the magnetic bowl from the automotive shop. Hubby brought it home one day and I stole it! The only problem I have had with it is my straight pins are now all magnetized and stick to my scissors! I have a tendancy to lay pins on the table beside my scissors while hand stitching and then sweeping them into a bowl but invaribly they stick to the scissors and then are in the way when I pick up my scissors. Since that is the only magnet in my sewing room it's the only thing I can think of that's caused it. Doesn't keep me from using the bowl though. Just a thought. Keep the tips comeing... I am getting ready to redo my sewing room and will use several from here. Phyllis

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  15. Love the idea of the magnetic parts tray! Just ordered one!

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  16. Wow! Thank you, thank you! What a great post with all the good ideas and love seeing your pretty craft room! Very thought provoking and inspirational!

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  17. These really are some great tips, Karen!
    I was able to check off each one as I read. :o))
    I have a high "bar" table with open shelves underneath (from Ikea) and covered the top which is my ironing table; got a pitcher for filling the iron (actually, it´s a water cooker that we also make tea with :o)); got silicon mat and iron boot there too; scissors parked there always; and the metal magnetic dish I use for the longarm pins, that way it sticks to the bars as we pin quilts onto the frame; and as a smaller, transportable ironing board, I covered a small board like my ironing table and sewed it up tight together so I can iron on either side.
    YOUR goodies are sooo much prettier though, love LOVE the color and designs and everything in your studio!!!

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  18. Great tips! As my sewing/crafting area gets relocated I know I will keep coming back to your useful information.

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  19. Thanks for all the great tips. Hugs, marie

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  20. Toothbrush holder for scissors... brilliant! Thanks for sharing your tips!

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  21. I use a wooden kitchen island for my cutting and pressing area. I put my mat on top to cut and my other mat to iron. It's got 4 drawers and 2 shelves. Got it on final clearance a couple years ago. Love it!!

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  22. You always have great tips...I am going to be trying your blanket stitch later on today! :)

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  23. Karen: Great tips. Been away from sewing for a while but just ordered and got 2 "Pedal Stays" to hold the foot pedals for my serger and S.M....mine have always slipped away and I finally got these. Changed my life! Do you have them, they are wonderful! Thanks for sharing your tips, including the toothbrush holder for scissors, makes me want to get back to sewing again. {{HUGS}}
    Joy

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  24. What a craft room you have! I refashioned my old ironing board, they don't make them like they used to. Thanks for the great tips, especially about putting the board next to the sewing machine while quilting. Don't have to get up, just turn!
    http://backtosew.blogspot.com/2013/08/ironing-board-cover.html

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  25. I like all the suggestions for storage and space saving... I will have to try some of them out.

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  26. I have an old buffet. Got a 1/4 sheet of plywood and covered it and now the buffet itself is an ironing board! Three huge drawers, and a counter level ironing board that can double as a cutting table.

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  27. Yes great ironing boards. You can also go for Bathla ironing board :)

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  28. Hi, How did you put the design on your sewing desk?

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment...I just love hearing from you!

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