Easy DIY Ironing Board Cover

A quick and easy tutorial on how to make an ironing board cover. 

Whether you’re a habitual or casual ironer, you know it’s time to give your ironing board a fresh makeover when it’s starting to look a little too war-torn and miserable. So, for today’s DIY project, let’s make a brand new ironing board cover. If you want to give it a nice plump face lift, feel free to add a few layers of batting. Otherwise, just re-use the foam it came with. 

If you make this ironing board cover, be sure to share pics of your finished project by tagging me @sew_zune on Instagram or post on the Zune’s Sewing Therapy Facebook. I’d love to see your creation!

OK, let the makeover begin! 

Supply List:

• Cotton – Quilting Cotton or Muslin. I used a Natural Unbleached Medium Weight Muslin. The amount of fabric you need depends on the size of your ironing board. The following measurements can help you determine how much fabric you will need to buy: Average standard ironing board 54×15 Average sleeve ironing board 20×5 *Your fabric needs to be several inches larger than the above measurements as 1.5” needs to added all around the board. 
• Double Fold Bias Tape – Length is the measurement of the entire edge of the ironing board cover plus 1”-2” 
• Drapery Cord – Length is the measurement of the entire edge of the ironing board cover plus 10 or so inches to tie.
• Safety pin

Step 1. Making the Cover (There are 2 ways to make the new cover)

1a. Tracing the board: Place the ironing board facedown on the fabric, and trace 1.5” away from the board’s edge. The extra 1.5” is added so that the cover can wrap around underneath the board. 

1b. Tracing the old ironing board cover: Fold the fabric, also fold the old ironing board cover in half. Align the folded old ironing board cover with the folded fabric. Cut along the edge of the old board cover. No seam allowance need to be added as the raw edge will be covered with bias binding. 

Step 2. Making the Bias Tape

2. If you’re using a pre-made bias binding, then you can skip to Step 3: Attaching the Bias Tape. To find the length of the bias tape, fold the board cover in half and measure all around the edge. Double that measurement and add 1”-2”. The extra few inches are added in order to fold the bias ends when sewing as it will be the openings to thread the cord through.

3. Cut 1” strips diagonally from the selvage using a rotary cutter and cutting mat. If you’re using scissors, draw 1” lines diagonal from the selvage, then cut the strips with your scissors. The number of strips you cut will depend on the length that you need.

4. To start making your continuous bias tape, place 2 of the bias strips right sides together, and make an “L” shape. Sew diagonally, trim the seam allowance down to 1/4”, and then press it open. After pressing the seam allowance open, turn the right side of the bias towards you – this will make it easier for you to see the excess pointy corners of the seam allowance – trim the excess. 

• 

• 

5. After you have sewn your first 2 strips together, now you will have a “right” side and “wrong” side on your bias tape. Continue adding the strips to the bias tape by making an “L” shape, but be sure to have the right side of the bias tape facing you.  Once you have the length that you need, press your bias tape in half.

Step 3: Attaching the Bias Tape

6. Fold one end of the bias tape under about 1/4” and start pinning the right side of the bias tape all around the wrong side of the ironing board cover. When you get back to where you started pinning, fold the bias end under 1/4”, then pin it in place. Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

• 

• 

7. Press the binding up away from the raw edge of the cover. Fold and press the binding edge under 1/4” towards the right side of the board cover, then fold 1/4” again so that the bias tape now wraps the raw edge of the board cover. Edgestitch around the edge of the bias tape. 

Step 4: Inserting the Cord

8. To feed the cord through the bias tape opening, tie the cord to a safety pin. Then thread the safety pin through the opening. Leave enough cord from each bias opening before cutting. Nylon cords tend to ravel easily so be sure to knot each end. 

• 

• 

Now it’s time to dress your naked ironing board with the new cover! Did you do any of the steps differently? Share your comments, thoughts, questions below. Until next time…Stress less, sew more!