Why do you need a sleeve to the ironing board??
The ironing board sleeve makes ironing the clothes much easier. Shirt sleeves are ironed from top to bottom. Make sure to consider the temperature rating of the iron and what material the shirt is made of.
Ironing board sleeve allows you to iron all the stitches evenly without leaving any creases. This is very important, because the ironed thing with the remaining creases looks very sloppy and ugly.
When you buy an ironing board, you should definitely pay attention to what material it is made of. There are standard, folding, table and built-in mechanisms.
Ironing board cover and sleeves needed to be detachable. This allows you to remove it and wash it quickly if necessary. The procedure must be done every two weeks. You also need to change the foam pad every three months.
Different ironing board sleeves are available in stores. Among them you need to choose the one that would suit the price, convenience and quality.
How to secure and stretch the cover fabric
Regardless of how you will attach the edge of the cover to the tabletop (staples or nails) the tension of the fabric must be made according to a certain scheme. Secure the back side of the cover first with three staples, then tuck the fabric in the front and place a staple in the center. From the center (left and right sides), alternately pull fabric up and secure it with paper clips or nails. Note that this is only a preliminary fixation of the fabric. Finish securing the fabric, with tucking, and laying the folds on the corners and rounding, will be possible after fixing the side sections. The sides should be fastened in a mirror image. Place two, three staples in the center on one side, the same amount on the opposite side, etc.д.
Pulling the cloth this way, the cover will not have folds and distortions. As for the pattern, the scheme gives only approximate allowances. They may need to be adjusted for your board, cut. But this you will determine only by experience, when the fabric will be nailed, because some areas may stretch, others on the contrary. to stretch. By the way, do not overstretch the fabric, the main thing is not to form folds. Before nailing, fold inward the lining by 3-4 cm, you can more or less.
The easiest way to replace the ironing board cover
You do not need to sew the cover for the ironing board. A board with a wooden countertop can simply be reattached by securing the fabric with furniture staples. But first it is necessary to remove the old cover together with the padding from the insulation, because in a wet state it will quickly contaminate the new cover too, especially if it is made of white fabric.
If you leave the old padding in place, and even more so if you do not remove the worn fabric upholstery of the board, it is advisable to use a colored fabric for sewing or re-stitching the cover. Cotton fabrics such as calico are ideal for the cover, but you can also use light blended fabrics. The main thing is that they don’t shed or ruin light-colored things while ironing. By the way, experienced tailors put a clean white cloth on top of the board when ironing light coloured garments.
Types of Covers and Their Features
Which ironing board cover is best depends on several factors:
Nowadays, most manufacturers offer covers for boards with “rubber band” or “string” attachment.
The first option is considered the most resilient and comfortable type of tightening. These covers are easy to put on and are held perfectly taut on the board. But they are not suitable for ironing boards with a stationary ironing board. In addition, the rubber band can stretch over time and the cover will lose its original shape.
Products with strings allow you to change the size of coverage, so they can be purchased for the boards of any parameters and with different types of fastenings. The cord is easy to tie under the board, and if necessary it can be untied for washing or replacing the cover.
How to choose a fabric for the cover
Cotton calico is considered ideal for reupholstering the ironing board, although other types of fabrics can be used if desired. The main thing is that the material should not stretch. Otherwise the new cover will quickly become deformed.
When choosing a fabric, you should also consider the following recommendations:
- Cover fabrics must be shedding resistant. When ironing in steam mode, light-colored garments may become stained from the molting cover and become unusable. To check if the material is prone to shedding, you will need to wash it in a basin with warm, clean water. If the water is still clean after washing, it means the fabric is suitable for sewing the cover, and vice versa.
- A cover that is too light will quickly become dirty and yellow from a hot iron. Therefore, it is better to opt for a darker color. If you still like light materials, you can sew a few removable covers and periodically replace them.
- The fabric used to re-stitch the ironing board must not have additives in its composition, which will stick to the iron when heated. First of all, you have to constantly clean the soleplate of the iron to make sure it glides through the garment. And secondly, a dirty soleplate can easily stain the thing you’re ironing.
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Calculation of the pattern of the cover for the ironing board
Of course the whole process starts with the pattern. But unfortunately there is no ready-made pattern which would be perfect for all the boards, because all the boards are different sizes, so you have to build it yourself.
To do this, you need to measure all the dimensions of the board:
Here are the dimensions of my board, you’ll have your own dimensions, they’re all different.
It is desirable to write down all the dimensions on paper in the form of a diagram like this, so you can easily navigate in the construction.
Then fold the length of the fabric in half and set off half of the width measure. For example if I had the widest part of the board was 35 cm, then I need to take half of that from the fold of the fabric, t.е. The narrowest one is 17.5 cm. And the narrowest is 17 cm, so I put aside 8.5 cm. Then connect these points
Then measure the seam allowance. My stretch of fabric was uneven, so I got different seam allowances. The length of the seam allowance I had was 9.5 cm on each side, but I had more fabric left over on the sides and I didn’t cut it, so it was about 15 cm on each side.
Of course it would be better if the seam allowances were the same, but I was a little short of fabric, but it’s not critical. At the corners I just had to even them out and round them. It is important to round the corners even if the seam allowances are the same.
The corners must be rounded on both sides
accessories for ironing
For more convenience during ironing, the cover of the ironing board can be slightly improved. For example, sew such a in which you can store the cleaning agent for the iron, sprayer, thread for mixing works, a pillow with needles, etc. But the most convenient and the most important additional device for ironing board can be considered a variety of flat cushions. They are very effective for ironing and dishing out seam allowances, removing moisture from the ironed-out product, etc. You can make such a pillow from any thin fabric, including synthetic, and put a few layers of batting or foam rubber inside. Those who sew with their own hands often need various pads for unstitching sleeves and other hard-to-reach places. To replace the cover for such a miniature ironing board can be the same way as the cover for the ironing board.
Tailor’s dummies To sew a cover for the ironing board is not a difficult thing for an experienced seamstress. It is much more difficult to reattach the weathered mannequin cover of the old model. To sew such a cover it is necessary to make exact patterns first, using the ripped details of the removed mannequin skin.
What to choose an ironing system Table top ironing system has a number of additional functions, not only blowing air with a fan. The cover of such an ironing board can be heated up to 90 degrees, which improves the process of ironing and drying.
How to choose an iron correctly When buying a new iron, one should be guided not only by its price but also by the power of the heater, the quality of the iron’s soleplate coating
The weight of the iron, the shape of the handle, the volume of the steam chamber, etc. are also important. How to choose a household iron with a steam generator As part of the ironing system, the iron must have steam or a steam generator
How to choose an iron with a steam generator As part of the ironing system the iron must have a steam iron or a steam generator. The cost of such a system is quite high, so if you decide to sew a cover on the ironing board, use only quality fabrics.
Sew a sheet on an elastic band with your own hands The technology of sewing a sheet on an elastic band somewhat resembles the technology of sewing a cover for an ironing board. Clampers are often used to tighten the corners of this type of sheet, and can also be used to tighten the ironing board cover.
How to secure and tension the cover fabric
Regardless of which way you will attach the edge of the cover to the table top (staples or nails) stretch the fabric according to a certain scheme. Fasten the back of the cover with three staples first, then pull up the fabric to the front and place a staple in the center. Pull the fabric up from the center (to the left and right sides) alternately and secure it with staples or nails. Note that this is only a preliminary fixation of the fabric. Finish securing the fabric, with tucks, and laying pleats on the corners and roundings, once the sides are secured. The sides should be fixed in a mirror image. Two, three staples in the center on one side, the same amount on the opposite side, etc.д.
By stretching the fabric in this way, the cover will have no creases or skewed areas. As for the pattern, the scheme gives only approximate allowances. Maybe for your board they will need to be adjusted, cut. But this you will determine only by experience, when nailing the fabric, because some areas may stretch, others on the contrary. stretch. By the way, do not overstretch the fabric too much, the main thing is not to form creases. Before nailing, fold inward the hem by 3-4 cm, more or less.
How to sew a cover for an ironing board
Many modern ironing boards use lightweight metal alloys instead of pressed wood. And the tops of ironing systems in general is a grid, stretched in a metal frame. Some models even have a fan underneath to create airflow from below. It provides additional drying of the fabric when ironing, creates a vacuum (sticking) or vice versa “lifts” the fabric over the board. For such ironing boards only a cover is required, it is not possible to staple it with a stapler.
How to change an ironing board cover.
If you have a sewing machine and at least a little experience working on it, then you can sew a cover on the ironing board for literally an hour. The consumption of 150 cm wide fabric is the same as for re-stitched. 60 cm. The insulator, as a rule, you will not have to change, because such boards have a special structure and it is necessary to keep it. This is especially important for ironing boards with bottom airflow.
Turn the board upside down and trace the outline of the board with a chalk on the wrong side of the fabric. Then add 5-7cm, max 10cm (in a circle), remove the board and the pattern is ready. You can “disassemble” the old cover, unstitch the hemming and then the pattern will be much more accurate, but it is too troublesome and time consuming. Especially since the cover on the ironing board is not a cover on a sofa or an armchair. Any inaccuracies will be “hidden” at the bottom of the countertop. The only thing that remains is to decide how to process the edge of the cover, so it does not slip off the board during ironing and at the same time was stretched, “as a string.
