DIY Tutorial: Pressing board in ONE hour

Today I decided it was about time I make a real pressing station.  The ironing board with its cheap metal grate just was not cutting it.

While out earlier, I picked up two yards of muslin from Hobby Lobby ($6 with the 40 percent off coupon) and a 24-inch square (it’s really just under 24 inches) of ½ inch birch plywood from Lowe’s ($7.44).

This is seriously an easy project that takes approximately one hour to complete.

Lay the wood onto a scrap piece of cotton batting (ONLY use 100% cotton batting since this will have contact with your iron) and cut about 4 inches around on each side.  Starting from the middle, staple the batting to the wood, then move to the opposite side – pulling it taut.  Repeat with the remaining sides – making sure to staple carefully around the corners to eliminate bulk.

 

On the fold, cut the muslin to the dimensions 26 inches (perpendicular to the fold) and 26 ½ inches (parallel to the fold).

Take the end seams opposite the fold and press ¼ inch in, then again – so no raw edges are exposed.

Hem both sides – then use a zigzag stitch to enclose the two sides perpendicular to the fold.  This has created somewhat of a “pillow case” for the pressing board.

 

Turn right side out and insert the board.  That’s it!  Total cost for materials was under $20, although if you don’t have a staple gun that would be an additional cost.

The best part about this method is that you can remove the case and launder it if needed.  You can also make additional cases and switch them out periodically.  I chose the tea dyed muslin because when scorch marks happen (and they will!) at least I won’t be bummed that it happened to my better fabric.

See you next time!

– Jennifer