Working with regular iron is so tiresome. Standard iron board size is always not enough for me. Ironing my large quilt over a normal size iron board is very tough. It can spoil the quilt quality as well.
I tried to purchase a ready-made large quilting iron board, but it was not cheap. Those boards are suitable for your quilting work but are not affordable. We call these boards “Big-Board” if you search them online.
So finally, I made up my mind regarding the DIY iron quilting board. There are various designs available on the internet regarding homemade iron boards. You can learn the process of making wide iron boards from there.
Our DIY ironing board will cost less than $50. All the supplies and tools are readily available in nearby hardware stores. All you need to do is follow the correct procedure, which we will explain here.
We will have a look at “How to make a large ironing board for quilting.” We will learn different steps and procedures which we will follow to make the iron board.
So prepare your saw; it’s time for production.
Why Do You Need an Ironing Quilting Board?
We all know how necessary ironing is for the quilting process. Iron takes out wrinkles and creases from quilting fabric and presses the seams. Without ironing, your quilt will look very bad.
Wrinkles and creases must not be present before we start the quilting process. If you leave them on the quilt, your quilt quality will deteriorate. Your stitches will suffer due to wrinkles.
But to remove those wrinkles and creases, we need to place over the quilt on something flat and high. We need to use the iron board to iron the quilt correctly. Otherwise the ironing process will suffer.
Sometimes, our quilt can be large, not fitting over a regular iron board. In such cases, we require a large iron table. We can either buy those large iron tables or create one of our own. We can fit these big tables on our regular iron table.
We can work on our big quilt effortlessly by having a large iron table. We can quickly press our quilt seams and remove any wrinkles and creases from them. It will make our life easier.
So now, we know the requirement of a giant ironing quilting board. Now we will learn about the process of making one at our home.
Tools Required
To make our iron quilting board, we need some tools. These tools can be easily purchased from any hardware shop. Let’s have a look at these tools.
- Hand Saw
- Hand sander
- Jig Saw
- Screwdriver
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Measuring Tape
- Pen
- Drill machine
Materials Required
We need materials or supplies to create the board. You can buy tools and supplies from any hardware store or online. You can always choose supplies and materials according to your needs.
- Fabric(2-3 Yards)
- Batting(4 layers)
- Wood top(16″ x55″)
- Old ironing board
- Screws
- Washer(Optional)
These are the supplies that you should have before you start the process. Materials are dependent upon your requirement and need. You can always select different kinds of materials if required.
How to Make a Large Ironing Board?
Now the fun part begins. You are going to create your big ironing board. You have got all the supplies and tools needed for your work. You need to follow these steps to create your board in the least time possible.
Warm your hands and prepare your saw—time for some exercise and cutting.
Step 1- Cut out the board in the desired dimension
Cut your board to the desired size. We will recommend the size of 16″ x55″. Cut your board to this size. This will make sure that your board is wider and longer. Now square your tapered ends so that you can iron yardage.
We choose the standard size of the board. You can always choose a bigger board for your work if you want. It would be best to keep a few things in mind, and you are good to go.
Step 2- Round the corners
Once you have created the rectangular shape board, now it’s time to round off its edges. This is a crucial step. It will make sure that the fabric and batting wrap around the edges easily.
Round off edges also make sure that your kids, pets, and family members are not hurt. Round edges make sure that no one is hurt when they collide with it.
Use a bowl or any circular object to mark the round shape on the board. Then by using a jigsaw, cut out all the significant parts and make it round. Follow the procedure for all four sides of the board.
Don’t worry about the finish. You can always use sandpaper to finish it. However, our batting layers will make your work more manageable too.
Step 3- Sand all edges
Now it’s time to provide the finish to your edges. Grab any sandpaper which you have. Start by sanding the edges first. Make sure that you smooth sharp edges first.
Try to make your edges as round as possible. Look for splinters on your board. Eliminate all the fragments. Otherwise, these sprinters will create problems for you in the long run.
We need to make the board a little dull to wrap batting and fabrics correctly over the board. This will make sure that batting and fabric will fit tightly.
Step 4- Wrap board in batting
Now it’s time to wrap the board with batting. You can use three layers of batting if you want, but we have gone for four layers. It will make it look great.
Remember, you need to use 100% cotton fabric for this work. Otherwise, you will soon learn how iron heat reacts with poly blend batting. It will not be suitable for sure.
Make four layers of batting before you begin to wrap your board. Wrap your batting around the board securely and tightly. It will make sure that your board quality will be top-notch.
Once you have wrapped your batting, secure it with staplers behind the board. Trim away all the excess batting from your board.
Step 5- Wrap batting in fabric.
Time to make your ironing board pretty. Due to batting, it is already looking thick and hairy. Now we will use fabric to increase its aesthetics.
Follow the same procedure and cut fabric according to board size. Cover the board using your material. Fold the fabric near the edges to ensure it looks good and won’t open up.
Make sure that your fabric is smooth near the edges. Try to be careful here. You don’t want uneven edges on your board.
After wrapping up your board correctly, it’s time to secure your fabric correctly. Use a staple to secure it tightly below the board. Once you are done, you shouldn’t see any batting edges. Now it’s time to attach the board.
Step 6- Attach to base.
Keep your newly formed board upside down. Now take your old iron board and keep it over the new board in an upside-down position. Open your iron board legs.
Place it correctly over your new iron board. Make sure that it looks balanced from all sides. Use the ruler to make sure of it.
Use your screws to fasten both the boards together. You can drill holes if you don’t have any gaps in your boards. Now secure the boards together with screws. If your screws are not tight, use washers to secure them tightly. – You can use 4 to 5 screws to fasten both boards together.
Step 7- Iron away
Now that you have crafted your board and kept it in the correct position, it’s time to do some ironwork.
You can quickly work on your large size quilt over this large iron board. Now you can press your seams as much as you want without compromising the quality of your quilt.
Advantage of the wide iron board over regular.
The most significant advantage of using a wide iron board over a regular one is speed or greater efficiency.
If your iron board is smaller than your quilt, be prepared to spend a long time ironing the quilt. Let’s be honest; ironing can be a very dull procedure. Every quilter wants to complete this tedious task as quickly as possible.
Having a big iron board will ensure that we don’t need to spend a massive amount of time ironing the clothing. We can easily place our iron quilt over the board and start ironing it.
If we don’t have the large board, we need to keep setting the quilt to iron it fully. Hence, it’s best to have a large iron board.
Conclusion
Having a big ironing board is quite advantageous for us. It can increase our speed and efficiency alike.
You can either purchase a big ironing board from shops or make your own. If you don’t have time and have no problem with high costs, you should buy the board.
However, if you want to be frugal and show your creativity, you can easily make one at your home. We have learned all the steps required to make your ironing board. I hope you like the information here. Happy Quilting.
