Build a Quilters Ironing Board - Make a Pressing Board Any Size!

[@riseabove3133]

Great Tutorial! Mine came out great. I do wish you could add dimensions at the beginning, in the description or in a pinned comment. Here’s the dimensions I used: 3/4” plywood cut 14 x 14” square . Cotton Batting: 18 x 18“ square. Outer Canvas Cover Fabric: cut 22 x 22” square

[@LeahDay]

The dimensions really depend on the size and shape of the pressing board you're making. I have multiple homemade boards in all sizes and shapes. But I will pin your comment since you did the work for me!

[@leslietrumm3049]

I've made several small ones like this and my husband made me a 3' x 4' free standing ironing table for my height - one of my favorite quilting tools. I always put down a layer of aluminum foil on the wood beneath the batting to keep the steam/damp from the wood, plus it reflects heat for better pressing.

[@LeahDay]

We've played with using a heat reflective batting, but Dad wasn't a fan. He felt like it trapped the heat within the board and didn't reflect it as well as he expected. We'll try tin foil next time!

[@DulaPearl]

That is an excellent idea. Thank you.

[@jmuehlbauer42]

One thing I did to my pressing board was take a fabric marker and draw straight lines at different measurements, and squares onto the fabric. It helps me to iron strips straight and iron blocks inside the squares without warping them. Also, the heat of the iron 'fixed' the marker and I have no bleed even with steam. Great video!

[@LeahDay]

That's a great idea! I've been thinking about creating a simple print with Spoonflower with straight lines and maybe a 45 degree angle marked. That could work too printed on eco canvas!

[@SheerStitchery]

This is the best tutorial on pressing boards that I have come across so far. Thanks for sharing!

[@LeahDay]

Yay! So happy to hear this!

[@taksorci4531]

I have made many of these, I put drawer liners on the back of mine so that they don't slide.

[@LeahDay]

That's a great idea! Thank you for sharing!

[@SheerStitchery]

What a perfect idea and also safer as they don't slide around.

[@ransomdaniels8395]

Excellent presentation! Clear, concise description and directions, reasoning for choices was logical and given relative importance, which was helpful. And forgive me,but there was little to no extraneous chatter that can frankly so etimes be annoying when youre interested in the hows a d whys of a project and not how the week was so hectic for you and the recipe for stuffed peppers. You did an actual lesson, you see! I subscribed and look forward to more videos!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@LeahDay]

LOL! I'm face-palming because I once mixed a podcast with tutorials and it was just like the disaster videos you describe. I realized after a few years that I hated it and stopped. Now I try to be as concise and clear as possible, cause I don't have tons of time to watch videos and I bet that's the case for most people. Have a great day and thanks for taking the time to comment. I have to stop and chuckle at myself and those past horrible videos! LOL!

[@catherinegoaack1629]

Yay! Thank you so much Leah! I made this board twice so far, the first time I didn’t have 100% cotton, so one is with 80/20, I will let you know how that holds up. I just got my hundred percent cotton and made my second one I followed along with your video thank you so much

[@LeahDay]

That's great to know Cathy! Thank you for sharing!

[@denisemcintosh7568]

I bought a wooden tv tray covered that with cotton batting and fabric. It is the perfect height for me and it doesnt take up precious room on my sewing table.

[@mariamcphail]

I did the same. It's perfect!

[@LeahDay]

That's a great idea!

[@philby611]

Great idea!! I have some wooden TV trays in my closet and will use one for this. It's small enough to fit in my already overcrowded sewing room and short enough to use while sitting down, saving me the trouble of the up and down each time I need to press a seam.

[@staceygambettimakeup]

Hi Denise. Do you have a photo of yours at all? I have a wooden TV tray that I can use. Thanks

[@candyly4]

@@mariamcphail Genius!

[@janetknight209]

I made one today. My house was built in 1982 and when the builder cut out the holes for the sink; after he had put the cabinet top on the wood. He gave me one of the cut-outs for a cutting board that matched my cabinet top. . I’ve used it for years, but I have other ones to use. I had some canvas that I’d bought for something else but decided against that project, and I’d bought some cotton batting to that is for making microwaveable baked potatoes. The corners were rounded. I don’t like the finished corners that much, but it is pretty heavy canvas. I made it while tending to 2 grandkids. Thanks for the video.

[@juliefox77]

Thanks for the instructions, Leah! After watching your video my hubby and I built a 24 x 48 pressing board to sit on top of a portable table I have. I love it and plan on making another smaller one!

[@LeahDay]

That's great! It makes such a big difference for your quilting ability! Just wait and see!

[@traceybell4511]

Thank you Leah for another helpful video, Hubbly-bubbly is off to the woodyard tomorrow bless him :)

[@LeahDay]

Aw! That's great!

[@beadage]

I made my own ironing mat! Used heat reflective fabric, heavy felt by the yard and some cotton fabric on top. Stapled it to a 15x9" wood board in layers and covered the staples with some cute ribbon, hand sewn around the perimeter. I put the seams and staples on the sides so it would look nicer and wouldn't scratch table surfaces. Your video was so helpful!

[@nlenards]

Where did you get the heat reflective fabric? Do you have a link? I've been searching and everyone has 'insulated' fabric for like pot holders which is not the same type of fabric.

[@Ghostmaker2666]

Thanks so much for the great video! I made one today 36inch by 18inch in preparation to start the Building Blocks quilt pattern.

[@jeanettawhelan8162]

Very easy to follow. Have made three of them so far.

[@mahhubbard]

My hardware store usually has scrap wood pieces in a bargain bin for a cheaper prices I can’t wait to make this board.

[@treezza2817]

Thank you for this tutorial, Leah! I finally got around to making a pressing board, and your method is terrific! I've been using a small tabletop ironing board, and it just wasn't working for me, but this is ideal! Using it is going to make quilting and other projects so much easier.

[@LeahDay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aurorad3522]

I really like the quilt on the background. Looks like a great way to practice patterns.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Aurora!

[@nancypollard4531]

I was just thinking yesterday as I was pressing some seams that I wished I had a firmer pressing surface and thought I would have to buy one of those boards. Wow! I can just make one. Best of all I think I already have all the materiels. Thank you

[@LeahDay]

Yep! Make it yourself! It's so nice to use materials you already have and have something very useful in the end.

[@jaclynmoylan1905]

I bought myself an air stapler/electric stapler just for this purpose. Thanks for this video, I’ve seen a ton of them but I like your idea of the cotton canvas on the outside. I will definitely get some. I haven’t made a board yet because I just wasn’t sold on the idea of using quilters cotton like so many people do.

[@nancystockman9719]

I have a 72" resin table that serves as my pressing, cutting, and folding surface (as that room is also my laundry room). I had a piece of plywood cut to fit the whole table and used Warm & Natural and canvas for the (full table) pressing surface. I did the additional step of spritzing it all down with water as a last step...shrunk the canvas just a tad to make sure it was snug. I keep a large cutting mat on one side but can easily take it off to give me a huge area, or add more smaller cutting mats to have a huge cutting surface.

[@LeahDay]

That's a great suggestion about shrinking it with water! Thank you for sharing!

[@jaclynmoylan1905]

Another idea for the bottom of the board would be those little feet that you can just hammer into the bottom. Cheap and would probably give you a nice grip to the underside. I don’t know exactly what they are called but they have a rubbery finish on them

[@LeahDay]

That's a good idea! I'll have to look for them!

[@georgiahanchera6449]

Thank you, Leah, for ALL of your very meticulous videos! What do you find as max fabric layers for cutting accurate 2 1/2 squares? I have done only two table runners and one lap quilt. My next quilt is requiring hundreds of squares! I’m actually in a panic, but want to do this.

[@LeahDay]

I would look into ways you can strip piece (piece strips together in sets, then cut across to create strip-sets) and reduce the number of individual squares you have to cut. As for layers, it depends on how picky I'm being...4 layers is my max, 2 layers if I'm aiming for excellent accuracy.

[@denisek5208]

I absolutely love this project! A valid reason to use power tools since I have an electric stapler. A similar concept to covering a dining room chair. I will be making at least one this week-end.😁

[@LeahDay]

LOL! I love a good excuse to use power tools too!

[@melindagibson8606]

Ordered my walking foot to follow along! Great topic thanks!!!

[@LeahDay]

That's great! Thank you for watching!

[@katimelgarejo1010]

I have a 4 foot by 2 foot board I made a while ago. I love it. I covered it with terrycloth and quilting cotton. It is getting time to recover it I may try the canvas this time.

[@LeahDay]

That sounds perfect! Just wait until you have thin cotton and canvas on top. You'll be in heaven!

[@DSLAlex4]

My husband made one for me and I use it all the time. Very handy and worth making.

[@LeahDay]

That's great Sherri!

[@evanm076]

Did he do it just like this? Or was your different.

[@DSLAlex4]

evanm076 same process but he used thin cotton batting with cotton fabric on top.

[@evanm076]

Okay. Thanks.

[@DSLAlex4]

evanm076 You’re so welcome.

[@MEC03]

Thanks! Just what I needed, Leah.

[@LeahDay]

Awesome! So glad you found this helpful!

[@joykilborn6995]

That looks great. Would a stripped canvas work also.

[@LeahDay]

I don’t see why not!

[@tammyadams7965]

Thank you for this tutorial, I need to make a couple different sizes.

[@eksingle88]

Do you wash your canvas before making your board? I used duck cloth on my first board. Have some canvas to re-cover it because it REALLY needs it! Thanks for all your tutorials, Leah.

[@LeahDay]

You're super welcome! No, I don't usually wash the canvas. I kinda like the weird way it smells LOL!

[@jenniferfarsh675]

I have a homemade pressing board but need to change out the fabric.. I'm going to look for canvas. Thanks for a great tutorial 😊

[@1peytonplace703]

I cannot find cotton canvas at my local Walmart or JoAnn's. Does cotton Duck cloth work for this project? Love your videos.

[@maryjanegilmore5525]

Thanks. I thought that I missed this video. I do have a small one that was with my Viking machine. It does have the marks and cutting board on the other side. I will have to make one of these.

[@LeahDay]

That's great! I'm so glad you enjoyed this video!

[@kayskreations1241]

Can the fabric be regular cotton fabric or does it have to be Canvas?

[@Branalyn]

A couple years ago, my husband @daileywoodworks was making Wahoo boards for customers. There was a mistake board so I stole it and covered it in two layers of thin batting and had him make 4 small feet for it. It’s been my pressing board ever since! It’s badly in need of recovering. It’s about 2’x2’. I’ve been thinking I need a tiny one for beside my machine but also thinking about a much bigger one. Currently, my husband is building me a craft room in the garage so we can have 3 actual bedrooms again. One thing that will eventually be a part of it is a huge table about 5x5 (it will also fold away) for pressing, basting, etc. I think I am going to make a much bigger one for that table!

[@LeahDay]

That sounds wonderful! It's good to be thinking about how your space can be better and more efficiently organized and designed. I love reorganizing so it functions better and we're able to finish more quilts!

[@joyceburrill2738]

agreed. a large pressing area to press long seams makes a huge difference. we used a canvas with pattern that has straight lines. turned it wrong side up to help from distracting my eye. It's big enough to press a strip set or tube and it has made a dramatic difference. You are right in saying a pressing board is one of the most important tools in a sewing room. Also, we used insulbright and batting. This reflects the heat and helps iron on both sides at once. I press multiple pieces so I can leave the previous block on the pressing surface to cool down and "remember" how I want it to behave. That little tip has also made a huge difference in pressing. Ironing and pressing is now not a chore but a pleasure

[@LeahDay]

Thank you for sharing your experience Joyce! I've tried Insulbright and I didn't like it as much as plain cotton. I'm now thinking of new ways to cover the boards with helpful lines. Maybe I can print something fun with canvas from Spoonflower!

[@petmomful2260]

What about ticking? It has lines.

[@AnnetteParaskevas]

Leah can I use Teflon coated utility fabric instead of the canvas?

[@LeahDay]

I'm not familiar with this material, so I can't say yes or no on this. I'd check and see how it smells when you press on it. Heating up Teflon over and over doesn't sound like fun to me, but if it works, go for it!

[@AnnetteParaskevas]

@@LeahDay thanks for the reply. It's silver colored and sold at JoAnn's... ironing board covers were made of it.

[@janetknight209]

Love the way you explained everything and the materials you used. Will cotton quilting batting work?

[@LeahDay]

Thank you! Yes it will.

[@nanettejernigan7338]

Hi Leah, is there any reason not to use a pretty colored print instead of white or natural on this pressing board?

[@LeahDay]

Staring at a busy print for the hours I sometimes spend pressing could get visually overstimulating, at least to me. I've also had issues finding pretty prints on this sturdy cotton canvas. Personally I prefer plain, but it's entirely up to you!

[@MyKitchenCorner]

Awesome diy. New subbie here. Christina

[@paulkeenan4309]

If you can attach half-round wood molding to 1 or 2 of the edges of the bare board you could use those padded edges to press small curves (face masks?) and darts. Or start with a board with already rounded edges such as a thick kitchen cutting board. Or, just glue two 1/2" or 3/4" boards together and then sand the edges to a half-round shape. Depending on your needs, the additional complexity may be worth it if you have the right tools.

[@bethmckey3561]

Great demo. Where can I get the canvas?

[@LeahDay]

I find this canvas at Walmart very regularly.

[@elizabethrussell2940]

Leah, would duck cloth (canvas) be ok to use? Thank you for the video tutorial.

[@LeahDay]

If it feels stiff and slightly rough on the surface (not soft) then I think that should work fine!

[@inareeves6238]

do you use just the single layer of batting?

[@LeahDay]

Yep, just a single layer of thin cotton batting.

[@HWolfe]

I live by mine, and I have one next to my sewing machine, it is invaluable. I made it ehenifurst started quilting. I thought at first, there's no "give', but that's what makes it perfect when piecing stuff!

[@LeahDay]

That's wonderful! I'm so happy you already had this tool on hand!

[@donnarabozzi3398]

How would wool do as the top fabric? Just curious since wool holds heat real good.

[@c.2538]

I have a wool pressing mat and it works great. I’m sure it would be fine

[@racrx7]

Hmmmm, I may do my whole layout table like that lol. It's a big solid dining table I got from a thrift store.

[@LeahDay]

That sounds perfect!

[@melindagibson8606]

Random question..if and when you do aplique or on your back label, do you do quilting over it? I'm torn but then the back if the quilt doesn't look good to be when it's uneven Idk. I have a lot to learn Lol!

[@anniegreen1313]

Melinda Gibson The labels are generally added after the quilt is finished and bound.

[@melindagibson8606]

Annie Green yea.. I knew that! 😂😂😂 what about applique?

[@anniegreen1313]

Oh, I think I misread your original post lol Good question about the applique!

[@LeahDay]

Yes, I usually quilt over applique just to add a bit of texture to the shapes. You can learn a lot about quilting over applique shapes in our most recent Block Party - freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/p/machine-quilting-block-party.html

[@robbycharbeneau1316]

Is 100% cotton duck canvas okay to use for this project?

[@LeahDay]

As long as it's stiff and feels sturdy, I think that should work fine!

[@catherinegoaack1629]

Does it have to be 100 percent cotton or is 80/20 ok? That’s all I have.

[@LeahDay]

I would recommend 100% cotton. The poly in the 80/20 might melt at very high temperatures.

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Do you think a colored cotton canvas cover would bleed?

[@LeahDay]

You should probably test it on a smaller board first. I would wash it and throw some color catchers in for bleeding. My worry is the color would not be dye, but more like paint on the surface of the canvas, which will tend to melt under high heat of an iron.

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Leah Day thanks!!

[@caronlee2062]

I notice some really interesting irons that seem to automatically rise off the mat in quilting videos, could you give more information on them?

[@LeahDay]

They are interesting, but very expensive and the little bit of experience I had with them resulted in a weird residue rubbing off on the ironing board (this was at a retreat). Dad and I go through irons because we press such a volume of fabric every week. So far I've found it's better to spend $20 on a cheap grocery store iron than $200 - $300 on something more expensive with more parts to break. So yeah, I'm a bad person do to an iron review!

[@caronlee2062]

Leah Day Thanks 😀 I have never seen them in my part of the world, so your feedback is invaluable 🎈

[@janraster200]

When you recover the board each year, how do you easily remove the staples?

[@LeahDay]

Unfortunately that is never an easy part. I pull hard against the canvas and that will pull a lot of the staples out, but many of them will break. I usually just pound them back into the board and then cover it with a new piece of canvas.

[@jeanneholtzman8565]

Could you just put a new cover over the old one? Or cut the old one off?

[@nancylochinski9436]

Is the 3/4 inch plywood the only thickness you can use?

[@LeahDay]

Nope, I've also used 1/2 inch thick as well. It really depends on the thickness of your staples. If you have a really thin board, make sure to use smaller staples - 1/4 inch instead of 3/8 inch.

[@joyceburrill2738]

I used 1/2 inch birch plywood. The big box stores will cut to your size needed.

[@joyceburrill2738]

Check out Matt's Ironing Board adventure form Jordan Fabrics.

[@ceciliaweinmann9737]

why did you use aluminum foil on the pressing board

[@florobichaud2163]

where can I find this canvas material?

[@LeahDay]

I found mine at Walmart.

[@cindywagner4623]

Recycle old mattress pads or worn out quilts.

[@bonnielee8935]

Do NOT use green-treated plywood. If you are remotely tempted to use green-treated plywood because that is the scraps you may have, don't use it. I had leftover half-inch regular, untreated plywood that I cut to the size I wanted and rounded the corners, and just laminated/glued the 2 pieces together to make my pressing board. Yes, it is thicker and heavier, definitely overkill for strength, but I did not want to buy three-quarter inch plywood just for this project, and I found that half-inch alone is not quite thick enough. You could even laminate/glue 3 pieces of quarter-inch plywood together or a combination of half-inch plus quarter-inch plywood if those are the scraps you have.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you for sharing your experience Bonnie!

[@pamjallen]

Why NOT use green-treated plywood?

[@petmomful2260]

I'm thinking that the chemicals are released into the air when you put a hot iron on it, maybe. IDK.

[@caroleh572]

The green treated wood you're referring to is treated with a form of copper and arsenic to deter decay. That is not something you should be handling or breathing.