Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Light or Dark?

I have been meaning to recover my ironing board for quite some time.  I seem to always press in the same area so my cover becomes very scorched and soon starts to rip.



 Looking back, I last recovered my board in February of 2013  with this polka dot fabric.  Three years of hard use really isn't that bad but when choosing fabric for the newest makeover, I had both a light and dark fabric that would work.



I decided to go with a dark fabric hoping the scorch marks would not show up so soon.  I think it looks great but I admit, I have a harder time seeing things I lay on the board.  I am hoping I will get used to it soon and I won't feel like I am constantly being reminded I am getting older!

Do you have a preference on the fabric you use for your ironing board?  I hopefully will get another 3 years out of this fabric but I would love to know your thoughts!

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24 comments:

Cheryl K. said...

I like a light plain cover and got tired of replacing mine. I now have a one yard cut of muslin that I lay over the ironing board, doubled. I can move it around so I'm not re-scorching the same spot, and if I was spraying starch, it's far easier to throw it in the wash than taking the cover off and on seemed to be (it's not that that's so hard, it's just not as simple as my muslin). It's probably the starch that scorches the worst and I just don't think to take the cover off.

Your covers are pretty!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I like a light cover - so it doesn't compete with my pieces. I buy my covers - at $2 sale, you can't go wrong. A double layer of cotton batt, layer of insul-bright, and the covers I get have the heavy flannel liner - couldn't be happier with this system.

Pedal Sew Lightly said...

Mine is covered in canvas that I purchased for a few bucks at a tag sale years ago. I have been cutting away at the yardage for various projects for more than 15 years. I like it because it does not compete with my projects but it is very dirty looking. I'm thinking about replacing it soon and my tag sale canvas is almost depleted. I am planning to go light with a linear pattern. I just have to come across the right print and then take extra effort to attach it without deforming the lines. That's the plan, time will tell if I bring it to fruition. So, to answer your question: Light.

Susan Torrens said...

I like solid fabric for ironing board covers. My current one is royal blue! It shows all the bits of thread that collect, so I clean it more often, using a good lint brush.
I used a heavier weight fabric this time, so hopefully it will survive a bit longer.

Alison V. said...

I've done both - now it is a light/medium green and brown print, the main reason it was chosen being that it had been in my stash forever and wasn't the greatest quality for quilting.

Nicole said...

I have always had light covers in the past, which showed those annoying scorch marks and looked ratty after a few months. This last time I went with a dark red cover, which continues to look brand new (without showing the scorch marks). That being said, my pieces show up better on a light background, which I think I prefer. The dark cover also shows every thread that drops off your pieces. Next time I believe I will go back to a lighter cover.

deb said...

Light - I'm old!!

Marti said...

I like the light covers and usually buy one on sale. If I had to make them, I'd probably make them out of a solid, like muslin.

Chantal said...

The dreaded job of changing the ironing board cover, yuck! I pick whatever fabric I have that I don't want in a quilt lol. This time it is light with some red, blue and black items on it. I find it too stiff and thick to be in a quilt. It was meant for some Dutch-themed kitchen curtains in the '50s I think. Got 7 meters for 1$ lol. I have covers for years to come still. ;^)

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Oh, you would laugh if you saw my ironing board and cover! It hasn't ever been changed since I got it many years ago... I guess I should do something about that! Lol! Yours looks great, and I bet it is a pretty addition to your sewing space!

Libby in TN said...

A piece of light flannel that can be moved and easily replaced will not only improve your visibility, but also the pressing of bits and blocks.

Cheryl said...

My ironing board is so stained and gross. Yours looks great, I think that I would also go with a darker color to minimize the stains showing up.

Jean said...

I like the silicone silver colored fabric for my ironing board as I iron a lot of yardage as I pre-wash everything. I cut a piece from the old cover to use in the place where it gets the most wear and it works for a long, long time. I press a lot of little scraps, and I mean a lot.

Wonky Girl said...

My board is covered with a tan and cream heavy ticking stripe. I made it myself and will use the same fabric next time. Both of my boards are the extra large size, purchased covers are expensive. I think you should use whatever makes ya happy :-)

Nicole said...

I always have a solid light coloured fabric, usually muslin. It does look like hell after a while, but muslin's cheap and it's a fun half hour with a staple gun to redo. My ironing board is wooden and folds into a wee cupboard in the wall.

Janelle said...

JUST yesterday I was doing a hodge podge job of trying to rescue my old cover (don't ask). I'm going to make a cover and was considering an indoor outdoor fabric. What do you think? Do covers have to be 100% cotton?

Jayne said...

I have never covered my board with fabric before! Usually I buy one and call it good! I love yours and it does look great. I can see how it would be more difficult to see piece on it, but you'll get use to that I bet! Right now my cover is really bad, but not yet falling apart!

Linda said...

I use light. I bought a few yards of ticking (cream with grey stripe) for my daughter's wedding reception two years ago (made table runners for their "train" theme) and am using the leftovers for my pressing board.

SandraC said...

A while ago I doubled over a large piece of light-coloured twill and it has held up quite well.

sue said...

I like light and currently have a cream color with light orange print cover. I have a big rectangular board that fits over the regular ironing board so I have to make my own cover. This time I pre-washed my fabric so hopefully I can wash it again rather than replacing it. I just put a layer of cotton batting under the cover.

stamperwithdayjob said...

I prefer a light color and I've wondered for a while now whether other quilters go through ironing board covers as often as I do. At least 2 a year for me. Maybe it's because I can't stand it looking so dingy. But I too buy them on sale and this last time I bought 2 right away so when this one gets beat up I have a replacement and then I have time to watch for a sale so I've always got that back up. I've taken a survey at the office and the younger generation doesn't even own an ironing board - really? It is just us quilters that own one?

Barb Neiwert said...

I bought a scorch resistent cover at a the HMQS about four years ago, it still looks like new, and I love it! You can cut the material to exactly fit your ironing board, and it's kinda like a silvery teflon material so it holds the fabric in place, and the iron just glides over the top. Can't recall the price I paid, but it seemed very reasonable.

Jasmine said...

I'm so glad you asked this. I have been wondering what I want for my ironing station in the new house. I'm thinking I will probably go light.

Kathleen said...

I have an old, vintage old, wooden ironing board. I have a hard time finding a cover to fit. Haven't tried making one yet. But I'm preserving the integrity of the one I have by laying a cream color piece of canvas type cotton, maybe about 18" long, on the ironing board where I press my blocks all the time. I can wash that as needed. Regarding choice of color, I like when bloggers have a plain ironing board cover or a very neutral one, when they are showing their blocks or fabric pieces on the ironing board. It's much easier to see what the blogger is demonstrating.

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