Make an Ironing Board Cover

 

Do you have an ironing board cover that needs to go?  Clearly, I had a couple of them.  Being in the business of sewing for myself and teaching others how to sew, I eventually need to replace my covers.  They always get heat damaged and sustain a lot of abuse with fusible interfacing.  One of my favorite things has been to go buy new, fresh covers and pads from the local hard ware store.  

 Well, the week I started this project, I had an unexpected visit to the sewing machine repair shop and my budget for comfort spending was blown.  That, along with the fact that my mom just sent me a huge box of fabric she de-stashed from her closet,  made me realize I could just make one (or two actually) instead.  So below is a quick tutorial.

First, you will need the following supplies:

two yards of cotton fabric - pre-washed for shrinkage
two packages of 1/2" wide single fold binding
Cotton batting - 1 package should do you with left overs.
thread, cotton twine
General sewing supplies

1) Remove your old ironing board cover from the ironing board.
2) Iron it flat to get out the wrinkles.  - for this step you will probably have to put a towel or two down on your dining room table or ironing board, since now it has no cover.

 3. Place the pad on two layers of cotton batting and use pad like a pattern.  Cut out batting in the same shape.

 4. Next, place ugly board cover on one layer of fresh fabric to use as a pattern.  Cut out one layer the same shape as original cover.

 5. Fold back the end of the bias tape and unfold one long side.  Stitch bias tape to right side of cover around outside edge.  Be sure to match the edges and stitch in the crease.

 You can see the stitching in the crease above and below.

 6. After stitching around entire cover, fold back bias and press flat.

 7.  Fold bias to wrong side and press.

 Note: both ends of bias have been folded back prior to stitching, in order to give a clean opening for which to draw the cord through.

 8. Note that you will leave a small space between the two ends of the bias tape.

 9.  Stitch down bias tape on inside edge, as close to the folded edge as possible.

 10. Thread a bodkin (or long embroidery needle) with enough cotton twine to make it around the entire cover in the casing you have just created.

11.  Draw twine through casing all the way till you have tails coming out of each opening.

12.  Place cotton batting on ironing board.  Place cover on top of batting with wrong side of fabric facing the batting (right side up).

13.  Cinch ends of twine till cover is fitted tightly around and tie off for security.  I usually do a bow with a double knot.

One of my finished Ironing board covers!

Voila! you are done!

Make Do Fashion Show

 Here are some photos from the Make Do Fashion Show at Rhythmix Cultural Works on March 9th 2012.  The above dress was made by moi while I was teaching the Fashion Studio One Class at CCA in the Fall of 2010.  We do a recycled project each fall where students make a garment out of two men's shirts.  This was the teacher's version.  Below are more recycled garments from my students at CCA, Kid's Sewing Camps and some of my own work as well.

 Joy wearing a piece by CCA Student Sindia Lin.

 Starr wearing one of my dresses.

 Emma wearing a shirt she made from two of her t-shirts - One she never wore and one that was falling apart.

 Andi wearing a dress made from from her bedroom curtains and a men's shirt she found in my bag of scraps.

 Rashia wearing a dress made by CCA student Jasmine Stewart.

 Emma wearing a child's apron made by me for my Etsy Shop.

 Dress made by STLM Designs.

 Katie wearing a dress by Remy

 Rebekah wearing a remade Paillette dress by Julie Baron

 Reproduction of the Givenchy Breakfast at Tiffany's Dress worn by Mia - Made by Maya Young (12 years old) out of two formals bought at the GoodWill and Salvation Army for under $25. 

Emilie wearing a remodeled vintage wedding gown by me :-) 

Hope you enjoyed the Fashion Show Photos!

Finishing Projects

Ella with her finished bag!

 It's such a gratifying experience to finish a project.    I usually start them and slowly work through each project and eventually get to the end.  Not so easy though.  It's easy to get frustrated or bored.  Like my friend Pauletta, avid sewer, knitter and practicing Buddhist,  told me, it's a mediation in patience.  These girls have started that practice and are reaping the rewards!

The Dark Angel Commeth!  Cate finishes her Halloween Costume

Maya in her Mustard Butterfly Blouse!

Sasha with her monster!

Finished Monster Kleenex Holder

 

Parent and Child Sewing Workshop

Working together!

Gratia and Dad Ethan

Proud Grandpa

 Admittedly, when asked to create a Mother / Daughter sewing class, I cringed just a little bit.  Often I hear from parents that it's hard to teach their kids something new.

Well, I kept getting requests.  Honestly, I thought the parents just want an excuse to have some fun.  Keeping my mind open, I put the word out and was surprised at the response.

Ok, so what happened next was even more surprising.  I had one mom say that she wasn't interested, but her husband might be.  That blew me away.  In today's day and age, I don't get too many male students.  It was very exciting.  This was going to be interesting and I would have to change the name.

 A darling family joined us our first week.  It was Father and son with daughter and grand daughter. How sweet to see the men taking such interest in their girls.  Even better was the story from Alden and Gratia's grandfather.  He told me that he bought a machine for his wife, the girl's grandmother, when she got pregnant and then taught himself to sew.  He went on to make her first maternity dress, then taught his son to sew.  What a family legacy and how special of them to share this skill with future generations.

In reality, the kids and parents learn and work together.   What fun we can all have.  I can't wait for the next one....

Patchwork mittens for Gratia

ironing is fun!

don't forget to giggle!  Andrea and Sabina

Andrea and Pari

Sabina and her stuffed guinea pig!

Gratia with her mittens and pillow case

Andrea and Pari with their cat pillow ready to stuff with fluff!