Improvise.
This is quickly becoming my favorite word. Well…. really my favorite word wouldn’t come to mind so I had to… there it is again… improvise.
You see, moving is tricky. There are a lot of boxes involved and no matter how well I think I organized and unpacked… THINGS. GO. MISSING. Like my checkbook, stapler and staple gun, computer discs, curtains, hole punch, favorite shoes… must I go on! The list seems to be endless this week as we really “settle” into the farmhouse.
I make multiple trips every day to the garage for those “lost-and-hope-to-be-found” items (to no avail I might add). I lift the garage door and immediately feel that I am trapped in another bad episode of Hoarding: Buried Alive. Oh, how I can’t wait to have everything in its place!
Missing items force us to improvise and be more creative. We learn to live with less and create beyond what we first planned. That is exactly how this DIY project was born.
- The Need = Ironing Board
- Lost? Well, no…. I just can’t fit a regular sized ironing board in my tiny laundry room.
- Plan= Create an ironing board by cutting wood to the exact size of my dryer top. Then cover it with padding and fabric.
- Improvisation = I have no means of cutting the wood and definitely cannot find the staple gun in the garage. Therefore, I will sew a portable, storable, adorable ironing pad instead! This idea came to me instantly! – Like I had to search for the missing pieces, get irritated and then sleep on the idea before deciding how to proceed… almost instant! HA!
Moral of my ramblings = Think outside the box. You might just end up with something much better than your first idea.
Here is how I created an ironing pad for our teeny tiny laundry room.
What you need:
- Fabric – heat-resistant (cotton or a linen would be best – about 1 yard fabric for standard dryers)
- Measurements – width and length of the top of dryer (my dryer was 27 x 20 inches)
- Cabinet liner – for the bottom grip of pad
- Low Loft Quilt Batting – for a soft surface
- Sewing Machine, needle, thread and scissors
DIY:
1. Measure the top of your dryer to determine the size of the pad. Double the fabric and cut to that size + seam allowance (leave an extra 1/2” on each side for seam allowance.
2. Cut the batting to same size and place on back side of fabric.
3. Bring good sides of fabric together with batting/back side exposed.
4. Sew along three sides of the pad within your seam allowance width.
5. Use the open side to turn the pad right-side-out.
6. Tuck and fold the fabric and padding on open side and pin. Then sew along that side to seal.
7. Iron the pad flat to all edges and seams.
8. Sew along the first three edges again to create a complete border.
9. Cut the cabinet lining to fit the back of pad. Attached the grip padding by hand at the edges along the outside of the pad (I attached at corners and center. This will prevent the pad from moving while you are ironing.
10. Place on top of your dryer for ironing or conveniently roll and tuck it away for easy storage.
MUCH smaller than storing a full-size ironing board!
Improvised! Try it with me!
I’ve learned a few other handy tricks about improvisation this past week. Join the conversation on Facebook!
UPDATE: Check out our entire laundry room reveal HERE!
Thanks for stoppin’ in!
– Rustic Honey
You are so stinkin’ creative! LOVE this!
Thanks! That means a lot coming from you Ms. DIY! 🙂 Glad you stopped by!
It looks so beautiful and easy to do. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this idea, it’ll be great for my next sewing project.
Have a great weekend!
Thanks Amanda, you will have to keep me updated if you try this project! Glad to have you stop by! 🙂
Glad to see someone else thought of this. I’ve been considering it for years, but never followed through. Only thing I would add is a layer of specialty fabric that reflects heat back out, directly under top fabric. It should make ironing dry faster, as it is heated from both top and bottom. It’s available from most fabric stores (but I can’t remember exactly what it is called… I also use it inside potholders and hot pads.) Am now considering making this for my sewing room; won’t take up as much room as full-size board, and I can still put my tiny port-a-board on it when I need it…
It would be great for a sewing room! I need to update this post because my mother-in-law also suggested that type of fabric batting. I’ll have to find a link and add it in this post soon! Appreciate the tip and thank you so much for stopping by my blog! 🙂
When I need a quick ironing surface, I just grab a towel and spread it on a heat-proof surface. Works well, then just goes back in the stack. Convenient and cheap. I like your ideas, tho.
That’s a great idea too, Shirley! Thinking this pad would be better for your delicate fabrics though? Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! 😀
Insul-brite
Thank you!
If I use insul-brite would I need to use batting under it?
Hi Alicia! That’s a good question. I haven’t used insul-brite but I think it takes the place of the batting because it is very similar texture, just heat-proof. I would forgo the batting – it wouldn’t hurt anything but just wouldn’t be necessary. Thanks for stopping by!
My dryer is a stackable unit, not enough room on washer, can this be done to use on a kitchen table???
Of course! You could use this ironing pad on any hard surface! It’s even handy for travel! 😊 Thanks for stopping by Pam!
I believe that polyester batting conducts heat and if you don’t want the iron to heat the surface you’re working on, you should use a natural fiber batting like cotton or wool.
Great to know Rebecca! Thanks for your insight!
I never thought about it, but commercially available ironing board covers do usually have cotton or other natural fiber padding…hummmm. Makes sense; thanks for the comment. I just assumed the air space within the batting would counter the heat regardless of the fiber itself. Also, I was not aware polyester actually conducts heat. Interesting.
Cute idea but seriously remember to remove this ironing pad before turning on your dryer. The liner will stick and dry out an believe me… It will be a horror for you.
Thanks for your comment natalie! So sorry to hear this. I hardly ever take mine off the top of my dryer and have never had trouble with it sticking. Maybe your dryer gets hotter than mine or maybe the line we used is different….
Sorry you’ve had a bad experience with this type ironing pad. Mine has worked great for a couple of years…never has heated up. I think I’d have the dryer thermostat on my drier checked, just in case. I’ve never had the top of any dryer heat up, & I stack my canisters on it with just a thick towel as cover to prevent scratching. Better to be safe… 🙂