How to sew an ironing board cover with a drawcord (any board size)

To sew an ironing board cover, cut 100% cotton canvas to the board's shape plus about 4¼ inches all round, press the edge under ¼ inch and then fold it again to make a 1 inch casing, and stitch it, leaving a small opening at the back end. Thread cotton cord through the casing, put the cover on the board and pull the cord tight underneath. The Sewzy Ironing Board Cover fits tabletop, standard and full boards, or any board you trace, and takes about an hour.

TL;DR

• Fabric: 100% cotton canvas, duck or drill. No polyester, which can melt under a hot iron.
• Sizes: Tabletop (board 12 x 32 in), Standard (13 x 48 in) and Full (15 x 54 in), or trace your own board.
• Yardage (58 in wide): 1¼ yd Tabletop, 1¾ yd Standard, 2 yd Full. Prewash it.
• Closure: a 1 inch casing with ¼ inch cotton cord and a cord stop.
• Time: about an hour, beginner.

Ironing board cover sizes

Measure your board's length and its widest width. If it does not match a size, lay it on paper, trace the outline and add 4¼ inches all round, using the pattern's nose template for the curved end. There is no seam allowance: the edge becomes the casing.

What fabric is best for an ironing board cover?

Use 100% cotton: canvas, duck or drill. Cotton takes high heat, and a firm weave stays smooth on the board. Avoid polyester and blends, which can scorch or melt. Prewash the fabric, because cotton shrinks and a cover that shrinks after sewing will not fit. A bold print, gingham or a vintage floral makes ironing more cheerful. Silver-coated ironing fabric reflects heat, and you can use it for the top with plain cotton for the casing.

What you need

• 100% cotton canvas, duck or drill, as in the table.
• ¼ inch cotton cord, or bias tape and cord, plus a cord stop.
• Optional: 100% cotton or wool batting or felt as a new pad.
• A 6 inch saucer for rounding the back corners, and a safety pin.

How to sew an ironing board cover, step by step

1. Measure. Check your board against the size table, or trace it and add 4¼ inches all round.
2. Cut. Fold the canvas lengthwise, right side in. Put the template's fold edge on the fold, trace the nose, then extend the straight side by the amount for your size and square across the back end. Round the two back corners by tracing around a 6 inch saucer. Cut through both layers.
3. Pad (optional). Cut cotton or wool batting or felt to the exact board outline and lay it on the board, or keep your old pad.
4. Make the casing. Press the raw edge ¼ inch to the wrong side all round, then fold again along the casing line to make a 1 inch casing. Stitch close to the inner fold, easing the fullness around the nose and the back corners. Leave 1 inch open at the middle of the back end.
5. Add the cord. Thread the cotton cord through the casing with a safety pin, bringing both ends out of the opening. Knot the ends or add a cord stop.
6. Fit. Lay the cover on the board, pull the cord tight underneath and tie or lock it. Smooth it from the nose back.

The curved nose has a lot of fullness to ease in, so go slowly and let small tucks spread out; they disappear when the cord is pulled. The same casing method is used in how to sew a drawstring bag.

Tips

• Sew two covers so one is always clean.
• Sleeve board: the same method covers a sleeve board.
• Old pad flat and thin? A layer of wool felt under the cover makes pressing seams much easier.

A gift for anyone who sews

A fresh ironing board cover in a fun print is a practical gift for a sewist, and it pairs well with a Needle Book and a pincushion. More ideas are in gifts for sewists, and for the tools every sewing room needs, sewing tools for beginners. The Ironing Board Cover is a Premium pattern in the Sewzy app, with the nose template, all three sizes and a photo for each step.

Care

Machine wash warm, tumble dry low, and iron it flat before putting it back on the board.