As an experienced sewist, I’ve wanted a sleeve ironing board for years but was always stopped by the price — up to $50. So, when I saw an old wooden one for $5 at an estate sale, I snatched it up, even though its cover was stained and crumbling. I wasn’t letting my pristine project fabrics touch that surface, nor was I going to drop money on a commercial cover.
A good, scorch-resistant cover protects the underlying board from heat and steam. If you’ve ever ironed cloth without a cover, you know wrinkles press out much better when there’s a pad between the board and the project. Luckily, replacing an ironing board cover is fairly easy for anyone with rudimentary sewing skills. You can use the existing cover as a template or, as I did, use the board itself as a guideline.
Here’s how I replaced the cover on my vintage sleeve ironing board. The same instructions will also work for
