How to Make an Ironing Board Caddy

An ironing board caddy is a handy item for the end of an ironing board. It is used for neatly storing items that you may need while ironing. There are pockets to hold scissors, needles, thread and other tools. Sewing an ironing board caddy is a simple task.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• 11-by-31-inch piece of quilted fabric
• Complementary fabric for pockets
• Needle
• Thread
• Iron
• Measuring tape
• Fabric pen
• Straight pins
• 11-by-31-inch piece of backing fabric
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Double-fold wide bias tape
• 2 safety pins

Instructions

1. Use the scissors to cut pocket fabric into pieces that measure 10 inches by 11 inches, 12 inches by 11 inches and 14 inches by 11 inches. The 10-by-11-inch piece will be the top pockets, the 12-by-11-inch piece will be the middle pockets and the 14-by-11-inch piece will be the bottom pockets.

2. Fold each pocket piece, right side in, so that the 11-inch edges are touching. Use a needle and thread to sew those edges together. Turn right side out and press with a hot iron.

3. Fold the top pocket--now 5 by 11 inches--into thirds and crease the edges with an iron. Fold the middle pocket--6 by 11 inches--in half two times and crease. Fold the bottom pocket--7 by 11 inches--in half and crease. The creases will be the sewing lines.

4. Lay the 11-by-31-inch piece of quilted fabric on a flat surface. Measure and mark 9½ inches from one of the 11-inch sides with a fabric pen. Secure the sewn edge of the top pocket on the mark with a straight pin. Sew the bottom edge of the pocket to the quilted fabric. Sew along the creases of the pocket to create three separate pockets.

5. Measure and mark 1½ inches from the bottom of the top pockets. Use a straight pin to attach the middle pocket piece on the mark. Sew the bottom edge of the pocket to the quilted fabric. Sew along the creases to make four separate pockets.

6. Sew the bottom edge of the bottom pocket to the bottom edge of the quilted fabric; there should be about 2 inches between the top of the pocket and the bottom of the middle pockets. Sew along the crease to make two separate pockets. Sew the outer edges of all three rows of pockets to the outer edge of the quilted fabric.

7. Place the quilted fabric, pocket side up, on the wrong side of the 11-by-31-inch piece of backing fabric. Use a zigzag stitch on a sewing machine or a straight stitch with a needle and thread to sew together the backing and the quilted fabric.

8. Fold bias tape over the outside edges of the caddy and stitch down, for a neat finish. Lay the caddy on the end of your ironing board and fasten the top corners to the ironing-board cover with the safety pins so the bottom pockets hang down. Your caddy is ready for use.

References

• Embroidery Garden: Ironing Board Caddy