How to Make a Tabletop Pad for Ironing

Make a tabletop ironing pad if you don't have an ironing board.

A tabletop ironing pad is useful in two situations, when an ironing board is too large and when an ironing board is too small. An ironing pad is an useful alternative to a full-size ironing board for a dorm room or small apartment. You can even fold it up and take it along when you travel. A tabletop ironing pad is also useful for turning a table into an ironing board for large tablecloths and curtains. This will keep the fabric off the floor as you iron.

Things You'll Need

• Yardstick
• Scissors
• 1/2 yard heatproof fabric
• 1/2 yard pre-quilted cotton fabric
• Pins
• 3 yards double-fold bias tape
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Instructions

1. Cut a 21-by-33-inch rectangle of both quilted fabric and the heatproof fabric. Heatproof fabric is available online.

2. Pin the rectangles together with the wrong sides facing each other. Round the corners of the new rectangle by cutting off an inch on each corner with a curved cut. It is easier to sew bias tape around round corners.

3. Cut a 3-yard length of double-fold bias tape and open the middle fold.

4. Starting in the middle of one of the long sides wrap the bias tape around the edge the fabric, refolding it and pinning it in place as you go. The edges of both layers of fabric should touch the fold in the bias tape. Fold under 1/2 inch on the end of the bias tape. The final end of the tape should overlap the first end by 1/2 to 2 inches. Cut off any excess tape.

5. Sew the tape in place with a straight stitch, stitching close to the inside fold of the tape. Try to catch both sides of the tape in this seam. Turn the pad over and fix any gaps in the tape on the underside of the pad by stitching close to the inside fold on that side.

Tips & Warnings

• When using a tabletop pad to iron large items, use a small pad and move it as you iron or make a pad as large as your table.