Ironing Board ReCovery

Years ago a photo of a calico-covered ironing board in Country Living magazine inspired me to sew my own version.  I ironed happily for many years on a tan-checked fabric dotted with rosemary, basil, thyme and other flowering herbs.  Eventually a new cover sporting teensy pink butterflies replaced the herbs.

 

Alas, you can see those darker patches where the butterflies became stained and worn from all the ironing I subjected them to.  I figured it was time to scout for new fabric.  Because the of the ironing board's long narrow configuration, material with a pattern that reads as "up" in any position is a necessity for me. 

Otherwise it would drive me nuts to iron on sideways fabric.  'Cause that's the way I am--laid back on most things but completely anal on others!

 I was quite sad that our Joann was out of the cherry fabric that would have been perfect. But I did settle on a bright apple-green festooned with ladybugs, daisies and polka dots that would look cheery in my workroom.

 

It's been so fun to iron on a fresh clean board for the past few weeks!

But wait! 

On the soccer trip to UOP I discovered that the Joann Superstore in Stockton did have the cherry fabric that I'd been yearning for and I had the foresight to bring along my forty percent off coupon. 

Yippee-ki-yo-ki-yay!  Guess what I've almost finished!

My ironing board is not only well-dressed but now has a selection of covers that can be changed with my mood or the seasons!

Guess what else I've almost finished?  I thought others might want to try making their own ironing board cover.  It's an easy-peasy lemon squeezy project as my kindergarten class would say so I'm winding up a "how-to" post for you all.  I think writing the tutorial (my first) was way way way way WAY harder than sewing my new ironing board covers!  Now I'm off to check for errors and see how I can improve it before I publish it tomorrow.