From my Quilty Studio...Ironing/Cutting Table Tutorial!!!

I know that today is normally Quilty Barn Along day...

but that will have to wait for a day or so 

until I get all caught up from the photo shoot:)

So instead...

I'm bringing you a much requested tutorial from my studio!!!

I have had so many ask me about my ironing table 

so today I thought I would tell you all about it.

Mr. Honey and I made it when we built my studio 20 years ago.

As you can see...I started with white cabinets underneath...

(cabinets and drawers open on both sides and the backs are against each other)

On the end is a bookcase that matches the cabinets 

with bins that I keep patterns and things in.

(the bookcase is not quite as tall as the counter)

On top of the whole thing is a piece of plywood 

that we bought from the hardware store.

It measures about 3/4"thick and is 4 feet wide and 6 feet deep.

Mr. Honey screwed it to the top of the cabinets...

 

(from the top down) 

We also cut the corners off of the ends a little so that

 there would be no dangerous sharp points.

(I undid this corner a bit so that you could see the layers underneath)

After the top was screwed on securely...

we used a staple gun and covered the whole top with a piece of 

Warm and Natural (100% cotton batting)

This is a good dense batting and works perfectly because it 

gives just the right amount of padding without being soft.

It's important that your ironing surface is not "puffy" because

 it's hard to get a good press on seams.

We cut the batting a little larger than the top and simply wrapped

 it around the edges and when it was smooth...

we stapled it from underneath the edge.

Then on top of the batting...we covered it with the silver ironing board fabric

 that you can purchase by the yard at JoAnns.

We also wrapped it around and stapled it too.

It didn't come as big as we needed it so we simply overlapped it a bit.

On the corners we folded it in sort of like wrapping a present...

like this. 

We stapled it down as many times as needed

 to make sure it was smooth on the top.

Then we covered it with fabric!

I usually use a 100% cotton decorator weight fabric for my covers.

(I'm always on the lookout for when it's on sale)

 It comes 54" wide  and then I just purchase 2 1/8 yards for the length.

I need to have enough to wrap around and staple.

The last few times that it has been time for a new cover...

we just kept the same batting, silver ironing board fabric

 and previous cover in place...

and cover over the top with the new piece of fabric.

We move everything off the table and start against the wall.

Centering the fabric... 

we fold it under a few inches for a finished edge

 and staple it into place from the top down.

These staples that are against the wall...

show at the top if you really look 

but I usually have things setting all along there anyway.

Then we start down one side and staple underneath.

As Mr. Honey staples...

I am on the other side keeping the fabric smoothed and in the right place.

We do both sides and leave the end for last.

When we get to the end we trim off the excess fabric...

Wrap it around...and staple.

We leave the corners until last and then we fold under and staple away!

This is what it looks like underneath..

This is where I keep my stool to reach the high cupboards...

My white garbage can and

the aqua container hold my leftover scraps when

 cutting that are too large to throw away.

When it gets full...I divide them by size and put them away.

(that's another tutorial for later)

A nice finished edge on the sides.

This is the other side:)

Once it's covered...

I put everything back on top.

I can put my cutting mat on the end or on either side...

I use the 24" x 36" cutting mat.

It's my favorite size 

to have on this surface. 

I can remove my mat when I need to iron a large piece of fabric...

but this is my usual way I do it...

I press my fabric on the right and move it over to the left on the mat for cutting.

(after it cools off of course...I don't want to warp my mat)

The view from the other side:)

I love this set up so much!!!

 It has served me well over the years.

I have lots of storage underneath and a nice large ironing and cutting surface.

I forgot to tell you that we made the plywood hang over

 the cabinets on this side by about 15" leaving me plenty of knee room

 when I am sitting up to it on my barstool for drawing!

The height of my ironing/cutting table is 36"...

the same as kitchen countertop height.

It's easy on the back when cutting at 

this height because you don't have to bend!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial from my studio 

and that you find it helpful for your very own set up.

Remember...it's not about how much space you have...

but how well you use it!!!

I have several more tutorials like this planned for you.

What would you like to know about the things in my studio???

Have a quilty kind of day...

xx

Lori