Non-Wearable Sewing Project: Ironing Board Cover

After three years of almost daily use and abuse, my poor ironing board cover had more than one gash, is discolored, and a little misshapen.  It was way past time for a new one!

So, this weekend, I finally got around to making myself a brand new cover, using this tutorial!  I'll spare you the picture-by-picture steps, since you can see them all in the tutorial, and simply dazzle you with the finished product instead.  Because I kind of love it as much as I think it is possible to love an ironing board.

Ta-da!

This actually made a fantastic project for using up scraps.  I colorblocked four colors of cotton fabric I have left over from making Heart Skirts, and I love the result.  Even if you only had a few inches of each different fabric, you could piece them together and it would still look really great.  The more the better, I think, actually!  Stripes!
 
I recycled the cord from my other cover  to use in this one (no need to buy new!), and I also gifted myself a new pad to go under the cover using some fleece or batting or something of the like that I also had left over in my stash.  In other words:  this little project cost me exactly $0, but made a big difference.
   
I've learned over time that sometimes, when there are unpleasant things that have to be done (aka ironing), it helps to at least have a pleasant space in which to do them.  I'm hoping ironing will feel like slightly less of a chore with this bright cover staring back up at me.

We shall see.