Yesterday when I was in town, I stopped at our “used” store. I have been needing a new ironing board and was excited to see that they had several ranging in price from $1-$6. I started checking them out, and the cheapskate that I am of course started with the $1 one. Well it didn’t have a cover so I quickly moved on.
The last one…the $6 one….was EXTREMELY sturdy. I set it up and noticed it even had a lever. It was an adjustment lever so I could adjust the height of the ironing board without having to flip it over. The cover was in decent shape and it was VERY heavy compared to the others. I “broke the bank” and bought it.
When I got home, I decided that the cover from my old ironing board was in better shape so as I was changing the cover I noticed another lever underneath. I pulled the lever and the ironing board went from having a narrow tapered end to having a wide squared end. I was so in awe!! I’ve been ironing on junkie ironing boards my entire life….this was a Cadillac.
Who knew six dollar ironing board could thrill a person?! I guess that just goes to show what a simple girl I am. I went to the internet to see if I could find any information about the ironing board. It is a Rid-Jid brand. I found this ad and discovered that you can sit and iron without banging up your knees…LOVE IT!
Mine seems to be a newer version as it doesn’t have the thin metal pieces the one in the ad has. I was oggling and awe-ing over it SO much that my daughter grabbed her video camera and captured me.
Now for my dilemma….Where can I find an ironing board cover that will expand at the end so it can convert to a square end? Any ideas would be helpful.
How cool is your ironing board!! For the cover, I say make one that is square and attach velcro on each side underneath so you can just stap it together when using the “skinny” side. Hope that makes sense.
I don’t have any ideas of the expanding end. But good for you – what a great find!
Cool! Sounds like you may have to design one – good luck.
I would ALSO snatch that up! I never saw one before. Ironing board cover? I guess I would MAKE one with strong elastic at the narrow-to-wide end. But I’ll be you always keep it wide open.
So many quilters are still buying covers – hey, we all DO have plenty fabric, and the ones we make will last MUCH longer!
I’m glad I’m not the only one that can have fun with a simple “new” toy such as an ironing board!!! You may have to make a cover for it:)
What a great find! I never saw an ironing board like that either. If it was new and could be purchased today it would probably cost a fortune. Enjoy it!!!
I am so envious!!! I just wasted $60 at Target for a Michael Graves ironing board. It has to be the cheapest quality ever. The next time I’m looking in thrift stores first, before buying new.
I thought of the velcro idea too .. or could you do the flip ones separately or would they not come up from the cover being in the way?? ie: not enough space between when they are up, is it a tight fit??
Hi Jo, my suggestion would be to make it a drawstring edge. Cut and hem fabric to fit when open, then just close up ironing board extensions, pull drawstrings, tie bow, and everything is neatly tucked underneath!! BTW I love your ironing board!
Way cool! I would go with Dawn’s idea for the cover!
I bought my Rid-Jid in the 1960’s and liked it so much I bought a second one for my cabin. Ordered 12 covers from the manufacturer when Marshall Field’s didn’t carry it anymore. NOW, I go to the fabric store and buy the flannel padding for underneath and the silvery fabric for the top layer. When I want to pull it snug and have the corners in, I use those crib elastic clamps to pull it in. I didn’t realize it was an antique!!! I guess everything I have must be by now!!
I know you have had your ironing board for a few years, but have you found a suitable cover? i happened to purchase this same board today at an estate sale. Mine came with the same cover it was sold with (tucked safely beneath 4 other replacements). I would be happy to send you pictures of the design… or even lend it to you if you’d like to use it to make your own!
Hi Ladies.
Well I had a score like Jo altho I saw mine beside a dumpster in a retirement village this winter. I made my husband drive aroudn so that we could throw it in the back seat of a small rent a car! I had been tell my husband that I wanted to have him take a board and cut a rectangle out and figure out how to place it on top of my ironing board. Then I find this in the trash! I was so surprised as she was to see the lever that swings out the sides! YAY!!! So happy. Well it had a reall ecky cover and padding on it, probably the original and I thought I have to get a new cover so that torn up one went in the trash. The other day I put the paddding in the washer on delicate and well I ended up with a ball of shredded batting! I should have known. Shame on me….but it really was icky! So now I am in the same delema. The padding was held tight by a piece of elastic( like waistband type) punched thru two holes in the padding.
I think i like the idea dawn suggested, using a drawstring set up. Now I just have to do alot of “calculating” Ugh!
Perhaps Kate Vece would be so kind as to send me a photo of her pad so that I might duplicate it with batting and that silver pot holder type fabric.That would be appreciated! Perhaps Dawn could elaborate on her drawstring idea a bit for me too. That would be super too! Thanks a bunch ladies! I am going to run downstairs and see if mine is “knee room” type or not. : )
I have an ironing board like this for years. They quit making the covers years ago so I make my own by cutting a piece of teflon ironing board fabric or any sturdy fabric larger than the top of the board. Make sure you have the board totally open. You need to make a casing around the whole outside edges with an opening left at the right end of the cover. Then take a string and feed it through the casing. You can use a gadget made for doing this or just use a safety pin with the string attached. After you have the string through the casing just pull it snug so that it fits firmly on the cover. I love my ironing board and have had it since it was new.
I was just commenting this weekend that my ironing board needs replacement, but I’d like one such as I used to have which converted to the square end (for current big square dance skirts and other wide items). I can’t believe such are no longer made! It was so practical; I always used when I was taking in dress-making when my kids were young (youngest will be 50 in July).
I have a metal rid-jid ironing board like the one pictured with slide out wings. The best ever!!! I bought in when I got married in 1964. Always used it with the wings out. Can’t find a cover for it. Wish someone could build me a new board just like the old one. Often ironed sitting down. Carolyn
I also scored mine at a garage sale years ago for $ 5. I made a pad for it, but I shouldn’t have used the twill fabric I did. It was orange and the color got all over one of my projects when my iron boiled over I did find a site that sold covers, but alas that was a couple of years ago and a few computers ago. I know I can make one, I would just rather purchase one. I would rather cut off my right arm than to give up my marvelous board. I am one of those people who still iron my sheets and got rid of my mangle iron years ago. If anyone can find the site please let me know and I will as well.
Someone please start a business of making and selling replacement Rid-Jid Ironing Board covers!!
You are soooo lucky to have a Rid Jid steel ironing board. Wish I could find one again. Lost mine in a fire last October-a real bummer. But I just have to remember what I lost was just stuff and not a life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59c62G0Dais
The above site has a video to make a cover for this ironing board. I have one I received as a wedding gift in 1964 that I still use.
I also need this ironing board cover. Has any one made a cover? I can make a regular cover no trouble there. How do I make one to fit the flip out ends? I had gave up on ever seeing this board again any where. Glad to learn I am not the only person who liked them.
Thanks
Anna Mae
I found one of these in the basement of the house I was renting, the landlord told me to throw it to the curb if I didn’t want it, for the last 2 years I’ve had a regular cover on it, but now I’m going to make a cover for it. Like you I’m over the moon in love with it, if fits in beautifully in m sewing room with all 10 of my Vintage sewing machines. Thank you for posting this I got some great idea’s for making a cover because of you. If you send me an email I will gladly send you a picture of mine, and how I make the cover.
Laurie
Here’s my email.. rogjok@iowatelecom.net
I have the same ironing board – it was bought a wedding gift in 1965. The ironing board lasted way longer than the marriage!! I too wish that I had bought some of the original covers when they were available. Now there’s a cottage industry idea for a budding entrepreneur . . .
If anyone has any updates on availability of covers then please post for all of us.
Thanks,
Jan
I would like to find instructions on how to raise & lower the metal Rid-Jid. Any ideas or does anyone have the booklet that came with it once upon a time? Love this sturdy board!
I have had the Rid-Jid ironing board with the wings at one end. It was a shower gift to me in 1959. I guess now an antique. For a while I was able to purchase 2 regular ironing board covers, cut off a little more than half way, saving the square ends, seemed the two together to make a square end cover. However, now the problem is they are not making the “regular” type of covers as wide as the ironing board. Guess now I am back to making my own, just to find the time.
Like some of the other comments, I too, got a Rid-Jid slide out wings ironing board in 1964 when I too got married, it too was Marshall Fields, but I have not been able to
find the covers for it since. If you can help, please e-mail me. Thanks.
I also own a Rid Jid ironing board since 1965. I have patched my cover several times but i really need a new one.
Did any of you ever find one???
no. I made one.
I too just found one of these amazing ironing boards today with a FREE sign taped to it! I had it in the back of my truck before you could say WOO HOO! My neighbor showed me hers a few years ago and I immediately fell in love! I am fairly new to the sewing world so I’ll definitely have to get tips from her on how to make a cover! Extremely sturdy and now my new prized possession!
I too have a 1968 Rid Jid ironing board. I saw it advertised in a bridal magazine and immediately added it to my bridal registry. The couple that gave it to us for our wedding could not understand what was so special , at the time, about this (I believe) $45 or $65 ironing board. I got it in August of ’68 and still use it daily. I was just searching for a new cover myself, when i came across this 2010 posting. Looks like Amazon may have what I’m looking for, but i want to browse a little bit before i purchase. The one i saw is by TIVIT.