How to make a padded pinboard

I have fancied having a padded pinboard for ages now and I thought I would make one but didn't know how to. A google search a while ago only led me to some US sites that used homasote board (?) and batting. Then a couple of things happened. I saw a board on this blog and I went to IKEA last Friday and I found a cheap cork board. So I put two and two together and Tom and I made one for my room. Having made it now and knowing how EASY it is I'm wondering that I ever looked up how to make one!

If you would like to make one too here's how to: you will need a cork pinboard, a piece of blanket (I had no batting), some panel pins or a fancy stapler, some beading elastic or ribbon, glue and some drawing pins. (Please click on the pics for a bigger view).

You cut the piece of blanket to fit inside the frame of the board and you glue down the edges and middle to stop it slipping. I just used copydex. Next you cut out the fabric you'll be using to slightly larger than the board. Place the board upside down on the wrong side of the fabric.

Fold over the corners and mitre them (I love that word so I'll say it again!) you mitre the corners. Which means that you lop of the top corner and fold the fabric over the corner of the board as in the pic. Pin down and then fold over the sides and pin too.

A bit scruffy I know - but who's going to look at the back? So all the fabric is pinned into place with the panel pins. Make sure you have no creases on the front so keep turning over and smoothing out. Then you can do those fancy criss crosses with ribbons on the front but as I had very patterned fabric I pinched philacraft's idea of using beading elastic. So I just placed it over the front and secured it on the back with drawing pins (the yellow one). I wrapped the ends of the elastic around the pin and tapped it into the board.

I don't know if you can see the elastic in this pic? I needed to secure the crossovers of elastic on the front so I just used some rather naff pins that I had also bought from IKEA. Here is a bit of the finished board (I'm sorry it's blurred but I can't seem to rectify it):

A quick and very easy project and cheap too. Smaller ones of these were going for £15 on ebay recently!

I seem to have posted everyday this week - obviously nothing better to do with my time. But I'm off to the Knitting and Stitching Show tomorrow and then to my parents so I thought I should show you the board before I go seeing as we did it last wekend. Hope you all have a great weekend too mine's going to be full of inspiration and Indian food - what a great combination. Before I go here's the latest dishcloth I'm working on. I'm using Twilleys dishcloth cotton that I bought on ebay and the King Charles Brocade pattern:

Comments

[littlejennywren]

I've made a new dishcloth too, you'll have to pop over and have a look.

[weirdbunny]

I've got all the stuff to do a pinboard I just need to pink the right clour ribbon. Thanks for the tutorial - Julia

[Ali]

I've got one of these half-started languishing in my cupboard. My aim is to finish it off this weekend!

[plainandsimple]

Hi Simmy
I once dabbled in upholstery so I have all the kit...never thought of a pin board though!

[Rowan]

Another gorgeous dishcloth - I really have to get some white cotton and make some of these.

[Annabelle]

Hi Simmy,
I like your pin board and dish cloth.Since my husband arrived yesterday, we have been quite busy but I did go to a church sale on Saturday with him and found some lovely things.My daughter will be taking photos and posting them up by the end of the weekend.

[katie]

love the dishcolth - I think this is going to be in my christmas goodies pack for friends and relatives
thank you
and take care

[Pinkle]

Thank you! This is exactly what I was after, going to give it a go this weekend.
You're a star, thanks for posting it.

[Michelle]

Thank you!!! I want one so bad, but I can't find the right color. Now I can make one!!! Thank you again!!