actually we did do that in jr high sewing class but that was back in the 1950's when the boards were all strong enamealed steel.....actually still have mine (was mothers but she bought an "not soooo heavy" one when i was in high school and I adopted this one....saved it actually from the trash, she was putting it outside just as i came home from school ) which i use almost every day and the narrow end is very solid not wobbly like the ones in the store now.

sorry did not mean to be so longwinded

AS I was reading this thread, the same thought was going through my head: He will think I've gon bananas! He does not do well with change and I think this would throw him off the edge. teeheehee

Before I started quilting, I used the big end for ironing the back of shirts - so it was already a no-brainer to use it for ironing patchwork.

My board sits so I can stand on either side of it. And I have an extra long cord on my iron. So when I'm pressing patchwork, I stand with the wide end on my left, and when I'm ironing clothes I just move to the other side. I also have an extra wide ironing board (European I think it's called) which is great for my husband's XXXL shirts, and also works great for fabric... And I have to say I envy you gals whose husbands iron their own shirts!! :)

I was amazed and amused when I saw my 40+ yo son iron his shirt this way!

I've been ironing this way for many years. My mother in law taught me. Makes ironing anything except very small clothes easier. Pants fit better, shirts iron faster, and quite frankly, I hate ironing so badly that I will do anything to make it go faster. I like the idea of making it a large rectangle. Will have to think on that.

Do you mean to tell me people iron things other than quilting? Who knew?

I do the same thing. Maybe someday I can get one of the big, wide, squred boards. That gives me an idea, since I have 2 ironing boards, maybe DH can cut a more user friendly board to bolt on the old board. Hummmm- leftover batting, yard goods, starting to take form as a new ironing board for just fabric. Thanks for the inspiration. It will stay up in my sewing room.

works better to iron the shirt on the bigger end too.

Good Golly -- your hubby irons his shirts? I'm envious!!!!!!