How to Make a Double-Sided Sewing Machine Cover

Stitch a two-sided cover to protect your sewing machine.

Protect your sewing machine from dust and debris when you're not using it by making a machine cover. Use two contrasting fabrics to make a reversible cover, so you can change the cover based on the seasons or your mood. Use a solid fabric for one side and a printed fabric for the other. Making your own sewing machine cover lets you customize it to the dimensions and shape of your sewing machine.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• ½-yard each of two contrasting cotton fabrics
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine
• Pencil or chalk marker
• Iron and ironing board
• Bias tape

Instructions

1. Measure the width, depth and height of your sewing machine. Make note of the measurements. The depth is from front to back of the machine at its deepest point. The width is from left to right, from the knob on the side to the other side at the widest point. The height is from the table top to the top of the spool holder.

2. Cut each piece of fabric into a rectangle that measures the machine's width plus twice its depth, plus 1 inch in width. The length of the each rectangle should be twice the machine's height plus its depth, plus 1 inch. If your machine is 12 inches high, 14 inches wide and 5 inches deep, your rectangles should be 25 inches (14 + 5 + 5+ 1) wide by 30 inches (12 +12+ 5 +1) long.

3. Fold each rectangle in half width-wise, right sides together. Pin the fabric together along the right and left sides.

4. Stitch the fabric along each pinned side with ½-inch seam allowance, removing the pins as you go. Use the iron to press the seams flat.

5. Flatten the two corners of the fabric on the fold to form a triangle. Measure the depth of the sewing machine from the tip of the triangle and make a mark. For example, if your machine is 5 inches deep, measure 5 inches from the tip of the triangle. At the mark, draw a horizontal line. The horizontal line should also measure 5 inches, or the depth of your machine. Repeat on the second corner and on the two corners of the second piece of fabric.

6. Sew a straight line of stitches along the horizontal line at each corner. Trim off excess fabric on the corners, leaving a ½-inch seam.

7. Turn the fabric right side out that you decide will be the outside cover. Slide the other piece of fabric inside the outside piece. The wrong sides of the fabric should face each other.

8. Pin the fabrics together along the bottom, raw edge. Stitch along the edge to attach the pieces together. Stitch as close to the edge as possible.

9. Unfold the bias tape. Line up the inner fold of the tape with the raw edge of the cover. Smooth the tape down, so its two sides are on the inside and outside edge of the cover. Pin the tape in place.

10. Stitch the tape to the cover along the inside edge of the tape, away from the fold.

11. Gently press the finished cover with the iron to smooth it out, then slide over top of your sewing machine.

References

• Sew4Home; Sewing Machine Cover; Jacqueline Smerek; 2009
• "Bag Bazaar; 25 Bags to Sew In an Afternoon"; Megan Avery; 2008