Sewing Machine Cover
I made a sewing machine cover this weekend. It was a spur of the moment decision (another DrEAMi project, perhaps?). An Alison Glass charm pack, a fun ribbon, and a few hours and I was done.
I used this tutorial for the project; however I tweaked it a bit to fit my machine, a Janome Skyline S7. I had an Alison Glass Sunprint 2019 charm pack and for this project I used 38 charms. The ribbon pulls and binding came from a roll of ribbon I purchased at World Market.
It was challenging to get a good photo of the cover in use. My cover buckles a bit more because I used Hobbs Thermore batting. Thermore is great, but it is more drapey so it buckles a bit more. I don’t mind, it will serve its purpose.
Here’s a view from the top:
I used a very calculated method when measuring for this cover. I sewed the 24 5″ squares together to create the main piece, then draped it over my machine to see how it fit. Eyeballing it, I realized I’d need another 2 inches of length on each side, so I sewed another four charm squares together, cut that strip in half the long way and attached each 2.5″ strip to each end of the main piece. I did the same thing on one end of each side panel. (You can see the half row on the main piece in the earlier photo.) Cutting that row in half kept it easy to keep those two rows on top, and made it much easier to attach the side panels.
When I had the top and side panels sewn, it was time to quilt. Unlike the instructions in the tutorial, I chose to create a quilt sandwich rather than sew the top and the lining separately. No one is going to see the inside of the cover, so I don’t mind the exposed seams. For the backing fabric, I used leftover pieces from the backing of my Postcards from Sweden quilt. Using orange Aurifil 50 wt thread, I quilted straight lines on each side of each seam on the main piece and each side panel. Simple and quick.
The last step before attaching the side panels was to baste the ribbon pulls in place. The ribbon is 1″ wide and I cut two 5″ lengths of it for the ribbon pulls. This was an addition of my own; it wasn’t on the tutorial. Once that was done, I attached the side panels to the main cover as described in the tutorial.
I had planned to bind the quilt traditionally, but then I realized I could have some fun with the ribbon. I sewed a length of ribbon to each side of the cover, then finished by sewing around the bottom of the ribbon, attaching the two pieces together.
The cover measures approximately 20″L x 10″W x 12″H. When not in use, the cover folds up nicely so I can tuck it out of the way.
Because You Asked
So many of you asked about fermenting cherries after my last post. We make brandied cherries, and here is the base recipe BigJ works from. Also, I told some of you we pitted the cherries for this recipe. That is incorrect. We leave the pits in for this recipe. We do remove the stems, however.
So, what about you? Have you made a sewing machine cover? I’d enjoy hearing about it.
Linking up today with Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday and Pretty Piney for What I Made Monday.
Wendy
22 Comments
Cindy Pieters
Our machines deserve nothing but the best and yours fit that bill! I made myself one a few years ago.
Lisa J.
Very nice indeed. Thanks for explaining the cherries.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! This post is so timely. I was just complaining to myself about the dust on the top of my sewing machine yesterday, and said I need to make a cover for it. I love your nice, colorful top. It has to make you smile every time you look at it. It would me! ~smile~ Roseanne
Riceford Streams
Great use for the charm pack and cute ribbon! Thanks for the cherry recipe — I won’t make them, but it was a fun read.
Vicki in MN
Great idea to use those fun bright charms for your cover, your room shines brighter because of it I am sure. I have never made a cover, I should for the machine that is not in use constantly. I love that ribbon you used, I think I might have a yellow version(somewhere!).
My Sewful Retirement
What a lovely and machine cover! I do love charm pack projects!! I made covers for two of my machines in May!
Karen Goad
I have a cheap plastic type dust cover that came with my Babylock but admit after the first couple months I never use it – I always forget about it. I have my two antique machines sitting without covers so I can see them because I like to look at them but I really should make a cover for the Babylock that sits out all the time and sometimes because I do so much hand work it sits for weeks without use.
The ribbon you have that you used looks a bit like the ribbon that I think Jelly rolls came with last year tied on them – I’m not sure if they are still using that as I haven’t been in a shop in a long time and haven’t ordered any this year
Diann Bottrell
I’ve intended to make myself a sewing machine cover, but not gotten around to it yet! I love yours, and it looks like a great use for those charm squares. Thanks for linking the tutorial, too! I think I would do the same as you did – sew the whole thing as a quilt sandwich and not worry about the seams on the inside!
weddingdressblue
Spontaneous projects are the best! Your results speak for themselves.
Barbara
That is a fun ribbon and a fun project. My poor sewing machines are covered with tee towels that I folded in half and stitched up each side. It isn’t fancy, but it keeps the dust off. I’m always threatening to make nicer ones, but somehow it just never gets to the top of the list.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Wow! Super cute, Wendy! Such fun fabrics. And the measuring tape ribbon addition was a whimsical touch! I need sewing machine covers for the three machines in my studio.
Needle and Foot
Like the others, I need to make a cover as well. I have one machine that I use only occasionally – I should keep it covered. Love yours and you are totally correct about leaving the exposed seams on the inside. Good job!
helen
I am afraid my machine sits naked as a jaybird in my sewing room. A bad practice I know. When I have sewn everything, I will sew my cover ….
Louise
Sew cute! I love the bright colors of the AG fabrics, and clearly you do, too! I made a cover for my last machine, but rarely used it. It was fun to make, though, and I still like it. It’s tucked into the carrying bag with my old Kenmore and I just peeked at it yesterday while moving the bag to another storage area. I also found the pre-made (and UGLY) cover for my Juki. I don’t use that one, either, LOL! 🙂
Andrée G Faubert
Hi Wendy, I recognized the Alison Glass fabric since I’m hording some! It’s a really lovely cover. I love your tape measure ribbon.
Becca // Pretty Piney Quilts
The ribbon is a perfect touch! And it’s great to use such lovely fabric to make an item that’s front and center all the time, not folded up in a closet or something. Thanks for linking up to What I Made Monday.
Sparkle On! with Abbie
Hi Wendy, I love your bright and cheery machine cover! Perfect to see when you sit down to sew.
Mmmmm, brandied cherries! Sounds like a perfect thing to nibble on when you sit down to sew! 🙂
piecefulwendy
Thanks, Abbie! The brandied cherries all go to hubby. I don’t like the liquor. I like ‘em with sugar 😉
Danice G
Very cute. Yes, I made one for my machine and posted it a while back. Yours is a more complex pattern, I went simple. I have some of that measuring tape ribbon and use it very sparingly, ha ha.
joymcd305716439
Very nice! Yes, I made a cover once upon a time… but who knows where it is now! xx
Susan Q
Love your cover. I’ve been wanting to make one, just haven’t gotten around to it. Some day!!
piecefulwendy
That was me. Maybe inspiration will hit you one day and you’ll just have to make one!