Sewing Machine Cover Tutorial

You ask and I deliver! Here is the tutorial my patchwork sewing machine cover. It's easy-peasy and would make a great gift!

Materials:
42 fabric scraps at least 2" x 2"
assorted fabric for the letters SEW and the heart
solid fabric for front and back (Half Yard-two pieces: each one 17" x 33")
ribbon (1.75 yards- cut into 4 pieces 14" each)
batting (17" x 33")
Quarter Yard for binding (3 strips cut 2.5" x WOF)
Heat & Bond Lite fusible stabilizer
scissors
sewing machine template (CLICK HERE for template)

The finished cover measures 17" x 32."  My machine is a Pfaff and is 16" wide x 7.5" deep, and 12" high.   It is very easy to customize the cover to your machine. Simply measure yours and adjust as needed.

Let's get started. Pictures are above the directions. Read through all directions before getting started.

1. Cut 42, 2" x 2" patchwork squares and arrange into 6 rows of 7.

2. Sew the squares in rows then sew the rows together. (I sewed the first three rows together, then the last three, then the two sections.) Press the seams flat.

3. Cut a 11" x 8.5" piece of Heat & Bond Lite.  Follow the directions on the package and iron the stabilizer on to the back side of the patchwork.

4. Print the sewing machine template and cut it out (don't use your fabric scissors!) Hold up your patchwork and the template to center it as you like. Try not to place it on top of seams.

Trace the template on to the paper side of the Heat & Bond. Remember that the machine will be reversed when you cut it out so make sure you flip the template before tracing it on the paper.  See picture above. 


5. Cut out the patchwork sewing machine and set aside for now. From the remaining patchwork scraps, cut a small heart. Set aside.

6. To make the letters SeW and the heart for the back, choose your favorite font in Word, increase the size (I think mine were about 450 but you might have to play with yours) and print the letters S-e-W on to copy paper.

Iron on the stabilizer to the back of the fabric. Cut out the letters, flip them over, and trace them onto the paper side of the Heat & Bond Lite.  For the heart, just iron on the stabilizer to the back of the fabric and fold it in half and cut out a heart. Set aside.

6. Now, Take your two pieces of background fabric and make a quilt sandwich. I spray basted mine.  Quilt as you wish. I did somewhat straight lines. :) Take a moment to square up your quilt.

7. Next I placed my cover on top of my machine and put a pin at the top edge of each side. Then I centered the patchwork sewing machine on my cover and pinned it in place. (My letters are about 2 inches from the bottom and the sewing machine cover is about 1 inch from the bottom.) 

8. Take your cover to your ironing board and be sure to remove the paper from the stabilizer. Press to adhere the stabilizer. Press on the top of the fabric and flip over the cover and press on the back.  Repeat for all applique.

9. Sew on the applique using a zig zag or blanket stitch. Back stitch at the beginning and end to secure your threads. (If you don't want to backstitch, leave long tails and pull your threads to the back. You can read more about this technique, HERE.)

10. Time to make your binding. I cut my binding fabric 2.5." If you are new to making binding, follow this tutorial. Sew on as you would quilt binding but do not sew it to the back of the cover yet.

11. Cut your ribbon into 4 pieces- each 14" long.  Measure 5" inches up from the bottom of the cover and pin your ribbons.

Tuck/fold the binding (on the top of the cover) out of the way and sew the ribbon along the binding seam. (See picture) Repeat for all 4 pieces.

12. Fold the binding over and sew it on to the back side of the cover. Sew by machine or by hand. I sew mine by hand. Sew right over the ribbon to secure it further. 

13. Ta-da! You are done and you now have a fabulous new sewing machine cover. Enjoy!

If you make one of these, I would love to see it! Please upload a pic to the Inspired by Ellison Lane Quilts Flickr Group.

Feel free to email me with questions if something is not clear. Hope you enjoy the tutorial!

Coming up soon: a GREAT BIG SWAG BAG giveaway! You're going to LOVE this!
Have a great weekend!

xo
Jennifer