Before Christmas I made this sewing machine cover – I think it’s one of my favourite projects to date.
You need:
– one charm pack or 24 x 5″ squares
– one metre (yard) of coordinating fabric for side panels and lining
– 1.5 metres (59″) bias binding
– one metre (yard) cotton quilt batting
This diagram is the exact layout (including the colours of my charm squares!) that I used. You need to cut 4 side panel pieces (2 for exterior, 2 for lining) and cut a piece of lining the same size as the charm square panel.
How to make the Quilted Sewing Machine Cover:
1. Sew the charms together according to the diagram above, back with a piece of batting the same size, and quilt as desired. I quilted diagonally through the squares.
2. Back the side panels with batting and quilt as desired.
3. Sew the side panels at the seam across the middle of the charm panel, with right sides together. When you lay it out, it will look like the diagram above.
4. Pin the side panel to the charm square panel. You will have the shape of the cover. Stitch up the sides.
5. Sew the lining pieces the same way.
6. Place the lining inside the exterior piece, wrong sides together.
7. Pin bias binding in place around raw edge, and stitch in place.
Finished!
Fabric details: My charm squares were from a pack of Half Moon Modern by Moda (now sadly out of print) which was a gift to me in a swap. I only used the charms in the aqua, red and grey colours. I love the scissors print – it suits this project so well! My lining and side panels are Riley Blake Chevrons in aqua.
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I need a cover for my machine, Ros. LOVE the combination of fabrics you've used!!!
Th is is adorable and it turned out beautiful and so simple your a genius. Thank you
You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed the tutorial 🙂
You're just a little bit too clever. Beautiful fabric.
Anne xx
Can can you sewl lineing yo to the charm pac and then wuilt it all together
You certainly can. That would be my preference also. This is my next project.
This is fantastic! Thanks. I was just thinking yesterday about making a cover for my machine and for the overlocker that I'm hoping my hubby will be getting me for my birthday next month! Love your fabric combos.
Hope your hubby got your overlocker
It's beautiful; I love it! Thanks for the tute!
oh i should make one of these for my machine and another for my serger. i don't like the hard plastic case that came with my machine because i have to take the thread off in order for it to fit on. and i like just leaving the thread in. my serger came with a soft plastic cover, which is just plain. i just need to pick some fabric…
Love those fabrics together 🙂 I'm now off to share the tute 😉
Love it! Thanks for the tutorial!
So nice! I so need one of these… My sewing machine is still in the box because I have nothing to cover it…
in the meantime…until you make a cover use:
a piece of fabric
a bath towel
a pillowcase…..
but……get that machine outta the box!!!
have fun!!
Very nice, Ros! 🙂
This is so pretty. I love the fabrics you used. Thanks for the tutorial. I have been using the plastic one that came with my machine. I have literally had no time to make something for myself. This looks easy enough to make in a weekend.
Very cute!
Thank you, this is exactly what I have been looking for!
Din symaskinstäcke är så fin. Har nyligen sytt 2 och två mattor till mina marskiner.
Like many people with a sewing machine and a passion to make things (and a handmade business), I so want to make one of these too. Yours looks fabulous. Thanks for the tutorial!
I love this! Too bad my machine lives in the garage. Unfortunately my kitchen is also my craft room. But if I could leave it out, I'd make one of these for sure, just love it!!
XO,
Christy
http://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com
I love the look of this. Seriously cute. Great job!
Marty@Marty's Musings
this is beautiful! I bought a new sewing machine as my 30th birthday present last year and I think it needs to have a lovely cover like this to make it look pretty!
Hi Ros, I've featured your Sewing Machine Cover today… Threading Your Way Features
Love this! What a fun way to use some charm squares…
It's gorgeous! I've seen a lot of covers around, but most have tie-sides and I can't help thinking that renders them useless, the dust can still get in! I love this style that you've made and my cover is the same shape
I'm here through Pam's blog, from Threading My Way, I saw the cover that was featured, and came to see the tutorial, it's something I'm going to try to do. I love your cover! thanks for the tutorial. I hope you do not mind I pinned this project to have it for future reference. I am a follower of yours for a while, would have to come more often to leave comments to you because I really like your blog. I'll leave the link to my blog if you want to visit me.
Marisa from
http://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/
Adorable! Thanks for the instructions!
My grandson has asked me to make a cover for his electric guitar speaker . This gives me an idea of how to do it, just with different measurements. And of course nothing cutesy for fabric. I just need to figure out the measurements. Thanks for a great idea.
Great idea Susan – it is definitely adaptable to lots of different shapes!
Just thought I'd let you know I enjoyed making this! Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for the tutorial, I made this yesterday!
You can see it here if you like…
http://faithnchls.blogspot.com/2013/04/thready-thursday.html
Muito obrigada, procurava uma assim, sempre encontrava,mas nada me deixava com vontade de fazer, adorei este teu PaP, vou fazer a minha agora, bjão, Martinha.
love this tutorial! I've always wanted to make one of these!
I just whipped one of these up today. Only took a couple of hours. Now why did I put off making a cover for my machine for so long? LOL Thank you for the tutorial. You gave great instructions. 🙂
Thanks Winona! x
How did you see the sides together without making a bulge where the large piece folds over?
I've had this bookmarked since you posted, and have finally managed to get around to it, but have only finished the outside. I'm still deciding on the lining. It's just for me, but "I" want to be happy. 🙂 The instructions are perfect!
Yay Spilly, so glad to hear that – sometimes 'sewing for me' is a luxury, I rarely do it. Look forward to seeing pics. x
Thank you for this tutorial. I have searched the Internet for a sewing machine cover pattern and this is by far the best! Just what I was looking for! Thank you so much!
I'm wondering if you can post the dimensions of your machine so I can tell if following your pattern exactly would fit my machine? 🙂
I've been saving this tutorial since it came out, which was about the same time as I got my new machine, but I'm finally making a pretty cover now! You mentioned a cover for your overlock machine … I have one of those too. Is there a tutorial coming for that? I really don't know how to cover up the wire thread support on the top. What kind of a design shall we use? 🙂 Thanks for your wonderful inspiration!
Hi Karen, can't wait to see your cover, I hope you can share a pic! I haven't made a cover for my overlocker yet…it's been on the to-do list for a long time! Hopefully soon 🙂
Bravo le quilt pour la machine est magnifique Marie-Claire
I love it thank you.
this is great! I have a pack of sunnyside (moda) charms I have been wondering what to do with! I bet I can get two covers out of it if I add a border at the bottom. One for sewer and one for serger! woot!
fabulous. thank you
I am a novice at sewing (I have made several rag quilts, though) and really want to make this machine cover. Yours is delightful!
I'm not sure I'm understanding #5, the lining pieces. Could you please provide exact details as to how to attach this lining materail to the other pieces? And do we also make stitches through that piece, to give it the quilted look? (Not sure how that would be done).
Can we "sandwich: the pieces together? (Such as in rag quilting) Though I'm thinking your way may be quicker and easier…I'm just not understanding exactly how to do it.
Thank you for any additional helps on this; as I said, I'm a novice!
Mary Jane mjw617@verizon.net
How clever! Love projects that are functional,pretty, and so simple!
We are teaching the girls at Church on Wednesday nights to sew. We have several sewing machines and this will be a great project for the girls to make. And they will make our sewing area much neater looking. We are lucky to have a space to ourselves that we can leave the machines on the tables instead of packing them away each time.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I followed it, making adjustments for the size of my machine, and it's the first thing I've ever made that actually came out looking like the picture!
http://threadmonster.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sewing-room-makeover-sewing-machine-cozy.html?showComment=1400149201164#c354483620447081219
Thanks for this! I'm hoping to make one of these for my brand new sewing machine, since it came with a hideously ugly cover that offends the eyes. One of these will suit it much better!
Thanks for the great pattern. I am going to use this as a "baseline" for my Janome 8900. I have the thread rack attached, and want to build a "2nd floor" on the cover to accomdate the post that sticks up.
Love the pattern going to try to trim it down to fit my 4 slice toaster. Love it
This is gorgeous! What seam allowance did you use, please?
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I will make this for my daughter. She needs something to cover her Janome manual machine (she lives off the grid) so that little fingers (2 year old grandson) will stop trying to play with the machine. I plan to sew 4 ties on to this so she can tie it beneath the sewing table. Thanks for the tutorial!
I am attempting one today… decided to place a zipper on top for the handle…. should be fairly easy, yes???
I'm sure that would be great, perhaps a welt style zipper would work!
You didnt mention anything about seam allowances. Im new to sewing. Its beautiful. I hate the ugly utilitarian cover that came with my singer that I love. Woukd like to make mine inred, black and white.
Hi Jessica, all seam allowances are 1/4 inch.
GRACIAS POR EL TUTORIAL, ME HACIA FALTA PARA MI MAQUINA
Ros,
Your pattern is great! I used it last year to make a cover for my machine and everyone always comments on how much they like it. I made some for friends and they love them too. Now I’m starting to sell some of the things I sew and was wondering if I have your permission to use this pattern to make my own covers to sell. I also bought the book Sewing to Sell and I want to make sure I cover my bases and have your permission.
Thank you and happy sewing!
Marina
Hi Marina, thanks so much for your message. I’m really glad the tutorial has been a great success for you.
You are welcome to sell your covers on a small scale. If you choose to sell on an online platform such as Etsy, I’d really appreciate it if you could credit me as the designer of the pattern in the description.
Good luck with it, Ros
It’s a wet afternoon in the UK, I found your tutorial and hey presto my machine now ha a fab new cove. Thank you so much.
This is sweet. I like the fabrics you used & think it would be really pretty in Christmas fabrics. It seems like sewing with Christmas fabrics leaves me with lots of smallish pieces that can be used in projects like this one. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you Ann! A christmas one would be fabulous. You could make one for each season and switch them through the year!
Hey ladies , what is an “over locker” haven’t heard that word.
I made this sewing this sewing machine cover for myself and when I bought my grand daughter her own machine for Christmas I then made her a cover to teach her to always keep it covered and ready to use. Love it
Hi Dee, an overlocker is what we call a serger in Australia. Glad you like the tutorial! x Ros
Hi Ros, I saw someone asked about how to attach the lining to the rest of it. Is it just the binding that holds it on? I couldn’t see the answer. Cheers
Hi Dianne, yes the binding holds the lining on. Ros
Thanks heaps! I’m in love with this tutorial 🙂 Awesome job
What length and width sewing machine did this cover so I know if I need to add another row of 5” squares or length on the bottom
Hi, Thanks for the tutorial. I just finished mine, I am happy!
Thank you so much for this turtorial! I was able to make my own, and now my mother-in-love is wanting one. 🙂
okay, followed interaction unto #6. Not sure what to do now. Could you give extra details.
I’m very new to sewing and quilting, so forgive me if this is a stupid question. If I’m reading the instructions right, you don’t make a sandwich with the charms, batting, and liner…only the charms and batting? Then the liner is separate?
Thanks!
Hi Ellie – yes that’s right. It’s constructed a little differently than a traditional quilt.
Thanks so much! I just finished this and love it, I’d post a picture if I knew how. Although I wonder, is there a reason why you wouldn’t be able to construct it like a quilt with all three layers instead of doing the inner layer separately? I’m thinking of making a few more covers for a few appliances and that would make it go more quickly. Thanks!
Feel free to post a picture to my wall on my facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/sewdeliciousblog
You could certainly construct it with 3 layers but then you would have exposed seams on the inside from attaching the side pieces. If that doesn’t bother you then go for it! Glad the tutorial worked well for you Ellie 🙂
I’m Sooo impressed, it’s so pretty, I have mine all cut out & ready to sew. Thank you so much for the pattern!! xx
You are very welcome!
What a perfect addition to the sunroom! I’m going to have to try this for my machine.
Thanks Barbara, glad you like the project 🙂
I have just started sewing a few clothing pieces for my toddler but after listening to some great podcasts and coming across your blog I feel this urge to take the plunge into some quilting and this looks like a great little project 🙂
Good luck with it! I love listening to podcasts 🙂
I am excited to make this sewing machine cover. I am a beginner so I think this will be a good project for me. I just wanted to confirm that when I sew the lining inside, the only place the lining will be sewn on the inside is the area of the bias binding? I just wanted to make sure I was reading the instructions correctly. Thanks!
Hi Katrina, yes that’s correct. You’ll find the lining sticks naturally to the batting anyway so it doesn’t fall down or lose shape. Good luck with it, feel free to email if you have anymore questions xx
Thank you so much! I started my cover last night. I cut all of the 5″ squares and have several of them sewn together. Can’t wait to see it finished 🙂
Absolutely love this pattern. Easy to follow. I made a cover for my new sewing machine in one afternoon. Thank you for sharing.
This looks like a great pattern, Just what I was looking for! One question, though – do you sew batting to the lining piece also?
Love it ty
Love this…also would work for my standard mixer!!
I have just completed this cover and it turned out great! Thank you so much!
Thanks for your pattern. I’ve made one for my sewing machine and am now looking for one for my long-arm quilter. Any suggestions?
I just finisher making my machine cover. Turned out great. Thanks for the tutorial!!
I need cover for my kitchenaid mixture
anyway to get a picture of what it looks like with the lining under. I’m struggling. just not comprehending how its supposed to line up and mine is not turning out like its supposed to. appreciate your help.
What size machine is your macine? I am trying to figure out how to adapt this for a machine that is 17.32 x 11.42 x 7.87. Thanks!
Which sewing machine do you recommend for quilting? https://bestsewingmachineforbeginnerstoday.com/best-sewing-machines-for-quilting/
Hi Ros, I used your pattern and used the scraps of some of my previous projects. I’m really pleased with the outcome and every square has a story! Thank you x
Loved making this easy and it works! Thank you very much! I have tried to paste a photo of mine here but it won’t let me thanks again
Hi! I hope you are safe where you are, or that you have gone back to your home country. I made your machine cover today, out of quilting scraps so it is scrappy!
Thanks for your posts and Happy Thanksgiving Day (I am in Canada)
I am a brand newbie to quilting and thought I would try this! I love my new sewing machine cover. Thank you!