Friday, January 08, 2010

Audrie's Scrappy Patchwork Sewing Machine Cover Tutorial

Hi, it's Vicki--I'm excited to have Audrie from Blue is Bleu as a guest blogger here today! Here's a super cute sewing machine cover tutorial that she put together:

My sewing machine has been in dire need of a cover, and since I had so many scraps from quilting projects, I thought what better way to use them than make a scrappy patchwork cover!

What you'll need:
  • Approx. 1/2 to 3/4 yard each of fabric for quilt top and back (this depends on the measurements of your sewing machine so adjust accordingly)
  • Batting
  • Fabric for binding
  • Scraps of fabric
  • Thread for sewing and quilting
  • Ribbon (approx. 1.5 yards or less)
  • Pins
  • Scissors
Before you begin, you'll need to measure your sewing machine. Mine was 27" from the bottom of the front over to the bottom of the back, and 16.5" across.


Cut your quilt top about 1" or so larger than the measurements. Cut your batting and backing fabric slightly larger than the quilt top.

Note: You can sew the scraps on the quilt top without the backing (just the top and batting), only adding it after all the scraps are sewn. This allows all the stitches to be hidden on the back. I personally like the stitching showing so I chose to work with the backing fabric.


Pin all three layers together.

Gather your scraps of fabric. Cut them into different shapes and sizes.

Pin your first scrap on the quilt top and sew approximately 1/8" from the edge. I used my walking foot for this since there's three layers and I didn't want them to shift around.

And there you'll have your first finished scrap!


Don't worry about making a little pucker on the edge. My first scrap always seems to turn out like this, just like the first pancake.

Sew another scrap to cover the pucker... and it's all fixed!

Continue layering and sewing on your scraps...

And you'll end up with something like this.

I decided to divide the cover into two halves -- one side made with girl quilt scraps, and the other with boy quilt scraps.


After all the scraps are sewn on and you're happy with how it looks, you can quilt the cover any way you please. I chose to do a grid pattern in a dark brown thread just by quilting vertically then horizontally without drawing lines. I like how it turns out all wonky.



Then I slapped on some brown dotty binding.

As for the straps, you can use ribbon or make your own straps from any fabric you like. I chose to go the ribbon route.

 

Cut your ribbon to the desired length -- I cut mine to 12" since my machine's about 7" wide. You'll need 4 pieces of cut ribbon.



I highly recommend treating the edges of your ribbon with Fray Check just so they don't unravel and look unruly after a while. 


Measure the side of your machine and where you'll like to place the ribbon. 2" up from the bottom works for me.



Mark on the reverse of your cover where you'll like the ribbon to go.


I placed my ribbons so that the mark is in the middle of the ribbon.


Pin your ribbon to the cover, turn over and stitch as closely to the binding as possible.


Tada! One ribbon fastened. Now repeat thrice.






You'll end up with one cute little scrappy patchwork sewing machine cover! 

A big thanks to Vicki for asking me to do a guest post on her blog :)

-- Audrie
 
Hi, it's Vicki again! Thank you so much for this tutorial, Audrie! If you have a chance, please stop by Audrie's blog--she makes lots of gorgeous quilts and also blogs about funny, random things in her life. 

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is one cute cover! :-D)
I just bought a new machine and I need to create a cover. But mine has to be a "bag". My sewing machine lives in my RV and it needs lots of padding.

I may use your patch concept to make the super-padded bag-cover real pretty!

Leslie said...

thanks for this tutorial. it is so cute and such a great idea

Angela Nash said...

Cute! And I love the pancake note. My machine really needs a cover, I should get going on that!

Anonymous said...

Very cute idea and so useful! How fun to have a guest blogger! Nice to meet you Audrie!

Anonymous said...

Thanks! What a fun tute - and BTW - your binding skills ROCK!

Carol said...

That's a darn cute cover -- thanks for the tutorial!

KaHolly said...

I LOVE it! Thanks for the tutorial! Can't wait to get started on one! ~karen

Erika Mulvenna said...

That is so cute, I love it - great job on the tutorial! And I can't believe how straight your lines turned out even though you call them "wonky."

Audrie said...

Thanks Vicki, for asking me to do a guest post! And thanks to everyone for their kind words :) I had loads of fun writing the tutorial and now my sewing machine cover has a story behind it!

P/S: Candied Fabrics, thanks for the binding love!!

Quilts and Cats said...

This is great...I'll be picking out fabric in the morning!

Nile e Richard said...

Oi colega.
BelĂ­ssimo trabalho e obrigado pelo tutorial.
Bom fim de semana para voce.
bjtos.Nile.

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Aww, that is super cute, I love it! Thanks so much for the tutorial. I'll be linking.

Pat Crawford said...

Thanks for this great idea. I have my first quilt hanging above my machine, so I used scraps from it to create the cover. It looks great!
Pat tigervol@citcom.net

Diane said...

Cute! I need to make a couple of these for my machines... thanks for the tutorial!

KiiheleWest said...

This is so inspiring. I've been throwing an old dishtowel over my machine. It's about time I did something to take care of it!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your inspiration. I tried to upload a photograph of the one I made, but it wouldn't take it.
Thanks for your tutorial!

StasaLynn said...

Vickie and Audrie, I love your blogs...... I Googled patterns for sewing machine covers - the first one was Fave Crafts which led me to your blog.... I am a newbie at blogging, as well as sewing/quilting - so this pattern is perfect. I will comment on Audrie's blog too as I want to become a follower too!

Thanks for sharing this and I will definitely be working this one up!

Stacey

Anonymous said...

just one question about your cute cover when you sew the scraps on the cover do you turn under the edges of fabric or do you leave them as raw edges i am a little vison impaired and could not tell by the pictures thanks glenda

Vicki said...

The edges are raw. :)

Sheri Boller said...

If you want sides on it how would you do it. I'm a newbie at sewing and quilting.

Vicki said...

Hi Sherri, I would do an internet search to find a different pattern if you want one with sides.