Make a Sewing Machine Cover

Instructions for a sewing machine cover with ties! Perfect for keeping your sewing machine clean while it's not in use. You can download and print out the appliqué template here.

Creating appliqués

First of all, we are going to create the appliqués. You can download and print out the appliqué template here (keep the scale at 100% or "actual size"):
Eat.Quilt.Sleep.Repeat.Template

Instead of tracing the letters from the template, proceed as follows:

1. Print out the template and cut it out roughly.

2. Then spray the back with a little spray adhesive (here I used Odif adhesive, which is what I use to temporarily fasten together the different layers when quilting, but you can certainly use other adhesives) and stick it onto the paper side of the Vliesofix.

3. Then iron the prepared piece onto the back of the material.

4. Now the letters can be cut out. I used fine scissors with a sharp point to cut out the very small pieces. This method of transferring appliqué templates saves a great deal of time (and nerves), so I strongly recommend it to you!

To go with the rather understated pattern on the background fabric and edging, most of the letters are black. The word “quilt” makes a colorful contrast.

Creating the sewing machine cover

1. First, fasten together the front site, the interfacing, and the back with either pins or spray adhesive.

2. Quilt in any way you like! Cut the quilted piece to the exact measurement of 50 x 86 cm. Use the diagram below to see the additional measurements needed to continue cutting the cover.

3. Next, cut out the recess for the quilting extension table. To do this, draw a line measuring 10 x 34 cm from the bottom left corner. Cut along the drawn line. Round off the corners, as shown in the two images above. A drinking glass is well suited for this purpose. Repeat this step at the top left corner. Your cover should now look like the diagram above.

4. Then round off all of the other corners of the cover.

5. Next, measure 33 cm from the bottom and top right edge and draw a horizontal line with the marker (represented in the diagram above as a dotted line), and draw another line 1 cm away towards the middle. Quilt along both lines using a straight stitch. These quilting seams create a division and additional stability for the front, top, and back.

6. Then affix the bias binding (folded width of 2 cm). For this, I used the BERNINA binder attachment for pre-folded bindings. In order to get the curves right, I simply pulled the binder channel backwards a little.

For topstitching bias bindings, I prefer to use stitch no.16 stitch, which is the divided zigzag stitch. Any little inaccuracies are not noticeable at all when you use this decorative stitch!

I also used bias binding to create the ties for the sides. For this, I folded them and topstitched them using the no. 16 stitch.

7. Transfer the marking for the ties onto the cover and sew on the ties using a narrow zigzag seam. For this, I used the no. 16 stitch again and simply shortened the stitch length. Shorten the ties as needed.

8. Lastly, iron on the appliqués using the manufacturer’s instructions and then stitch firmly. Since I won’t be putting this sewing machine cover in the washing machine, and at the most will shake it out, I’ve opted for the so-called raw edge appliqué method, so I did not neaten the edges. This is a little simpler for smaller appliqués like these letters than a zigzag border. And that’s it!