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.