Happy National Sewing Machine Day! National Sewing Machine Day is Monday, June 13, so we put together a tutorial to make something special for the original power tool. Sewing machine covers can be functional AND cute, and in this simple tutorial, we’ll teach you how you can make one with two 12β quilt blocks! Our sewing machine cover features blocks from Lori Holt’s Farm Girl Vintage and Farm Girl Vintage 2 books, but you can use whichever block works best for your sewing space.
Supplies
- Farm Girl Vintage Book and Farm Girl Vintage 2 Book by Lori Holt for It’s Sew Emma
- Fabric for the sashing and borders, binding and backing. We’re using Bee Plaids by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs
- .5 yard for borders, fabric ties and binding (SKU# C12028-DENIM)
- 4.5β X 12.5β piece of fabric for sashing (SKU# C12020-TEAL)
- 1 yard for backing (SKU# C12034-BUTTERSCOTCH)
- One yard of batting
Cutting:
A: Side borders – 2 – 2.5″ x 30.5″ rectangles
B: Top and bottom borders: 2 – 1.5″ x 12.5″ rectangles
C: Side ties: 1 – 1.5″ x width of fabric strip
D: Sashing: 1 – 4.5″ x 12.5″ rectangle
Backing: 1 – 20″ x 34″ rectangle (this leaves about 2″ extra around the sides for quilting on a home machine)
Batting: 1 – 20″ x 34″ rectangle
Our sewing machine measures approximately 16β wide and about 30β over the top, and the cover is just a half-inch larger than that. If you need a cover larger than that you can widen the sashing and borders to give you the right fit.
Instructions:
1. Make two 12″ finished quilt blocks from Lori Holt’s Farm Girl Vintage (Churn Dash, page 19) and Farm Girl Vintage 2 (Bright Zinnia, page 22) books.
2. Place one B strip along the bottom edge of each block and pin the edges together. Place fabric D along the top edge of one of the quilt blocks and pin the edges together. Sew with a quarter-inch seam.
3. Press seams then lay both blocks right sides together, lining up the edge of fabric D and top of the remaining block. Pin together then sew with a quarter-inch seam.
4. Lay the fabric A strips right sides together along either side of these assembled fabrics and pin in place. Then sew with a quarter-inch seam.
5. Press flat. Add batting and backing to make a quilt sandwich. Quilt as desired.
After quilting, trim off excess batting and backing to measure 16.5″ x 30.5″.
6. For the fabric ties, from fabric C, fold the 1.5″ x 30.5″ rectangle in half, lengthwise. Press. Open and fold each edge in to meet the fold mark in the middle. Press. Fold in half again. Press.
Run a straight stitch down the center to secure in place.
Cut the fabric tie in four equal pieces, and finish one end of each to prevent fraying.
7. Attach the fabric ties to the back of the cover, approximately 7 inches from the bottom edge. Align the raw edges, then tack them down with a zig-zag stitch.
Bind the sewing machine cover as desired.
For more DIY sewing inspiration, visit our free tutorials page or follow Fat Quarter Shopβs Pinterest and YouTube for free sewing and quilting tutorials to keep your machine humming all day long.
Share with Fat Quarter Shop
We hope you grace your sewing machine with a pretty handmade cover, and if you do, be sure to share it with us on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #sewingmachinecover and tagging @fatquartershop, so we can see and share your work!
Happy Sewing Machine Day!
15 comments
Thank you, thank you, thank you …. I needed
another sewing machine cover … How cute is
this….the zinnia is one of my favorites and I just
may have one already pieced together along with
a mama hen…..I’m half way there ! Happy sewing
machine day !
This is brilliant! Thank you FQS π€©
O my goodness. I have a box full of orphan quilt blocks many are 12 1/2β unfinished. I am always looking for new ways to use them up and there are only so many placemats and table runners a person needs, right? Thank you so much for sharing this project. I cannot wait to make a few.
Thank you Debbie! We are so happy to have shared something that you are excited about. π
Oh, this is awesome and not too intensive to make. Cute and functional! It may also prevent my cats from trying to steal the thread off my machine. π
I really love the sewing machine cover and I also love Loriβs blocks and make them frequently. I really needed a cover for my machine so I will definitely make this one. Thanks for the cute pattern.
Of course Linda! Thank you for reading. We are so happy you like it!
Thank you I was just saying that I need this because Dust is real canβt wait to make this β€οΈ
Great pattern for a new sewing machine cover. I acquired some 12″ blocks at our quilt chapter auction. The cover will be a quick
project. Thank you.
Any chance that the fabrics used in the machine cover will be packaged in the amounts needed for the blocks, sashing, backing etc. and pattern and sold as a kit?
Hi Barbara, unfortunately, we will not be selling a kit for this, but all the fabric requirements are given in detail so that you can make this easily without one. π
What a brilliant & fun idea is this sewing machine cover!! I absolutely love it!! Zinnia’s are some of my very favorite flowers!! I think I’m going to pair mine with a Chicken!! Oh how ADORABLE will that be!! Thank you Thank you!!
Thank you! I purchased an HQ Capri and have wanted to cover it in between projects. With a few modifications this would work
Thank you for this fun tutorial! I just finished making mine using the churndash block and mama hen.
Hi Vicki, we’re so glad to hear that! Thank you for making it π