Sewing Machine Cover

My poor sewing machine has been sitting out too long without a cover.  I dearly love my sewing machine - so I decided it was finally time to show it the love, and make it a pretty cover!

I very loosely followed this tutorial here, however I could not get the measurement link to work - so I had to wing it...

I erred on the side of too big, because I figured that having a loose cover was better than having a tight one - don't you think?

So, I measured my sewing machine at its widest points, and pretended that it was a perfect rectangle - when in actuality it gets skinnier at the top (don't we all).

I cut one big piece to go over the front, top and back. 
With the measurements you see above (which were already generous) I added together 12" for the front, plus 12" for the back, plus 7" for the top, and 1" for seam allowance.  So, my big piece of fabric was 32" long by 17" wide.  (17" is the width of the sewing machine, as seen above).

I cut two side pieces in a coordinating color, 7.5" wide and 12.5" tall (the extra .5" on the width and height account for the 1" seam allowance I added to the big piece). 

I also cut lining fabric and interfacing in the same dimensions.

So, to recap:
1 big piece of fabric (for the outside) - 32" x 17"
2 coordinating pieces of fabric (for the outside sides) - each 7.5" x 12.5"

3 pieces of lining fabric - 1 piece: 32" x 17",  2 pieces: 7.5" x 12.5"

3 pieces of fabric interfacing - 1 piece: 32" x 17", 2 pieces: 7.5" x 12.5"

Below is a picture of the outer fabric, with the interfacing ironed on:

Sewing the big piece to the sides is done like so:

1) Mark the center of the big piece of fabric, along the long edge, with a pin. 
2) Mark the center of the side piece of fabric, along the short edge, with a pin.
3) With right sides together, match up the center pins and pin the pieces together.

4) Sew (using 1/2" seam allowance) the two pieces of fabric together, however DO NOT sew all the way to the edge of the side piece.  As you can see in the picture below, you want to leave just under 1/2" unsewn on each edge. 
5) Use your scissors to cut a small line, slightly less than 1/2" down, and right next to the side fabric. 

5) This little cut allows you to easily turn the edge of the side piece to meet the remaining long edge of the big piece (review the picture beneath step 3 to see what I mean).

6) Pin the edges together and sew with 1/2" seam allowance.

The picture below shows the top and one side sewn together...
You will want to do the same with the other edge of the side piece.

Then repeat steps 1- 6 for the 2nd long edge of the big piece of fabric.

You will want to sew the lining the same way - however LEAVE A 2 - 3" gap in the seam along one side.

Below is a picture of the gap I left so I could eventually turn my cover right side out:

Turn the outer cover right side out, and leave the lining inside out.  Put the lining over the outer cover, so that right sides are together.  Align the bottom edge and pin all the way around.  Sew all the way around the bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance. 

Turn the cover right side out through the hole you left in the lining.  You can see my hole in the picture below.  Once it is all turned right side out, sew the hole closed either by hand or with your sewing machine. 

Here you have a choice.  You can iron your cover so that you can't see any of the lining, or you can iron your cover as I did, with the lining sticking below the seam a little bit.  I like the contrast in color that it adds. 
I ironed it with about 1/2" of the lining showing, and then I sewed around the bottom edge again, through the lining, right next to the seam. 

I am delighted with the cover - it suits my sewing machine very well!  With this simple pattern, it took very little time to make, and was very forgiving!
So be sure to show your sewing machine some love (if you haven't already) and protect it from the dust, grime and filth of the outside world with a pretty fabric cover ;)

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