Cath Kidston Sewing Machine Cover

Cath Kidston Sewing Book

Posted by Quadrille

About

Back in the 1880s, the first domestic sewing machines were thought of as part of the furniture and came complete with decoratively carved wooden boxes. Some machines still have their own hard cases, which are great for long-term storage. But half the time, when your machine is out on the table and in use, it's so much more practical to throw on this soft cover. And what's more, it looks great!
Level: Easy

SIZE
It’s a good idea to double check all the measurements against your sewing machine first, before cutting out the fabric. The cover is designed to fit over a standard domestic model with a carrying handle that lies towards the back of the arm. The top opening measures 14 x 2cm. If your machine has a central handle, cut two 9.5 x 16cm top pieces instead. If the handle is longer than 13cm, lengthen the top pieces and reduce the top end of the side panels accordingly.

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You Will Need (6 things)

  • MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

  • Templates
  • 100 x 80cm medium-weight Fabric
  • Matching Sewing Thread
  • Sewing Machine
  • Workbox

Steps (8 steps, 180 minutes)

  1. 1

    TO MAKE THE COVER

    MAKE UP THE POCKET
    Sew a 1cm double hem along the top edge of the pocket. Using a fading fabric marker pen and a ruler, rule a line 13cm from the left edge. With both pieces right side up, pin and tack the pocket to the bottom long edge of one main panel. Stitch together, 5mm from the side and bottom edges, then sew along the line, reinforcing the top end of the row.

    MAKE IT SIMPLER
    If you want to streamline the cover, cut the top panel from a single piece of fabric and miss out the space for the handle.

  2. 2

    NEATEN THE TOP EDGES

    Press back a 1cm turning along the top edges of the two side panels. Press back and stitch down a double 1cm hem along one long edge of each top piece. Mark the centre point of the opposite edges.

  3. 3

    CUTTING OUT
    Two 42 x 30cm main panels
    One 42 x 16cm pocket
    Two side panels (from template)
    One 16 x 8cm top piece
    One 18 x 11cm top piece

    FABRIC CHOICE
    All-over floral prints are ideal for simple, blocky projects like this Sewing Machine Cover and the Cushions, which have large rectangular panels to show them off well.

  4. 4

    CONSTRUCT THE OPENING

    With right sides together, position the two top pieces along the neatened edge of one of the side panels, with the long raw edges at top and bottom. The short edges should lie 5mm in from the fold. Pin and tack them in place, then machine stitch, taking a 1cm seam allowance.

  5. 5

    Fold the top pieces over and press the seam over the side panel. Machine stitch 8mm from the edge of the side panel. Join the other side panel to the other edge of the top pieces in the same way.

  6. 6

    ADD THE MAIN PANELS

    Fold the main panels in half and mark the centre of the top edges. Lay one main panel along the top edge of the joined pieces, matching the centre to the centre of the handle piece. Pin and tack together, then machine stitch taking a 1cm seam allowance. Leave 1cm unstitched at each end of the seam, reinforcing both ends of the row with a few reverse stitches.

  7. 7

    Make a 6mm snip into the seam allowances of each side panel, directly below the seam ends. Refold so that the left edge of the main panel lies across the right edge of the adjacent side panel. Pin and tack together. With the side panel uppermost, stitch from the top corner to the hem, taking a 1cm seam allowance. Join the right edge of the main panel in the same way, then repeat the previous two steps to attach the other main panel.
    Neaten all the raw edges with an overlocking or zig-zag stitch and press the seam allowances towards the side panels.

  8. 8

    HEM THE BOTTOM EDGE
    Trim the bottom edge as necessary, so that it is the same level all round, then finish it off with a 1cm double hem.