In this blog post, you’ll learn how to make your own DIY sewing machine cover using the Fireside quilt pattern. If you can make a baby quilt, then you can make a cozy cover for your trusty machine! And the best part is that this sewing machine cover is easily customizable to the exact dimensions of your sewing machine.
What do you think your sewing machine does while you’re not using it? I like to imagine that mine dreams of jetting off to sewing vacations in far-off lands with me. That’s wishful thinking though because what our machines are really doing when we aren’t using them is gathering dust. I’m sorry to have to break this harsh reality to you, but if your machine is just hanging out on your sewing table, with no cover in sight, then pesky dust is creeping its way inside your trusty sewing companion.
If this sounds like you — or rather your sewing machine — then a Fireside DIY sewing machine cover is exactly what you need! In this tutorial, I’ll show you step by step how to create a simple, quick, and beautiful quilted sewing machine cover to fit any machine. This tutorial is so simple, in fact, that after making one for yourself you might just find yourself wanting to make another for a sewing friend, like friend of Suzy Quilts, Omoleye, who is modeling with the sewing machine cover in this post!
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DIY Sewing Machine Cover Materials
- Fireside Quilt Pattern: This tutorial uses the baby size
- Sewing machine cover exterior fabric: The fabric requirements for the baby-sized Fireside quilt are included in the Fireside pattern. I’m using Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids in Zambia Stone, Ocean Fog, and Swimming Pool.
- Sewing machine lining fabric: This will depend on the size of your machine, but I would expect to use about a yard of fabric. I used Prickly Florals by Louise Cunningham from Cloud 9 Fabrics.
- Batting: One 44” x 47” piece of batting is required for the baby-size Fireside quilt
- Basting spray or pins
- Cutting mat
- Quilting ruler
- Rotary cutter or scissors
- Straight pins or binding clips
- Basic quilting supplies
Step 1: Piece Fireside Quilt Top
The first thing you need to do is make a baby-size Fireside quilt top. The Fireside pattern is bold and graphic, making it a perfect canvas for your quilted sewing machine cover.
Think about your sewing space and what colors you’d love to see your machine snuggled up in when it isn’t in use. Or check out this blog post for further color inspiration. I opted to do the limited color variant on the pattern, but the multi-color version would also make a stunning cover.
Step 2: Baste and Quilt
Your quilted sewing machine cover is ultimately going to have a lining, so you don’t need any backing fabric at this stage. Just baste your quilt top to some batting using your preferred method (I used basting spray) and get to quilting those two layers!
The clean lines of the Fireside pattern are an excellent backdrop to show off some fun quilting. I opted for my personal favorite, diagonal wavy lines.
Step 3: Measure the Side Pieces
This DIY sewing machine cover is made out of three pieces — two side pieces that will be identical, and one center piece which spans the front, top, and back of the machine. So first, you need to get measurements for those two different panels so your cover will be customized to your sewing machine’s size!
First, measure the base of your sewing machine from the right-hand side. For me, that came out to 7 inches. Then measure the height of your sewing machine, from the bottom to the tallest point. That was 12 inches for me.
Okay, we have to do a tiny bit of math now, but I promise it’s simple. To figure out the measurements for the side panels, take the width measurement you got from the side of your machine and add 2” (this will account for seam allowance and a little bit of give for your cover to fit easily around your sewing machine.
Next, take your height measurement and add ½” (to account for the hem at the bottom). So the side piece measurements should look like this:
Side width measurement + 2” by height measurement + 1/2”
For my machine, that was:
Side width measurement: 7” + 2” = 9”
Height measurement: 12” + 1/2” = 12 ½”
Final side piece measurement: 9” x 12 1/2”
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Step 4: Measure the Center Piece
Next, you need to find the measurements for the center panel, which wraps around the sewing machine. Pick up the measuring tape one more time and measure the width of the front of your sewing machine. For my machine, this was 19”. Similar to the side panels, the width of the center panel is going to be the front width plus 2”.
To find the height of the center panel, add the height (bottom to top) of the front and back of your machine, plus the side measurement from the previous step.
So, the center panel measurement should look like this:
Machine front width measurement + 2” by side panel height (x2) + side panel width
Here’s what that looked like for my machine:
Machine front width measurement: 19” + 2 = 21”
Side panel height: 12 1/2” + 12 1/2” + 9” = 34”
Final center piece measurement: 21” x 34”
Step 5: Cut Lining Pieces
With your measurements in hand, head to the cutting mat! I’d recommend cutting and sewing your lining pieces first. This way you can test out your lining on your sewing machine and assess the fit before taking the plunge and cutting into your beautiful Fireside quilt.
Using the customized measurements you figured out in steps 3 and 4, cut two side panels and one center panel out of your lining fabric.
Step 6: Sew Lining
Line up one of your side panels in one of the bottom corners of your center panel. Both panels should be oriented in the same direction so that the longer sides are facing the same way. Make sure your pieces are right sides together and pin or clip in place. Sew along the longer edge of your side panel, using a straight stitch and a 1/2” seam allowance.
Repeat with the second side panel, on the opposite bottom edge of your center panel. On one of the side panels leave a 5-6” gap in your stitches. This hole will later be used to turn the cover and lining right sides out.
TIP: Learn from my mistakes! Stop sewing about 1” from the top of each of the side panels. This will make it easier to sew around the corner in the next step.
Step 7: Finish Sewing Side Seams of Lining
With both of your side panels attached to the center panel, it’s time to complete the lining side seams. Pin or clip the center panel to the top edge and the remaining side edge of your side panels.
At the corners, allow the center panel to be slightly rounded, rather than trying to achieve a perfectly square corner. Sew with a 1/2” seam allowance. Trim any excess fabric off the center panel as needed, as well as the dog ears off of your corners. Turn right side out.
Step 8: Dress Rehearsal — Try Lining on Sewing Machine
Give your lining a test run on your sewing machine! The lining has a lot less structure than the final quilted sewing machine cover, so the fit will be pretty loose and drapey. You’re just looking to confirm that the cover is fitting in general.
If you aren’t happy with the fit, make adjustments as needed. The seam allowance on the lining can be lowered to 1/4” if you want your cover to have a bit more room.
Step 9: Cut Pieces From Fireside Quilt
Take a deep breath…this is the big step!
Using the same measurements from steps 3 and 4 (or adjusted measurements if you decided to make any size changes in step 7), cut one center panel and two side panels from your quilted Fireside quilt using a rotary cutter.
When cutting, think about which part of the Fireside pattern you want to have as the front of your cover. I wanted to showcase two of the blocks in the front of my sewing machine cover and purposefully off-centered them to add a bit of interest. But the options are endless! If you aren’t sure where to cut, try draping your quilt over your sewing machine to see what you like.
Step 10: Sew Exterior of Cover Together
You know what makes this step easy? You already did it once!
Repeat steps 5 and 6 to sew your exterior side panels to your exterior center panel. I recommend using a walking foot for this step — it is a lot easier to navigate all those quilted layers. No need to leave a gap in your seams like you did with the lining! Turn your finished exterior piece right side out.
Step 11: Join the Exterior and Lining
Insert the right side out exterior piece into your inside out lining piece, so that the two pieces are right sides together. Pin or clip along the bottom edge, being mindful to line up the side seams. Sew along the entire bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance.
Step 12: Turn Quilted Sewing Machine Cover Right Side Out
Remember that hole you left in your lining? Time to put that to use. Carefully turn your cover right side out, through that hole. Then, sew the hole closed either by hand or machine using a 1/4” seam allowance.
Step 13: Topstitch
To hold your lining securely inside your quilted sewing machine cover's exterior, topstitch around the entire bottom edge. Fold your seam allowance from step ten inside your cover, pin or clip into place, and topstitch using a 1/4" seam allowance.
I also chose to add a couple of hand stitches in each corner of the lining, tacking it to the inside corners of my exterior piece. This step is optional, but it does help keep that pesky gravity from pulling the lining out. If you opt to do this, just make sure your tack stitches only go through the batting, not all the way through the exterior.
Keep Your Sewing Machine Clean and Happy with Your New DIY Sewing Machine Cover!
And that's it — your Fireside DIYsewing machine cover is complete! Your new cover is equal parts aesthetic and function, so I'm sure you and your machine will love it equally. It's basically a personal quilt coat for your sewing machine.
What kind of sewing machine do you use? Are you excited to give it a DIY sewing machine cover? Let us know in the comments! And if you make a Fireside quilted sewing machine cover, show off your work using the hashtags #SuzyQuiltsPatterns and #FiresideQuilt. We can’t wait to see what you create!
Great timing! I really have been planning to make a cover and. . . tah dah!. . .here’s your post 🙂 And a really cute cover at that! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much!! I do keep my BabyLock Presto II covered with the cover it came with, but how cool would it be to make a customized cover?! I just happen to have a stack of pineapple quilt blocks that need to be turned into something, and this sounds perfect!
Thanks again!
You read my mind! I’ve been wanting to make a machine cover! This is great, modern and classic. I’m thinking I will use my Tula Pink scraps and some Kona. Thank you!
Loved your Instagram Live!
Can you share where to get the coffee mug you highlighted?
Thank you!
This sewing machine cover really me eye. I think my machine would like to be covered in it.
This sewing machine cover is going on my 2023 project list and I’m really excited about buying a new machine to put under it! I have a question about batting – what sort of batting would be ideal for a sewing machine cover? Cotton? Or is there something that would work better?