Sewers often keep their sewing machines and sergers out and ready for use, however if let out in the open for even a short period of time fine dust may accumulate on these hard-working machines, causing deterioration of the many moving parts and may hamper contacts of sensitive electronics. Even the all metal mechanical machines still in wide-spread use today may show stitching problems due to dust. A cover for your sewing machine or serger is easy to make.

Easy-To-Sew Rectangular Cover with Ties
Popular now are simple-to-make chair-back covers with ribbon or self fabric side ties. The same technique could be used for your sewing machine. They are easy to make reversible too. You will need just two pieces of fabric, about 15” by 25” (or measure from bottom front of your machine over the top to the bottom back for the length, and separately across the top of your machine for the width, adding an inch to all measurements). Extra fabric would be needed for 4 self ties; grosgrain ribbon works well for side ties too. Place the two fabric pieces right-sides together, any fabric or ribbon ties would be placed inside, and stitch around the outer edges in a 1/2" seam catching the tie ends into the seam as you sew. Leave an opening for turning. Turn, press, and hand-stitch the opening closed. Be sure to first see where the side ties would be before sewing; place approximately 6" from each end on each side. See blog Sew Much Fun for inspiration from Mel’s Sewing Machine Cover.

No-Sew Sewing Machine or Serger Cover
Colorful bandanas make very serviceable sewing machine or serger dust covers. No sewing required. Just drape the bandana over the machine, and fold each side in slightly and pin. Any 22" x 22" square of fabric would work as well. Use pinking shears to trim all edges or use straight cuts with shears to neaten all cut edges. Drape and pin the square of fabric over the machine for an instant machine cover. The bandana or fabric can also be draped over small kitchen appliances and pinned on the sides with straight pins or use decorative pearl hat pins to loosely secure.

Plastic Coated Fabric Sewing Machine Cover from Husqvarnaviking.com
This cover can be adapted to felt or artificial suede. Just 7/8" of a yard of 45 “ wide fabric is needed. Template has two pockets for the outside of the cover. Appliqué for thread spool and scissors to embellish the pockets included as well.

Quilt Block Sewing Machine Cover from Marcus Fabrics. For quilters with a charming quilt block already finished and wondering where it would be best to display, add it to a sewing machine cover!

Sew happy, sew well.

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