How to Make a Sewing Machine Dust Cover

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Keeping your sewing machine clean and protected is an important step in the care and maintenance of your machine. Today’s how-to video will teach you how to make your own custom dust cover for your Fabricator® Sewing Machine. This is a fun and easy project you can make in an afternoon. If you need to practice sewing piping, this is a great project for learning this technique. We’ll finish our cover with a pocket on the front for storing the Fabricator guidebook — or anything else you’d like to keep with your machine. Let’s get started.

This is an easy DIY that even a beginner sewer can take on using our step-by-step video tutorial. We’ve even provided a pattern template for you listing the dimensions and quantities of the panels you'll cut. You can find the template below the Materials & Tools List.

You'll need three different types of presser feet for this project: a 1/4-inch piping foot, a left zipper foot and the standard sawtooth foot that came with your machine. This may seem complicated, but we've broken the project down into simple steps, and we've indicated in both the video and the written instructions below the video when to switch to a new presser foot.

Materials & Tools List:

  • 1 yard DuraWax™ Heavy Waxed Canvas in color of choice (we used #122417)
  • 1 yard EverSoft™ Indoor/Outdoor Vinyl #122220
  • 6 feet Foam Piping/Welting Cord 5/32" #122259
  • Fiebing’s Acrylic Dye for Leather 2 oz. #123926 (optional)
  • Zipper Foot Left for Fabricator® #400311
  • Cording Foot Set 1/4" for Fabricator® #400414
  • Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
  • Sailrite® Canvas Patterning Ruler #107040
  • Sailrite® Battery Operated Thread Burner #122432
  • Soft Grip Rotary Cutter #123114
  • Cutting Mat
  • Scissors
  • Scratch Awl
  • Fabric Clips
  • 1 cone each of Tex 70 Beige and White Polyester Thread (#106015 and #20235)
  • Size #18 Sewing Machine Needle
  • Sewing Machine

Download the Template

Watch the video below to learn how to make a sewing machine dust cover. And if you prefer written instructions, keep scrolling for our step-by-step written tutorial below the video.

DIY Sewing Machine Dust Cover:

1. Refer to the pattern template and mark the panel dimensions for the cover pieces. Use the scratch awl and acrylic ruler to mark your cut lines on the waxed canvas; cut out panels with scissors. Use the acrylic ruler, rotary cutter and cutting mat to cut out the vinyl handle pieces.

2. Round and cut away the top corners of the two side panels using a roll of basting tape, small plate or another circular object.

3. Using white thread, sew a 1/2-inch double hem on each side panel with the Sawtooth Foot Set that came with your Fabricator (or similar presser foot for non-Fabricator machines). Sew two stitch lines approximately 1/8 inch from each edge of the double fold. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place. Repeat for the shorter sides of the front/back panel.

4. With the vinyl handle piece, apply basting tape to the two short ends and fold over 1/2 inch. Apply basting tape to each side and fold each side inward until the sides meet in the middle but don’t overlap. With white thread, sew two stitch lines 1/4 inch from each side. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place. Repeat for the other handle. The handles should measure 6 inches by 1 inch.

5. Cut enough vinyl strips to create six feet of piping (or however much piping you need for your sewing machine referring to the pattern template). Because the vinyl is four-way stretch you don’t have to cut on the bias. Sew the vinyl strips together to total two yards. Switch to the piping foot and, with beige thread, sew the piping.

If you need a refresher on how to sew piping, refer to our blog “How to Make Bias Piping” (#200665XHT).

6. Using the fabric clips, clip the piping to one side panel, clipping the piping to the right side of the panel (the side with the double hem folded under/hidden). Cut small notches in the vinyl around the curves. Cut off excess piping and repeat for the other side panel. With beige thread and a piping foot, sew the piping to the side panels. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place.

7. Dye the cut ends of the piping cord brown with the acrylic dye and let dry. It might take several applications to achieve the look you want. This is an optional step, but it helps to camouflage the white exposed cording so it matches the brown vinyl.

8. Create a 1/2-inch hem on both sides and the bottom of the pocket. Measure the pocket top and cut the remainder of the piping to size. On each end of the piping, rip out approximately 1/2 inch of stitches and cut back the cording inside. This will close up the piping ends and hide the exposed white cording for a more polished look. Clip the piping to the pocket with the 1/2-inch hems facing up. Topstitch along the top of the pocket right below the piping with beige thread and the piping foot. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place.

A look ahead at the pocket sewn to the cover. Cutting back the welting cord from each end creates a flat, nice-looking pocket corner without extra bulk.

9. To complete the pocket, fold the top of the pocket down and back so that the exposed side of the piping will be sandwiched by the waxed canvas. This will help keep the top of the pocket in place so that nothing will get caught on the lip of the pocket. Sew across the top of the pocket with white thread and the Left Zipper Foot. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place.

10. Center the pocket on the front panel and use the scratch awl to add placement reference marks. For our Fabricator cover, we placed the pocket 2 inches from the bottom and 8 inches from each side. With white thread and the sawtooth foot that came on the Fabricator (or any regular presser foot), sew a 1/8-inch seam around the side and bottom edges of the pocket. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place.

11. Line up a handle in the upper center of a side panel. For our dust cover, we placed the handles 3 inches from the top and 1-1/2 inches from each side. If your measurements differ from ours, push the handle edges inward creating a gap (the handle should not be flush with the fabric) so that your hand can fit through the handle for an easier grip. With white thread and the sawtooth foot, sew the handle sides to the side panel 1/4 inch from the short ends. Reverse sew to lock the stitches in place.

12. The final step is to sew the cover panels together. Clip one side panel to the front/back panel with right (outside) sides together (handle and pocket will be on the inside). With beige thread and the piping foot, sew the side panel to the front/back panel. Reverse sew at the beginning and end to lock your stitches in place. Repeat for the other side panel.

13. Flip the cover right side out. Use the thread burner to trim and seal any exposed thread ends. Your sewing machine dust cover is ready to use!

We hope you enjoyed today's DIY project. Leave your suggestions in the comments below for projects you'd like to see us make. We're always looking for project ideas. Happy sewing!