Learn how to sew reusable fabric bowl covers with elastic using a simple method that works to fit any bowl!
When my husband and I got married almost nine years ago, we were gifted so many wonderful kitchen items, many of which we still have. Among those items were several mixing bowls, none of which came with lids. For years I’ve carried on using those bowls for all kinds of things like pancake batter, bread dough, icing, side dishes, dips and so much more. When storing all of these things in the fridge, I always ended up covering them with tin foil or a tea towel and while that’s an okay solution, I needed to find something better, sometime more sustainable and reusable. Enter reusable fabric bowl covers!
Bowl covers are easier to make than you think and add a beautiful touch to your kitchen. If you’re new to sewing, this is the perfect beginner sewing project for you. Not only are they reusable and sustainable, but they’re super customizable for you or someone you love. This tutorial provides more of a method, rather than a pattern, to sew reusable fabric bowl covers and works for any size bowl or jar you have in your kitchen!
PIN FOR LATER!
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HOW TO MAKE A REUSABLE BOWL COVER
MATERIALS YOU MAY NEED
TOOLS YOU MAY NEED
- Craft Scissors or rotary cutter
- Pins
- Pencil or tailors chalk
- Tape measure
- Sewing machine
- Safety pin
- Iron and ironing board
STEPS TO MAKE REUSABLE BOWL COVERS
Wash, dry and iron your fabric, then fold the fabric in half, wrong sides facing out.
Place the bowl or jar you want to cover onto the fabric. Measure 2 inches from the edge of the bowl and make a mark. Continue to make marks around the bowl so you have a circle.
Connect your marks to create a circle outline.
Place pins within the circle to keep the fabric together. Then, using scissors or a rotary cutter, cut out the two pieces of fabric.
Join the two circles of fabric by sewing around with the edge, lining the outside of the presser foot with the edge of the fabric. Sew all the way around, but leave a 2-3 inch opening.
Cut slits all the way around the circle, making sure not to cut through the seam.
Turn the bowl cover right side out and use a blunt object like a crochet hook to push out the seam and press it with an iron.
Sew all the way around the circle with a 1/2” seam allowance. Do not leave an opening.
Measure your elastic by making sure it fits under the lip of the bowl with tension and cut. Thread a safety pin in the end of the elastic and and feed it through the channel you created.
Hand sew or use your sewing machine to sew the ends of elastic together. Be sure to overlap them.
Hand sew the opening as close to the edge as possible to finish off your reusable fabric bowl cover.
NOTES
- These bowl covers are reversible, so try using two different fabrics to get two bowl covers in one!
- Cotton or linen fabric works best for these.
- To measure the elastic, I find it’s easiest to wrap it around the bowl with tension, then once it’s threaded through the fabric, adjust as needed.
- I suggest washing these bowl covers on cold and tumble drying or air drying.
Reusable Bowl Covers
Learn how to sew reusable fabric bowl covers with elastic using a simple method that works to fit any bowl!
Materials
- 1/2 yard cotton fabric
- 100% cotton or all purpose coordinating thread
- 1/4 inch elastic
Tools
- Craft Scissors or rotary cutter
- Pins
- Pencil or tailors chalk
- Tape measure
- Sewing machine
- Iron and ironing board
Instructions
- Wash, dry and iron your fabric, then fold the fabric in half, wrong sides facing out.
- Place the bowl or jar you want to cover onto the fabric. Measure 2 inches from the edge of the bowl and make a mark. Continue to make marks around the bowl so you have a circle.
- Connect your marks to create a circle outline.
- Place pins within the circle to keep the fabric together. Then, using scissors or a rotary cutter, cut out the two pieces of fabric.
- Join the two circles of fabric by sewing around with the edge, lining the outside of the presser foot with the edge of the fabric. Sew all the way around, but leave a 2-3 inch opening.
- Cut slits all the way around the circle, making sure not to cut through the seam.
- Turn the bowl cover right side out and use a blunt object like a crochet hook to push out the seam and press it with an iron.
- Sew all the way around the circle with a 1/2” seam allowance. Do not leave an opening.
- Measure your elastic by making sure it fits under the lip of the bowl with tension and cut.
- Thread a safety pin in the end of the elastic and and feed it through the channel you created.
- Hand sew or use your sewing machine to sew the ends of elastic together. Be sure to overlap them.
- Hand sew the opening as close to the edge as possible to finish off your reusable fabric bowl cover.
Notes
- These bowl covers are reversible, so try using two different fabrics to get two bowl covers in one!
- Cotton or linen fabric works best for these.
- To measure the elastic, I find it's easiest to wrap it around the bowl with tension, then once it's threaded through the fabric, adjust as needed.
- I suggest washing these bowl covers on cold and tumble drying or air drying.
LOOKING FOR MORE DIY PROJECTS?
Looking for more DIY projects like these reusable fabric bowl covers? Check these out:
- Reusable DIY Bread Bag
- Flannel Blanket Sewing Tutorial
- Homemade Reusable Rice Heating Bag
- Reusable DIY Hand Warmers
Did you make these reusable bowl covers? If you did, I’d really love to see them. Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own creations!
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