Three steps for this fabric bowl cover tutorial. That is it… THREE! Which is one of the reasons I picked this tutorial to share. Chances are, you have everything you need to make this project at home already too! No patterns or fancy sewing math required.
These fabric bowl covers are a great way to protect your food as an alternative to plastic wrap. They can also make a fun and colorful housewarming present or holiday gift.
Not ready to sew this yet? Save it on Pinterest for later…
Materials
- Cotton fabric – I used three fat quarters but depending on the size of your bowls you may not even need that much.
- 1/4 inch elastic cord
- Coordinating thread
- small safety pin
Tools
- sewing machine
- scissors
- pinking shears
- tape measure or ruler
- pencil
- iron
Fabric Bowl Cover Tutorial
- Place your bowl upside down on the wrong side of the fabric. Trace 2 inches out from the bowl with a pencil.
- Cut with pinking shears to prevent the edges from fraying. Another option is to use an overcast stitch instead of pinking shears.
- Fold over the finished edge 1/2 inch and sew, leaving a 2-inch opening at the end.
- Cut a piece of elastic cord about 5 inches smaller than the circumference of your bowl. Then attach a small safety pin to one end of the elastic.
- Thread the elastic through the fabric, using the safety pin to help you push it through. Once it is all the way through, remove the safety pin, and sew the ends of the elastic together on the machine, or by hand.
- Finish by hand stitching the opening closed.
Notes
It’s always best to wash and iron your fabrics before making and projects with them.
FAQs About Fabric Bowl Covers
- Can you use them in the microwave?
I would not use them in the microwave, simply because I’m not sure what chemicals from the fabric might leach into the food. - Does the smell of other foods make its way through the fabric or vice versa, do strong odors permeate the refrigerator through the fabric?
I haven’t noticed this to be a problem in the short term. However, if I’m placing something in the refrigerator for a long period I do not use these covers, Instead, I use reusable plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. - Can you use oilcloth or stronger material for more protection?
I have not tried this but would assume it would work. My only concern would be the washability of the oilcloth. Some people also ask about using waxed fabric. I believe that would be hard to sew through and the wax application should allow you to press the sides, eliminating the need to sew elastic into the cover.
They look a lot prettier than foil or plastic wrap and can be made to coordinate with your kitchen or any theme you’d like.
