Do you have a cupboard or drawer in your kitchen with bowls and lids that don’t match? Or maybe you have lids and no bowls! I seriously think the dishwasher eats them. Just like the washer eats socks! This simple step-by-step sewing tutorial will help you create your own DIY Reusable Bowl Covers if this problem sounds familiar. I fell in love with these covers. I think that they will make great gifts too! I have made these for my kitchen, and now I am working on some for the camper.
After you make these Reusable Bowl Covers, you can get rid of that drawer full of lids that you aren’t even sure you have the containers for anymore. They are also an excellent replacement for plastic wrap! These reusable covers take up much less space and can be used on multiple sizes of bowls. Make a few of these DIY Reusable Bowl Covers, and you will always have a lid for all of your bowls.
I researched many fabric options for my Reusable Bowl covers and decided on using 100% cotton for the top and ProSoft FoodSAFE® Waterproof PUL Fabric for the lining. I found an excellent website for the PUL fabric, Wazoodle.com. You will want to do your own research on food-safe fabric, but I love this fabric, and it is great to sew with too!
As summer is quickly approaching, eating out on the patio is a favorite around our house. These great Reusable Bowl Covers keep nasty pests our of food and add lots of color to your picnic table!
Let’s get started I have a step by step video tutorial below, and I also have a step by step instructions listed below!
Supplies:
- Fabric – about a half yard.I like to mix up colors and patterns! There are so many fun prints available.
- PUL Fabric – about a half yard.
- 1/2 -inch thick elastic
- Sewing essentials, such as pins or clips, needles, thread, and a sewing machine
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Directions for DIY Washable Reusable Bowl Covers
Step #1 Determine Cover Size
First, you need to determine the size of your bowl. That will determine how much fabric you need. I like to add 6 inches to my bowls’ diameter. So, measure your bowl across the top to determine the diameter of your bowl and add 6 inches. You can refer to the chart below to determine the size of the circle you will need to cut. The reason I like to add the extra inches to my bowl cover is so the cover will come down the sides of the bowl for good coverage, plus you can use the covers on a couple of different size bowls. You can adjust this if you don’t want your bowls to cover so much.
- 6-inch bowl = 12-inch circle
- 7-inch bowl = 13-inch circle
- 8-inch bowl = 14-inch circle
- 9-inch bowl = 15-inch circle
Step #2 Cutting out Fabric and PUL
Now that we know the size of the bowl, you need to cut out a circle in both the cotton and the PUL fabric. The easiest way to cut out a circle is to fold my fabric in quarters and measure from the folded corner ½ the size of the circle. So, for example, for the 8-inch bowl, you will measure from your corner 7-inches. Using a ruler or tape measure make a mark along the fabric. Then draw a line to create a cutting line to guide you.
With your fabric still folded in a quarter fold cut along your line.
Then unfold your material, and you should have a circle. I then like to use the first circle to cut out the second circle.
Step #3 Sewing Bowl Cover Together
Now it is time to sew our bowl cover together. Stack your circles’ right sides together. The PUL fabric right side is the shiny side. I then like to clip my circles together. You can also use pins.
Before we take the circles to the sewing machine, you want to mark a two-inch opening. We want to make sure we don’t sew around our complete circle since we need to turn our fabric right side out.
Once you have marked out your two inches, take the circles to the sewing machine and sew a 1/4 inch seam. Making sure to backstitch at the start of your stitching and at the end of your seam.
Step #4 Turn Bowl Cover Right Side Out and Press
Once you have sewn the 1/4 seam around your circle, you may wish to clip the seam with pinking shears. This will help your seam to turn and press nicely. Using the 2-inch opening turn your bowl cover right side out.
I like to use a bone folder to help press out my seam. You can also use your fingers. Then press the seam of the circle.
Step #5 Create Casing for the Bowl Cover
Once you have a nice press on the seam, we want to make a casing for our elastic. I am using a ½ inch elastic, so I want to make sure that the case is at least ¾ inch width. So, for this step, I like to sew a 3/4-inch seam around the circle to make sure I have enough room for my elastic. This time we want to sew all the way around our circle.
Step #6 Inserting Elastic into Casing
We now need to determine how much elastic to use for our cover. I like to take the elastic and wrap it around my bowl and then subtract 3 inches. This will allow your cover to have enough stretch and still fit snuggly around your bowl.
Once you have your elastic cut, I like to use a safety pin to thread the elastic through the casing. Make sure that you don’t pull the elastic all the way through your casing. After you have successfully threaded your elastic through the casing, I like to overlap the elastic ends and zig-zag stitch to secure the elastic.
Step #7 Finishing off the Bowl Cover
Once the elastic is inserted into the casing and zig-zag together, we can finish off the outer circle. I like to hand stitch this opening closed.
There you have it you a reusable Bowl Cover! This DIY Reusable Bowl Cover project will make your life so much easier by providing a lid for any bowl in your kitchen. Just think of the ways you can use these great bowl covers, your next BBQ, leftovers in the refrigerator or a potluck at a friends house. Just think you could also make these personalized by adding a monogram to the cover using your Cricut! These will make great gifts and a DIY project for everyones kitchen! I can’t wait to see what you make!
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