Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern

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Get this free fabric bowl cover pattern to make a cover to fit any size bowl. These covers are reusable and are amazing at keeping creepy crawlies off your food for picnics and outdoor settings. Store-bought fabric bowl covers only come in pre-set sizes but this tutorial will show you how to make a bowl cover of any size. This sewing project is suitable for beginners and will teach you how to make an easy elastic casing.

Table of Contents

A fabric bowl cover pattern is amazing for keeping flies and insects out of your dishes on picnics and outdoor meals. They can be made in your favorite fabrics to coordinate the rest of your table settings. Here are a few bowl cover facts to get you started:

Bowl Cover Facts

1. Can you use them in the fridge?

Items stored in the fridge for longer times are best placed in airtight plastic or glass containers.

2. Can I wash my fabric bowl covers?

Yes cotton bowl covers can easily be washed either by machine or hand. Greasy marks can be removed with commercial spot cleaners or a gentle wash in warm water with a mild detergent. Give them a press with a warm iron to make them look like new.

3. Can fabric bowl covers go in the oven or microwave?

Fabric is not designed to go in the oven or microwave so do not use your covers for this purpose

Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern - Supplies

FABRIC - Fat quarters of cotton or linen fabric. Natural fabrics that have a tight weave are best. You will need a fabric that is at least 4 inches (5cm) larger than the bowl. For style 1 you will need one layer and for style 2 you will need 2 layers.
ELASTIC - ¼ inch elastic the same length as the circumference of your bowl. Just hold the elastic tight around your bowl and cut ½ inch larger.
BASICS - Sewing machine, scissors, thread.
SAFETY PIN - For threading the elastic around the casing.

2 Styles of Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern

In this tutorial I will show you how to make 2 sytles of bowl covers

Style 1 - Has a single layer of fabric and the elastic is threaded through a folded casing.
Style 2 - Is double layered and reversible.

Style #1 - Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern (Single Layer)

Step 1 - The Pattern

Place your bowl upside down on the wrong side of your fabric. Mark around 2 inches (5cm) from the edge of the bowl. Use your ruler and make a mark every inch or so. Join the marks to form a circle. Don't worry if your circle is not perfect as it will all blend in.

Cut out the circle and you have your fabric bowl cover pattern.

Step 2 - Finish Edges

Finish the edge with a zig-zag stitch or serger. You could also use pinking shears.

Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern - Finishing — *Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern* - Finishing

Step 3 - Casing

Fold over the edge by ⅜ inch (1cm). You may have a couple of wrinkles but these will not show on the outside.

Stitch around the casing leaving a ½ inch (12mm) gap through which to thread the elastic.

Step 4 - Elastic

Attach the end of the elastic to a safety pin and thread it through the casing.

Overlap the elastic ends by ½ inch (12mm) and stitch.

Push the ends back into the casing and stitch the gap closed.

Style #2 - Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern (Double Layer)

Double fabric means double the protection! This style is great for smaller bowls where the edge would be hard to fold over for style 1 or when you just want some extra protection.

Step 1 - The Pattern

Cut 2 circles of fabric 2 inches (5cm) larger than your bowl. The easiest way to do this is to turn your fabric upside down and mark 2 inches (5cm) marks all the way around the outside. Join the marks and you have a circle. You can see this clearly in the photo for style #1.

To cut the second piece of fabric, just lay your first piece on top and cut around.

Step 2 - Stitch Seam

Put the 2 circles together with right sides together and stitch around the edge with a ⅜ inch (1cm) seam allowance. Leave a ½ inch (12mm) gap. This is how we will thread the elastic later.

Trim the seam around the edge to ¼ inch (6mm) and clip. Pinking shears are great for this. It is best to leave the seam at the gap untrimmed.

Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern - Seam — *Fabric Bowl Cover Pattern* - Seam

Step 3 - Casing

Turn the bowl cover the right way out through the gap.

Give the cover a good press. The seam allowance at the gap needs to be pressed to the inside in a curved shape.

Stitch around the outside ⅜ inch (1cm) from the edge. This will form your casing. There is no need to leave a gap this time.

Step 4 - Elastic

Attach your elastic to a safety pin and thread it through the gap on the outside.

Overlap the ends of the elastic by ½ inch (12mm) and stitch.

Close the gap either by machine or by hand stitching with a slip stitch. A slip stitch will give you an invisible finish but will take a little longer since it is hand stitching. I usually just use a machine as the stitching tends to be hidden in the gathers.

Fabric Bowl cover Pattern - In Conclusion

Your bowl covers are now ready to use! Make several in coordinating fabrics and use them to keep insects away from your food. These covers are re-washable and will see you through a great many special outside occasions to come.