Dust Cover Tutorial

~For the Baby Lock Tiara and HQ Sweet 16 Sit Down Quilting Machines~

Please note that this tutorial/pattern was inspired by the HQ Machine Dust Cover for the Avante. 

Check out this post for more information on how I developed this dust cover design. 

My machine is the Baby Lock Tiara with a touch screen.  If you have an older model machine that does not have the touch screen, you may need to shorten the front and side panels. 

The only thing I wish I had changed was to cut my panels one inch longer so that it went over the cords in the back better.  The instructions below reflect that change.   In order to cut the panels at this longer length, you need a full 42 inches in your width of fabric after quilting.

All seams are 1/2 inch wide. 

Materials Needed: 

• 1 1/3 yards top fabric ~ I used 100% cotton fabric that was not directional
• 1 1/3 yards lining fabric ~ I used Kona White
• 1/4 yard accent fabric ~ I used Kona Black
• Batting about 44 x 50 inches ~ I used Warm and White
• 8-12 inches sew on Velcro that is 3/4 inch wide

1.  Baste and quilt your lining, batting, and top fabric together.  I quilted with a simple loopy line design edge to edge. 

2.  Square up one edge and cut out panels:

 

• Cut two 8 inch strips by the width of fabric (about 42 inches).* 
• Trim selvage off of each eight inch strip, cut one piece 14 inches long (Back Panels A and B), and one piece 28 inches long (Top Panels C and D) 
• Cut one 28 inch strip by the width of fabric*
• Trim selvage off of the 28 inch strip and cut two pieces 17 inches wide (Side Panels E and F).  Then cut one piece that is 7 x 17 inches (Front panel G)

*If you do not have the full 42 inches, or you want a tighter fit, cut 27 inches instead of 28.  (27 inches is the measurement I used for mine.) 

3.  Trim the top panels C and D (8 x 28 inches)  on an angle so they are three inches shorter on one side. 

On top panel C, draw a line from the upper left corner to three inches down from the upper right corner.  Cut on line with ruler and rotary cutter. 

Top panel D needs to be the mirror image of C.  Draw the line from the lower left corner to three inches above the right lower corner. 

4.  Serge or zig-zag around the edges of your panels to finish them off.  (I did not serge around the edges that would be covered by the binding.) 

5.  The seam allowance is a half an inch, but you need to start and stop a half inch away from the edge.  Optional:  Make markings on the lining fabric, so you know where to stop. 

6.  Sew back panel A to top panel C. Back stitch at the ends, but only stop half an inch away from the corner where the right angles meet. 

Repeat with back panel B and top panel D. 

7.  Make a one inch hem on the inside (odd angle).  Ease the hem at the seam. 

8.  Cut your velcro into one inch pieces.  Add to the hemmed part of your top and back panels.  I used the zig-zag stitch  to sew the velcro in place. 

To decide where to add velcro, lay the panels over your machine to make sure there are openings around the posts sticking up.

I used a total of eight one inch pieces of velcro.  Five pieces were on the top panel.  Starting at the front (skinny) edge of the top panel I sewed the velcro 4.5 inches down, then there are four inch spaces between the rest of the velcro pieces .  I sewed three pieces on the back panel about 3.5 inches apart starting one inch down from the seam.    

Make sure the velcro lines up on both sides of your panels. 

9.  Attach the velcro to each other, and sew the top panels C and D (they will overlap) to 7 inch side of front panel G. 

10.  Sew the 17 inch sides of side panels E and F to front panel G. 

11.  Undo the Velcro, and sew the 28 inch sides of side panels E and F to top panels C and D. 

The corners will look like this. 

12.  Sew the other 17 inch side of side panels E and F to 14 inch side of back panels A and B. 

13.  Experiment with how much you want to trim off the bottom of the side panels E and F.  I did this by pinning a hem and then putting the cover over my machine. 

14.  Cut off the extra fabric on the bottom of side panels E and F. 

I decided to leave four inches the 17 inch length, then cut the rest on an angle to the 14 inch length. 

The other side panel is a mirror image of the first. 

15.  Use the accent fabric to bind the bottom edge of your dust cover.  You can use your favorite binding method, but this is how I did it:

I cut two strips 2.5 inches wide and sewed them end to end on a 45 degree angle.  Then I pressed it in half. 

I sewed the binding strip to the top fabric with a quarter inch seam allowance, folding the edges in where I started and stopped. 

 
I brought the binding around to the back and pinned it in place on the front.  Then I stitched it in the ditch.  (Don't sew over the pins.)

16.  Put the dust cover over your sit down quilting machine and enjoy. 

I would love to hear what you think about this tutorial and see pictures of your finished product. 

XX,
Jasmine

A Dust Cover for my Baby Lock Tiara

This is a project that I am so proud of.  You see, I designed most of it myself with the help of a friend.  It is loosely based on a pattern provided by Handi Quilter for the HQ 18 Avante. 

When I searched online for a pattern for a sixteen inch sit down machine, I could only find the one for the 18 inch machine.  They say the machine is only two inches bigger and to just use the pattern  meant for the Avante.  So I took some fabric I was given that I didn't like the feel of to make a practice cover... 

It was an epic fail. 

I took the practice cover to my dealer and asked for suggestions.  I learned that not only does the Avante have handles at the front of the machine, it has handles behind the machine.  So the pattern was way more than two inches too large.  My sweet friend Julie (from the dealership) worked with me and helped me come up with some ideas for alterations.  Then she sent me home to figure it out.  I know I could not have done this without her. 

This is what my practice looked like after I shortened the cover by ten inches.  (That is the section pinned on the side.)

It still looked like a saggy, baggy elephant.  Here is the view from the front.   The front panel is three inches taller than the sides. 

After making the front panel half the width, this is what it looked like.  Much better, but it still needed tweaking. 

I quilted a yard and a half of fabric, cut out the pieces, and sewed it all together.  Here is the finished product: 

The only thing that stayed the same was the cut size of the back panels and the general idea.  There is only one thing I would change to my pattern:  I would lengthen it by one inch to fit over the cords in the back better.  Other than that, I totally love it! 

I shortened the side panels, made them taller, and cut the bottom on an angle so it could go up over my touch screen.  I also tapered the top panels to make it narrower at the front.  I made a one inch hem to sew the Velcro to.  (By the way, I zig-zagged around the Velcro.  It worked so well.)  The two sections for the top and back panels make it able to go around the spool holders. 

Plus, I serged around the panels before sewing it together and bound the bottom edge.  Handi Quilter said it was optional in their pattern, "You may want to serge or bind the edges that will be open to finish."  LOL.

Here is the view from the front.  Now it looks like a sleek elephant.  In fact, I am thinking about calling my machine Princess El.  I already called her Princess, but I have been wondering about a more specific name.  :)

Here she is, under her new cover.  This picture also helps you see the basic design better. 

A cover became a necessity when my sweet Monkey decided to act like a typical two year old.  He had the mentality of "If there is a button, push it.  If there is a knob, turn it."  He enjoyed adjusting my tension for me when the machine was not in use.  Now he won't have access to my tension knob.  Plus, it is protected from dust.  A win-win solution. 

I did make lots of notes and take pictures of the process.  Is anyone interested in a tutorial? 

** I am happy to say that the tutorial is now finished.  Click here to view it.

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I am linking up with Let's Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop (buttons on sidebar) and Finish it up Friday.