Make Your Own Fabric Bowl Covers
These reusable fabric bowl covers with elastic are a great alternative to plastic wrap and foil. 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. These are perfect for creating reusable bowl covers for your serving bowls and baskets that you can use outdoors, and in the fridge, to protect your food.
Just slip one over any bowl that doesn’t have a corresponding lid, for an easy way to store leftovers. These are both easy to clean and food-safe. They can fit over a variety of bowl sizes and plates too. Just slip them over your dish. They’re a great way to use up fabric scraps. The same basic instructions can be used to make different size covers. Continue reading and check out how simple they are to make. Below is a step-by-step printable tutorial for making your own. Or just watch this short video.
There are many reasons to make your own stretchy fabric bowl covers. They keep bugs out of food while camping or having a picnic. Plus, they are easy to pack and make transporting a cinch. No more toxic, environmentally destructive plastic wrap. Do your part to protect the environment by replacing plastic wrap and foil with this more sustainable item. Homemade bowl covers can be washed and used again and again. I have many more zero waste sewing projects as well.
Some Advice Before You Begin
The circle shape may be tricky for a beginner new to sewing. It is probably best for an intermediate. This is also a good sewing project to practice using bias tape. It is small enough to master the process without wasting a bunch of effort and supplies if you make a mistake. Although, you can certainly make these covers without bias tape.
Washable reusable pretty cotton prints make a great housewarming gift. I usually get my fabric locally at Joann Fabrics, they have a section with a wide array of fat-quarters for only $2.50 each. If you are making multiple stretchy fabric bowls covers, you might want to purchase a pack of fat quarters. That way the fabrics are already coordinated for you.
A “fat-quarter” is simply a sample of fabric measuring 18 x 22 inches. You can buy these in collections for quilting and crafts. I like the idea of using these to keep out insects in the summer, when dining outdoors or picnics. As a nice housewarming gift, you could make something delicious, and bring it to the new homeowners, complete with the bowl and cover as part of the gift.
Most tutorials instruct you to make your reusable bowl covers out of two layers of cotton, but cotton isn’t waterproof. Some tutorials attempt to solve this issues by recommending that you make your covers out of laminated cotton, oil cloth or PUL, but in most cases these materials aren’t food-safe. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be an either-or situation because this reusable bowl cover is machine-washable and food-safe.
On the outside, it looks just like any other fabric bowl cover, but when you flip it over, it has a food-safe liner that’s waterproof and machine-washable. The lining is made from ProSoft FoodSAFE® Waterproof PUL Fabric, and according to the manufacturer, it’s the only PUL to be CPSIA certified as food-safe. It comes in a bunch of colors, and is laminated on one side. I used the laminated side to create the liner for my reusable fabric bowl covers.
How To Video
How to Make
If you are looking for easy ways to reduce your waste as well as harmful chemicals, this is a pretty basic tutorial you can try. Just follow the steps in this tutorial and you’ll learn how to make a reusable stretchy fabric bowl cover in minutes.
Fabric Bowl Cover Tutorial
Yield: 1 bowl cover
Active time: 30 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated cost: $5-$10
Materials
- 100% organic cotton fabric for the outside of your bowl cover
- ProSoft FoodSAFE® waterproof PUL fabric for the lining (optional, you can also just make both layers from the cotton fabric)
- ¼″ Elastic
- Bias Tape (optional)
Tools
- Coordinating Thread
- Scissors
- Pinking Shears (optional)
- Marking Pen or Pencil
- Seam Gauge
- Ruler or Tape Measure
- Safety Pin
- Pins
- Iron
- Ironing Board
- Sewing Machine
Optional (but nice to have)
- An air or water-soluble marker
- A bodkin (makes it easier to install the elastic)
Instructions
- 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.
- Unfold bias tape.
- Pin bias tape around the circle’s edge with right sides together.
- Overlap edges ½” and trim excess.
- Sew along the crease of the bias tape.
- Fold bias tape around other side.
- Iron bias tape down.
- Fold over the finished edge ½” 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.
Step By Step Tutorial
Step 1 – Wash and Dry Fabric
Wash and dry fabrics. This will ensure there is no chemical residue left from manufacturing the fabric. Then iron as needed. There are two versions of this bowl cover: one makes use of bias tape (blue & yellow fabrics), and one simply uses the seam allowance as the casing for the elastic (red checkered fabric).
Note: It’s always best to wash and iron your fabrics before making and projects with them.
Step 2 – Trace Around Bowl
Lay your cotton fabric, right-side down on your work surface. Then, flip your bowl upside down on the fabric. Use a ruler and air-soluble marker to go around the outside of the bowl, making marks two inches out from the edge of the bowl. Continue doing this, until you make it all the way around the bowl. Then, connect your outer marks to form a circle. If using directional prints, be sure the pattern on the fabric is what you want it to look like on the other side.
If you’re making these for someone else, just select a small, medium and large bowl from your kitchen to trace. There’s plenty of overhang in this design, to ensure the covers will fit a range of sizes. If you’re using bias tape then continue to Steps 3-8, otherwise skip to Step 9.
Step 3 – Add 1″
Measure and make several small marks 1 inch away from the first line drawn around the circle. Connect the small marks to form a bigger circle.
Step 4 – Cut Out Circle
Use scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting mat to cut out the larger circle.
Then, trace the circle on your Prosoft PUL, and cut it out. Clip the two circles together, right-sides facing. In this case, the laminated side of the PUL is the right side.
Note: If you are making more than one elastic bowl cover, trace the circle on multiple pieces of fabric and cut. This saves time tracing and making a seam allowance on each.
Step 5 – Apply Bias Tape
Unfold narrow side of bias tape to reveal raw edge. With right sides of the fabric facing each other, line up the raw edge of the bias tape to the edge of your cut circle of fabric. Curving the bias tape as you go, pin every inch or so all the way around the circle. Overlap the edges just a bit (about ½”) when you get to the end and trim off excess.
Pro Tip: Don’t use sewing pins if using the PUL fabric. They’ll leave permanent holes in the laminate.
Step 6 – Sew Bias Tape
Using sewing machine, stitch along the crease in the bias tape (this will be about ¼” in from the edge) around the whole circle, removing pins as you go.
Step 7 – Fold Bias Tape
Tuck in raw edges of fabric and bias tape and fold bias tape down. Iron edge to ensure fabric is sandwiched inside the bias tape.
Step 8 – Top Stitch Bias Tape
Using sewing machine, top stitch on bias tape around circle very close (⅛”) to the edge of where the fabric meets the bias tape. Leave 2 inch opening.
Step 9 – Top Stitch
Topstitch a half-inch seam around the outside of the circle to create a channel for your elastic.
Step 10 – Measure and Cut Elastic
Measure elastic around top of bowl edge, subtract 5 inches, then cut. Pin a safety pin into one end of the elastic.
Step 11 – Insert Elastic in Casing
Insert safety pin into the opening (or bias tape) casing you created. A bodkin makes quick work of this, but you can also accomplish the task by attaching a safety pin to the end of your elastic and feeding it through the opening. Continue working elastic into the casing until you reach the other end of the circle at the opening.
Step 12 – Sew Elastic Ends
When you’ve successfully fed the elastic all the way through, hold both ends of the elastic firmly; then, carefully stretch the bowl cover over your bowl. Pull the elastic tight to eliminate any excess. Then, overlap the two ends of the elastic, and sew back and forth over them several times with a zig zag stitch. Trim the excess elastic.
Step 13 – Top Stitch to Close
Then top stitch the opening of the casing to close, and you’re done.
Use and Care
Fabric food covers are great because you can toss them into the washing machine. Cotton is a forgiving fabric for beginners as well. To clean, simply flip your reusable bowl cover inside out, and give them a quick wipe, or toss them in the washing machine with cold water, and dry them on low (or air dry). However, you can also make vinyl bowl covers, and wipe them clean with a damp cloth.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
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 containers with tight-fitting lids.
Can You Use Oilcloth Or Stronger Material For More Protection?
I have not tried this but it might 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.
Can I Wash The Bowl Covers?
Yes, you can spot clean them or wash them in the washing machine in cold water. Consider using a mesh bag if you have one for the washer to keep them protected. I would then hang the covers to dry and use a light iron to press out any wrinkles if desired.
Sources and Photo Credits:
HOW TO MAKE A REUSABLE ELASTIC BOWL COVER
https://www.myfrugalhome.com/how-to-make-a-reusable-elastic-bowl-cover/
By Erin Huffstetler | 10/02/2020
How to Make Fabric Bowl Covers
https://hearthandvine.com/fabric-bowl-covers/
March 8, 2017 by Patti Estep
Make Elastic Bowl Covers to Save Food – Beginner Sewing Projects
https://beginnersewingprojects.com/make-your-own-elastic-bowl-covers/
June 18, 2019 by Beginner Sewing Projects