KitchenAid Classic Mixer Cozy Tutorial

Years ago one of my first sewing projects with my then new machine was to make a cover for my KitchenAid mixer.  I have a KitchenAid Classic that I got as a wedding gift seven years ago.  If had known the colors they have now, I would have requested a beautiful light blue one to leave uncovered, but I just don't like the look of this white one out on a counter top.  It's too...industrial looking. So in my first attempt I used whatever scrap fabric I had laying around and it was...well...ugly.  Funcitonal, but ugly.  I kept it for a few years, but recently I decided to upgrade, and it only cost me $1.29. 

Before:

After:

To make your own cover, you need:

-1/2 yard of fabric for the main body

-1 fat quarter of a complimentary color

-thread

 All seams are 1/4 inch.

These are the fabrics I chose.  I had the blue laying around and the polka dot one was on sale at Walmart.  Who doesn't love polka dots and cupcakes?

 First, cut out 2 body pieces 7" x 8" and one piece 17" x 23."

 Take one of the small pieces and place it right sides together and long edges together in the corner of the large piece.

 Continue to pin it all the way around 3 of the sides of the smaller piece like this:

 Do the same with the other small piece on the other end.  Sew around the edge, following the pins, then zigzag stitch the edge to reinforce.  If you have a serger you could serge instead.

 Then take your leftover fabric and cut it into 4, 4" strips.  It will become the ruffle.

 Sew the ends of the strips right sides together into a large loop. My loop was about 54".  Iron the seams open.

 Fold it in half wrong sides together and press.

 Set it aside.

Next, out of complimentary fabric, cut out two 4" x 7" pieces and two 4" by 17" pieces.  Attach the two smaller pieces to one of the larger ones, right sides together, and add the last long piece to the ends of the two shorter pieces, making a loop like this.  Either zig zag the seams or press them open.

 With right sides together, pin it to the edge of the body of your cover, lining up the seams. 

Stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance and then zig zag the edge to reinforce.

 Iron the seam toward the top, turn it right side out, and top stitch.

 Next, gather your ruffle.  I like to use a piece of string to do this.  You could also pull the bobbin thread or use a gathering foot on your machine.

Take a piece of embroidery floss slightly longer than the length of your loop and lay it on the edge of your fabric.

Using a wide loose zigzag stitch, sew over the string as close to the raw edge of your loop as you can all the way around.

 Then pull on the string to gather your fabric.

Spread out the ruffles until the loop is the same circumference as the edge of the cover.  Lay the ruffle on the edge of your cover on the right side of the fabric.  Pin and sew a straight stitch on the left side of your gathering zigzag.

 Turn the cover inside-out and press the seam toward the top.  Turn it right-side-out again and topstitch.

Try it on your mixer.

Much cuter and so inexpensive.  This might also make a nice sewing machine cover.  It fit pretty well on my machine.

If you make one, I'd love to see it.  Please post a picture on my flickr group.