Faux Leather Sewing Machine Dust Cover

This almost century-old Singer sewing machine used to belong to my grandma. Now It helps me do stuff and recently I've started giving it some cleanings, oilings and minor fixings. Not that it needs much though. Being 95 years old it still in perfectly working condition.

One of things I decided to make for this sewing machine is a dust cover. Although it still has it's original casings, the whole thing is bulky and takes place and kind of falls apart a little bit. What I wanted is a soft cover that can be taken off when neaded and tossed away without being much of nuisance for the duration of me working on the machine.

Thus the following was concieved.

Supplies

For the main material I used a type of faux leather called dermantin. It was quite wide-spread during soviet times and often were used to dress up front doors in flats. It happened so that we had a whole roll of it laying around, gathering dust for about two decades. So... it time finally came.

For the filler I tried two materials I had on hand: thin foam rubber sheeth and foamed polyethylene insulation material.

After doing some testing I figured foamed polyethylene would work the best for what I had in plans.

Step 1:

To begin I took measurements and after tempering with some sacred geometry and applying calculations to the stuff I figured the sizes of the details I needed.

Then I cut those details: Two for the top and a couple for the sides.

Step 2:

The side parts were given an arched shape using an advanced marking techniques. Notice that allowances for seaming are acounted for.

Step 3:

Two larger pieces are ment to be sewn together to form a detail that would be covering front and back and arching over the top section. They are the same side and need to be sewn together along the short sides while positioned face-to-face.

As a side-note, later in the process I figured it quite wasn't the baest way to accomplish this part of the construction. If making the casing again I'd probably approach this part differently.

Step 4:

After the pieces are sewn together the whole detail get's turned inside-out and short edges get secured by another seam.

Step 5:

A piece of insulating foam is cut to size and inserted between layers of faux leather.

Step 6:

A middle line is marked across the detal and the piece is sewn along it.

You can see how this detail is going to work in the finished construction.

Step 7:

One thing in particular I envisioned for this project is incorporating a sewn-on design into the fronts of the cover.

Since the model of my machine is known for featuring Egypt-themed decorative decals it's widely known as the "Sphynx Singer"

Following the Egyptian theme I designed an ornament featuring winged sun and royal cobras. After positioning and securing the design was transfered onto the fronts of the cover.

Step 8:

My machine did an excellent job on tracing the design lines although I'd wish it was capable of producing longer stitches.

Sewing on the design is pretty tedious task. The whole ornament is done in short sections and figuring out the logistics may require certain ammount of strategig forethought. Begining and end of each section is secured by doubling of section of seam.

Step 9:

At this point I should mention that sewing materials that have certain volume, like this, can definitelly benefit from implying an even feed foot. I'm yet to acquire one, and although I'm pretty sure it'd be a saviour for doing relative straight lines, I have no idea how benefitial it is for detailed work.

Anyways. At this point I decided that I wanted to ad a decorative frame to the fronts. And if you follow my instructions - do the frame first - and then the ornament. It results in lesser ammount of wrinkles and more pleasant experience in general.

Step 10:

At this point I'm going to switch to the handle.

A couple of... metal things was acquired and a handle was formed around it featuring the uglies machine seam ever.

I fancy to believe there's an alternative universe where I am not a lazy piece of cucumber and actually remade this handle with nice hand-stitching.

Step 11:

Two strips of material are cut and shaped into... IDK, you see it on the photo. Make them longer than needed, you can always cut the excess off.

Step 12:

After some failed attempts to sew through 6 layers of faux leather with a sewing machine I eventually succumbed to hand-stithing. It turned to be quite time consuming but result looked really nice.

Thus the handle is attached.

Step 13:

After temporarily securing the sides I can establish where the bottom fold should be.

Then it secured with a seam.

Step 14:

Two long strips of material are cut covering the lenght of the cover edge plus comfortable ammount of excess

Step 15:

Now the sides should be attached to finish shaping the casing.

Three details are aligned attheir middles: midle of a side piece (at arche's apex) - to the middle of the cover side - to the middle of the long strip.

By sewing I moved from middle point "down" the ark doing a half of iit at time stitching all the details together. It was the first time I used a sewing awl to this extent but after doing some practice piece and few minutes after I was able producing consistant stitces.

Step 16:

Before finishing the sean at the edge, cut off excessile lenght of the strip and fold it back to be sewn down.

Step 17:

After the sides are sewn down it's time to finish the construction.

Fold the strips onto the case.

Step 18:

A glue is applied to secure the folds.

Step 19:

And a portion of the edge is then folded along the lenght and glued onto itself.

Step 20:

Then the edge is bent over and glued to the underside of the cover...

I don't know what the hell am I saying at this point.

Step 21:

Anyway, We're done. I'm done.

Ok, actually I'm rather glad with how this turned out. Some minor issues could've been avoided but it looks cool and If I need to to use the sewing machine I can just pich the cover up and toss it elsewhere, and it won't be taken much of space which is nice, cause my workshop AKA "my room" is not all that large. ANd the sewing machine... I'm pretty sure it'll serve me and then humanity in general for another century, like, easily.

So yes, this is it for now, thank you for your attention, and the glue I used was kind of dodgy so it all came undone and I need to clean it off and glue it back again but, like, for reals this time, and I just can't bring myself to it and procrastinate all over the place, so... yeah... use good glue. Bye!