Reusable Storage Lids: A Kitchen Sewing Project
Reducing our reliance on single use plastic is one of the most important changes we can make to our daily lives, to help look after our environment for future generations. This simple little kitchen sewing project will show you step by step how to make attractive tin and bowl covers which can be used to help store leftovers in the fridge – and they’re as pretty as they are useful! Plus, because they are fully washable, you can reuse them time and time again.
Please note, depending on the plastic fabric you use, these may not be suitable for use in the microwave. Due to the use of plastic fabric, this is a no-iron project.
All seam allowances are 1cm, unless otherwise stated.
Time to Make: Under 1 hour
Skill Level: Beginner
Kitchen Sewing Project – You Will Need:
- Cotton fabric, prewashed
- Plastic waterproof fabric (Not too heavyweight)
- Set of compasses and pencil
- Paper
- Sewing scissors
- Complementary sewing thread
- Straight pins
- Safety pins
- Tape measure
- Sewing machine
- 7mm elastic
Step 1:
Using your set of compasses, draw circles onto paper to create templates. These examples measure:
- Tins: 7.5cm radius
- Medium bowl/cereal bowl: 11.5cm radius,
- Large bowl/mixing bowl: 15.5cm radius
If you have a specific-size item you would like to cover, work out the radius of the circle (do this by measuring the diameter, or straight across the middle and halving it) and add on 3.5cm. For each of your templates, cut out one circle in cotton fabric, and one in plastic fabric.
Step 2:
Lay your cotton and plastic circles right-sides-together and pin in place. Stitch all the way around leaving a small gap.
Step 3:
Turn the project through the right way through the small gap you have left, so that you are now looking at the right sides of the fabric. Using your fingers, roll the edges until you get a sharp edge (as we are unable to use an iron for this). Pin if this helps you. Turn in the raw edges along the gap you left and pin this closed too. Topstitch a line of stitching very close to the edge all the way around the circle, leaving approximately 1.5cm of the gap open.
Stitch a second line of top stitching 1cm inside the line you have just sewn, this time going all the way around to complete the circle.
Step 4:
Cut your elastic to your desired length. The approximate amounts for each size are:
- Tin 20cm
- Medium bowl/cereal bowl 38cm
- Large bowl/mixing bowl 59cm
Again, if you are using your own sizes, test with the elastic how much you would need. You want enough to go round the circumference to form a stretchy tight seal, but not too much that you can’t stretch the finished cover over the item. Place a safety pin at each end, one lengthways and one at right angles. This second pin stops the elastic pulling into the seam.
Step 5:
Using the straight safety pin as a guide, feed the end of the elastic through the small gap and push it around the whole circle until it comes out the other side. Pin both ends together and pull them out of the seam as far as you can. Lay the ends flat on top of each other and stitch them together securely.
Remove the pin and pull the fabric back round until the whole of the elastic disappears inside the channel. Top-stitch the small gap closed, taking care not to catch the elastic in the stitches. Your kitchen sewing project is now complete!
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