Featuring: Studio E Fabrics Auburn Fox by Kayomi Harai

Pattern Design by: Lillyella Stitchery

Sewn by: Lillyella Stitchery

Help reduce waste and look stylish while doing it! This washable, reusable bowl cap is easy to make and customizable to fit any bowl or dish. It’s perfect for storing leftovers, covering food at a potluck or buffet, and they make great gifts – with or without a bowl of goodies underneath!

This tutorial includes directions for determining what size to cut your piece to fit your bowl and how to construct one bowl cap. Basic knowledge of straight stitching on a sewing machine is required. Please read through the entire pattern before beginning.

Technique: Sewing

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size: Varied, Customizable

Fabric Requirements:

Note: The finished size of this project is customizable to the bowl being used, so fabric amounts will vary. A fat quarter, 18” x 20” (45.72cm x 50.80), should be more than enough for most.

6226-1 White - Small Critter Tossed | SKU E-AUBURNFOX E-6226-1

(Print used for additional bowl cap shown in final images: 6230-11 Blue - Border Stripe)

Equipment needed:

• ¼” (.61cm) Elastic
• Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape (or make your own!)
• Matching thread
• Safety Pin

Cutting:

You will begin by cutting one circle from your fabric for each cap you are making. To determine what size to cut your circle, you will first measure the diameter of your dish. This is the measurement straight across the widest part.

You will then add 2.5” to this measurement and cut your circle.

For example, the diameter of my bowls measure 7” and 9” and I cut my circles to be 9.5” and 11.5”. This adds a 1.25” overlap all around to keep the cap in place on the bowl.

There are several methods for cutting a circle from your fabric. The way I prefer to do it is to first cut the fabric into a square that is the size of my finished circle (i.e. 9.5”). Next, fold the fabric in half once and then a second time to form a square. With the folded center point of your square placed in the bottom left corner (raw edges to the top and right), use a ruler anchored in the bottom left corner to make several tick marks measuring half the finished size of your circle (i.e. 5”) in an arch from the bottom right to top left corner.

Cut along this arch with scissors or a rotary cutter through all four layers of fabric (you can use pins if desired to help them from shifting).

Unfold your fabric and you now have your finished circle! Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, you’ll never notice once it’s bunched around the bowl!

Instructions:

Now that your circle is cut, it’s time to create your cap. The first step is attaching bias binding around the outer edge of your circle. This will form a channel that holds the elastic to keep your cap in place on your bowl. For this tutorial, I will be using premade bias binding most commonly called Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape and available at any craft store. It’s super convenient and makes this project quick and easy! You can also make your own bias biding and I like to do this when I want to use a fun print or special color for my binding. You can find many tutorials online for how to cut your own bias binding.

For each circle (if you’re making more than one), you will need one piece of bias binding approximately 3” longer than the circumference of your fabric circle (this is the measurement all the way around the outside of the circle. You can determine this with a measuring tape or you can multiply your fabric circle diameter by Pi (3.14”).

First, open one end of your binding and press about 1/2” in, wrong sides together.

You will now stitch the binding onto the circle.

Starting with this pressed end, lay your binding right sides together with your circle fabric, matching up the outer edges and pinning in place as you go. You will see that the bias binding curves easily to follow the circle. It does not matter where on your circle you start pinning down the binding. When you get all the way around, overlap your binding about 1” and cut the remainder off. Continue pinning through this area.

You are now ready to stitch the binding down. You will stitch inside the crease line closest to the edge.

Begin your seam a few inches away from the start of your binding and sew all the way around, through the overlap and end about 1” from where you began.

You will now fold your binding around the edge of your circle and against the back side of the circle to just cover your stitch line. Pin in place and top stitch around the inner edge to secure the binding in place leaving an approximate 1” gap (this is where you will insert your elastic).

Cut a piece of elastic about the same circumference as your circle. Attach a safety pin to one end and feed it through the gap in the binding. Work the pin all the way around and back out the same gap.

At this point you will place the cap on your bowl to determine how tight to pull the elastic. Once you have the correct gather, overlap your elastic and stitch it together well. I prefer to do this by hand, but you can use the machine as well. Trim the excess elastic ends and tuck the elastic flush into the binding. The last step is to topstitch the gap closed. You may need to pull your piece to keep it flat over this area while stitching and be sure to not catch the elastic in your stitches.

You’re done! Wasn’t that easy? I just love these covers and find them handy for some many things. I always use old antique bowls that do not have lids, so using these makes me much happier than using plastic wrap! I also love giving them as gifts. Pick up a cute bowl (or set) at a thrift shop, make a matching cover and give it as a housewarming or shower gift.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial! Please share your photos with #reusablebowlcap on social media to inspire others!

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Fabric Details:

Click here to view the Studio E Fabrics Auburn Fox by Kayomi Harai collection.

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Learn more about Nicole of Lillyella Stitchery here