Make Elastic Bowl Covers to Save Food

There are many reasons to make your own elastic 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.

Use fabric food covers in the kitchen to keep food fresh. They can fit over a variety of bowl sizes and plates too. Just slip them over your dish. No more fighting with cling wrap!

Actually, you can ditch the cling wrap altogether. Do your part to protect the environment by replacing it with this more sustainable item. Homemade bowl covers can be washed and used again and again. We have many more zero waste sewing projects over here too.

They can easily be customized. Make a set in colors to match your own kitchen. How about a set in school colors for a new a college student? Give a set of bowls with coordinating covers as a housewarming gift or even a wedding gift.

Did I mention they are pretty easy to make? The circle shape is not the best for a beginner brand new to sewing. You’ll want to master straight lines first, and here are some helpful ways to do that. Then tackle this one. It is probably best for an intermediate beginner. Is that a thing?

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.

Are you ready to get started?

Supplies for Cloth Bowl Covers

Fabric quarters, also known as fat quarters, come in all the colors of the rainbow and are perfect for this project. If you are making multiple elastic bowls covers, you might want to purchase a pack of fat quarters. That way the fabrics are already coordinated for you. Single fat quarters can often be found for a dollar or less.

How to Make Reusable Bowl Covers

Step 1 – Wash and Dry Fabric

Wash and dry the fabric quarters. This will ensure there is no chemical residue left from manufacturing the fabric. You don’t want that near your food. Then iron as needed.

Step 2 – Trace Around Bowl

Place bowl face down on the wrong side of the fabric and trace around the bowl lightly. Be sure the pattern on the fabric is what you want it to look like on the other side.

Step 3 – Add 1″

Measure and make several small marks 1-inch away from the line you drew all the way 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.

If you are making more than one bowl cover of the same size, simply trace around the circle you just cut out on another fabric quarter . This will save time by avoiding measuring and marking the circles over again.

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.

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

Using sewing machine, top stitch on bias tape around circle VERY close to the edge of where the fabric meets the bias tape. Leave 1 ½” opening.

Step 9 – 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 10 – Insert Elastic in Casing

Insert safety pin into the bias tape casing you created. Continue working elastic into the casing until you reach the other end of the circle at the opening.

Step 11 – Sew Elastic Ends

Overlap the two ends of elastic and stitch together.

Step 12 – Top Stitch to Close

Work elastic all the way into the casing. Then top stitch the opening of the casing to close.

Your homemade, cloth bowl covers are now ready to use!

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. However, you can also make vinyl bowl covers, and wipe them clean with a damp rag.

Don’t forget to pin this project for later, and check out some more sewing projects for beginners listed below.