Our latest quilt block is ideal for any stitcher, featuring a fun sewing machine motif complete with needle and thread. Make up into a handy cover for your machine to keep it safe and looking stylish. You may recognise the red, white and blue fabric from the opening sequence to our favourite programme, The Great British Sewing Bee. This quick and easy make is perfect for anyone inspired by the series.
Make a machine block
Download the templates and print out. Copy a mirror image of the sewing machine template onto the back of a piece of freezer paper and cut out the individual sections. Iron the wax side of pieces 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 and 16 onto the reverse of red fabric, ensuring there is enough space between pieces to cut a 5mm seam allowance around each one. Iron the remaining pieces onto blue fabric in the same way.
Cut out each piece with an accurate 5mm seam allowance all around. Using the template as a guide, tack and stitch pieces 1, 2 and 3 together. Press the seams to one side before sewing piece 4 along the bottom. Stitch pieces 5 and 6 to the end of this section.
Tack and stitch pieces 7, 8 and 9 together and press. Do the same for pieces 10, 11 and 12 and sew these to the top and bottom of the centre section, matching up the seams where necessary. Sew strips 13, 14, 15 and 16 to the top and bottom of the block. Peel away all the pieces of freezer paper and press the entire panel. Add a border using 3cm wide strips of white cotton.
Cut the four smaller rectangles representing a spool, balance wheel, take-up lever and needle housing from white felt. Lightly glue these i