~Written by Brother Sews Blogger

Our Brother March Foot of the Month is the adjustable binder foot and we show you how to create Embroidered Jar Covers for your Sewing Room. The adjustable binder foot makes it easy to finish raw edges using ready made or custom made bias binding. It is adjustable so you can choose from a variety of different bias binding widths. We used pre-purchased bias tape to finish the edges of our sewing room jar covers. Starting with ordinary canning style jars, we fashioned an embroidered “slip cover” to identify the contents. This project is a great way to organize sewing supplies and decorate your sewing space at the same time!

Materials and Supplies

• Brother Sewing and Embroidery Machine(Opens in a new tab)
  
• Brother 4-inch hoop(Opens in a new tab)
  
• SA198 Brother Adjustable Binder foot
• SA5810(Opens in a new tab)
  Medium Weight Tear-Away Stabilizer
• Brother Polyester Embroidery Thread(Opens in a new tab)
  
• Size 11 Embroidery needle for embroidery
• Firm fabric for each jar cover - We used white cotton duck cloth. Please see custom measurements below.
• Fabric for appliqué embroidery design – One piece measuring 3-inches square for each design. Note: If appliqué fabric is lightweight, add a layer of medium weight fusible interfacing to wrong side.
• Basic sewing notions including sewing thread.
• One package of extra-wide double fold bias tape for binding edges of cover.
• One canning style jar for each jar you wish to cover.
• Embroidery design for jar cover: We used Embroidery Design No.200910630 from iBroidery.com(Opens in a new tab)
  . Note: This design is free for a limited time as the Brother Free Design of the Month for March 2016.

Instructions for Creating Jar Covers

Figure 01

1. Cut fabric for each jar cover as follows:
   • Using a tape measure, measure circumference of jar. Add 1-inch to circumference for seam allowance and record measurement. *See Figure #1
   • Cut a piece of fabric for jar cover using your custom measurement for the width, and a measurement of 8-inches for height.Example: We cut our fabric (11”w X 8”h).
2. Layer fabric with tear away and place in center of 4-inch hoop. Transfer design to machine.

Figure 2

3. Create a combined design by adding lettering from built in fonts. We used a fun font style from the Brother Persona PRS100 machine. *See Figure #2

4. Center combined design and embroider using your desired thread colors. Note: This design is an appliqué. The first step stitches an outline for placement of appliqué material. The second step is for the position of the actual appliqué fabric. Place 3-inch square of fabric over the first stitched outline and then stitch second outline. Trim fabric very close to outline . Stitch the next step, the tack down and satin stitch. Stitch remaining steps and lettering. *See Figure #3

Figure 3

Note: Jar should be approximately 5-inches tall for this combined design. As an option, you can embroider a single word on smaller jars. Add decorative stitches from the sewing side of the machine along each long edge before sewing final seam in step 10. *See Figure #4a and #4b

Figure 4a

Figure 4b

Figure 5

5. Trim height of embroidered fabric piece to fit comfortably on jar, leaving at least ¾-inch of fabric at top and bottom of strip to allow room for binding.
6. Set up machine for sewing and prepare to use binder foot. This foot makes it easy to apply bias binding to long straight edges.
   
   Here are a few tips:
   • Cut the beginning end of bias binding on an angle and use the end of a pin or seam ripper to push it into the upper and lower slot on the foot. Next, slip fabric edge fully into the center slot on the foot. Make sure the bias is completely wrapped around the fabric with wider side of bias on the bottom. See below:
     

   
   Figure 6

   • Select a straight stitch or a narrow zig zag to sew binding to fabric edge.
   • Next, adjust binder foot to fit the binding. The adjustment screw on the front side of the foot adjusts to fit the width of the tape. The screw at the back of the foot adjusts the foot to the right and the left. This brings the edge of the binding closer to the needle drop. *See Figure #5
   • You can also adjust the position of the needle on the machine by using the stitch width plus and minus keys. Beginning at the center, minus moves the needle to the left and plus moves the needle to the right. *See Figure #6
   • Test your stitch on a scrap of fabric and binding and adjust as necessary so binding is fully attached on the top and bottom side.
7. Sew bias binding to finish the top and bottom raw edge of each cover piece. *See Figure #7

Figure 7

1. Pin fit fabric strip on the jar and then sew an appropriate seam allowance so cover fits snug on the jar. Press seam open. Anchor seam allowances at the top and bottom with hand or machine stitches. Slip cover over jar and align seam toward the back. You are finished! Fill your jars and display in your sewing space!