Reversible Vase Covers Made Easy

The idea for these reversible vase covers has been swimming around in my head for a few weeks and it finally came into being! There’s a tutorial posted on my YouTube channel, the link is at the bottom of this post.

It starts with a glass jar (or yogurt container), 2 pieces of co-ordinating fabric (fat quarters) and a bit of (good quality) elastic.

Measure your Jar (or Container)

Use a cloth measuring tape to measure your jar (or container). Start with the tape even with the top edge, then measure around the bottom and back up to the opposite rim. Add 2 inches (5 cm) to this. I made a paper pattern (mine was 18 inches) (My video shows how I made the pattern.)

Cut the Circles

First, a word about fabric colour choices and how that impacts your thread colour. After much experimenting with thread colours and fabric colours, I came to the (personal) decision that the serger stitch looks best if all 3 threads are the same colour, so, both fabrics need to look good with whatever thread you choose. (For these 3 reversible vase covers, I chose a golden beige threads.)

With your 2 chosen fabrics WRONG sides together, pin the paper pattern on top and cut them out. Remove the pattern and repin the layers with the wrong sides still together.

I used a serged narrow 3-thread overcast stitch to create the nice edge on these reversible vase covers. To create this stitch, remove the left needle and it’s thread. (Be sure to tighten the screw after removing the needle.) The looper threads should meet at the cut edge of the fabric and lay FLAT.

To get the stitches to lay flat like this I had to tighten up the tension on both loopers a bit. I also shortened my stitch length to 1. Then I tested on scraps of the same fabrics until I was happy, and wrote down my settings.

Serge

With your adjusted settings, serge around the outer edge of your circle. I skimmed along the edge cutting just a hair.
When you get back near the beginning, stop and cut the beginning thread tails neatly, close to the fabric. Then continue to serge until you overlap the beginning by a few stitches. Stop with needle up, raise your presser foot and gently pull your finished circle to the left as you wiggle the handwheel until you have a loose chain about 4 inches long. Cut, leaving a couple of inches. Apply a drop of Fraycheck and trim the tail when it’s dry.

At the Sewing Machine

Thread your machine with thread colours that co-ordinate with your fabrics. I chose a dark green and an off white. Starting anywhere, sew all around the edge of the circle, BUT 1 INCH from the outer edge. (I have a line on my throatplate) Overlap the ending over the beginning and trim the threads.

Now make the elastic casing by sewing again, this time 1/2 inch in from the first go. (So 1 1/2 inches from the outer edge.) Again, overlap the ending over the beginning and trim the threads.

Insert the Elastic

First you need to make a small slit in the casing. Use your stitch ripper and make a tiny slit through just one layer in the casing. I chose a “busy” spot so it wouldn’t be obvious.

Thread a length of good quality 1/4 inch elastic onto a bodkin and thread it through the casing. (I tried clear swimsuit elastic but it didn’t slide smoothly through the casing.) In order to not waste elastic I worked the end (the end where the bodkin was attached) back into the casing and sewed it down back and forth at the sewing machine.

Then pull on the other end until the top of the reversible vase cover is gathered to fit your jar. Sew back and forth over the end before cutting it. Arrange the gathers and the opening will become invisible.

I loved making these, and after my serger was set up I made 2 more in quick succession. The 2 on the left cover mason jars and the one on the right is over a plastic yogurt container.