All Up In {and over} My Grill

Today I want to share a project that has been brewing in the hopper a little while. I've been wanting to make a cover for our grill and just hadn't decided the best way to go about it or with what. I found some oil cloth at Hobby Lobby that I am coveting. I know, I'm not supposed to covet but in all fairness, there are a few designs that are pretty sweet. But, it's not cheap so I didn't want to use oilcloth until I knew what I was doing. Although, I did scarf up some of the project sheets that were hanging by the oil cloth display so I could do some more coveting planning.Someday I'd love to make my daughter a rain coat.

 

As you can see, I started with our electric grill. I know, everyone uses gas but I'm the one that does the grilling since I want food on table when my hubby gets home, and I'm afraid terrified of gas grills. I had an electric one when I was single and absolutely loved it. It was bright orangish-red that my mom picked up for a few bucks at a garage sale for me and I used it until it died. So after a few years of marriage and our stint with a gas grill that didn't last too long, we went back to electric. I should clarify - it was the gas grill that didn't last - still married! 

Anywho... since I wasn't using oilcloth, I figured the next best thing would be a vinyl tablecloth. It would be a big piece of "fabric", smooth on the inside and repel water/weather elements on the outside. I picked up a nice bright one for $3. I chose the biggest size available, 60" x 102" rectangle.

I wasn't quite sure how to sew with this, like what needle I should use so I figured I'd follow the same rules for sewing with oilcloth. Here are a few tips:

• use a size 16 needle - also known as a denim needle for sewing with denim fabrics. You can use a standard poly/cotton thread
• cut your fabric with pinking shears to avoid fraying edges & finish edges as you normally would
• use a longer stitch when going straight, and shorten when you go around curves or corners

First thing I did was measure my grill. I'm going to make this cover in 3 pieces, very similar to the way you make a sewing machine cover, just on a larger scale.

  

Piece 1: I went from the floor in front, over the grill to the floor in back by how wide the grill was plus 1" for seam allowance. I cut that out and laid it on the grill. 

Pieces 2 and 3: Then I measured the 2 end sides from the ground to the top of the piece already on the grill by the width plus 1" seam allowance. 

 

I hope this makes sense. The wheel base was wider than the grill handles so go with the widest parts. You can adjust later.

I cut out my pieces and pinned them right sides together. Once it was all pinned, I could tell the top part was much wider (because of the wheels) than it need to be, so I trimmed the sides at a taper for a more fitted look and repinned.

bigger than it needed to be, so I trimmed some off

 Now it looks better.

Gently remove and carry to your sewing machine. Don't forget to change your needle!

I will confess I did not finish my seams. The table cloth had finished seams all around it and after cutting it, I ended up with half my seams finished and I figured that was good enough. Next I just sewed my 3 seams on both sides with a 1/2" seam allowance. I also left the bottom edge alone, I didn't hem.

I was going to do boxed corners but when I put the cover on to just test it, the corners didn't need to be boxed, they were already sort of formed that way so I left them. All done! See how nice it looks? MUCH better than just a plain 'ole boring black one!

Just sitting there looking all pretty until it's time to grill! 

Does your grill need a new {or a first} cover? Go ahead and give it a try - it's easy!

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