How to Sew Steering Wheel Covers

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Things You'll Need

  • Sewing machine

  • Fabric

  • Thread

  • 2 yards of 1/2-inch width elastic

  • Tape measure

  • Scissors or rotary cutter

  • Safety pin

  • Straight pins

The steering wheel of your car can be unbearably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. A steering wheel cover, however, can cushion your hands from all unpleasant temperatures. Sewing a steering wheel cover is a beginner-level sewing project that requires only a few basic materials to complete. With proper supervision, even a young sewer can complete this project.

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Step 1

Measure the circumference of your steering wheel with a tape measure. Measure around the outside of the wheel. Subtract 1/2-inch from the total measurement. For example, if your steering wheel is 20 inches around, your total measurement would be 19.5 inches. This will be the length of the fabric you will cut in Step 2.

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Step 2

Lay out your fabric and cut a rectangle that is 5.5 inches wide and the length determined in Step 1.

Step 3

Lay your fabric face down, with the wrong side facing up. Fold over 1 inch of each long edge onto the wrong side of the fabric. Pin and sew a straight seam about 3/4-inch from each long edge to create 3/4-inch-wide tubes along each edge.

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Step 4

Attach a safety pin to the end of your elastic strip and thread through one tube. When the elastic reaches the far end, remove the pin and sew across the elastic and fabric to secure the elastic inside the tube. Grasp the trailing end of the elastic and pull it taut within the tube. Sew across the elastic at the open end of the tub. The elastic should now be secured within the tube on one side of the rectangle. Cut the trailing end of elastic free and repeat to secure the elastic within the second tube.

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Step 5

Fold the rectangle in half on its short axis with the right sides together. Line up the raw short ends and pin. Sew the raw ends together with a straight seam about 1/4 inch from the raw edge.

Step 6

Trim any loose threads, then turn the cover so that the right side of the fabric is on the outside. Pull the cover over the steering wheel of your car.

Tip

Reduce the possibility of the cover slipping when in use by sewing a gripping material such as rug rip or grippy shelf liner to the wrong side of the fabric before folding over the elastic casing tubes.

Warning

Make sure that the steering wheel cover is tight on the steering wheel and does not slip or slide, which could cause a dangerous driving condition.

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