Barbecue Grill Cover

Dress up your patio with a custom-made grill cover!

As many of you know, barbecue grills are an expensive item and certainly worth protecting from the elements. However, commercially available grill covers are not always that attractive, who wants a big nondescript gray or black blob sitting on the patio?

This cover is made with decorator fabric sandwiched between two layers of clear vinyl.  The vinyl on the outside protects the grill from the elements, and the vinyl on the inside protects the fabric from grease stains and soot.

Choose the widest-width fabric available so that you don’t have to piece the large back and front panels. The worksheet will help you calculate the exact dimensions needed for your grill. If your dimensions are substantially different from the model grill, make your patterns first and take them with you when you go buy the fabric and vinyl.

To cover a 53-inch by 43-inch by 24-inch grill you’ll need:

• 4 ½ yards 54-inch wide decorator fabric
• 9 yards 54-inch wide clear matte-finish vinyl
• Measuring and marking tools
• General sewing/craft supplies

MAKING THE PATTERNS

1. Measure your grill. Click here to get a worksheet to use and to jot down your figures for A through E.

2. For the grill front/back pattern, tape sheets of newspaper together, and cut a large rectangle to your measurements A by B.  Fold the paper in half, parallel to the B edges, and lay it flat with the fold at the left.  Use your measurements C and D to mark dots on the top and right edges, as indicated (be sure to use ½ of C at the top).  Draw a diagonal line to connect the two dots.  Label the new line F, measure it, and jot it down on your worksheet.  Cut on the marked line through both layers and open out the pattern.

3. For the grill top pattern, cut a rectangle to your measurements C by E.  For the grill side pattern, cut a rectangle to your measurements F plus D by E.

SEWING THE GRILL COVER

1. Use the three newspaper patterns to cut one front, one back, one top, and two sides from decorator fabric, adding ½ inch for the seam allowance all around.  For each piece, cut two matching pieces from clear vinyl.

2. Sandwich each fabric piece between two vinyl pieces.  Machine-stitch ¼ inch from the small edge all around.  From this point forward, treat each layered piece as a single unit.

3. Sew the top to the two sides along the E edges, right sides together, with a ½ inch seam allowance.  Join the back to the top, connecting the C edges.  Join the F and D edges next, clipping into the seam allowance on the side piece where it meets the angled join in the back piece.  Join the front piece in the same way, first to the top and then down each side.

4. Slip the cover on the grill wrong side out.  Decide on a finished length and trim off any excess evenly all around. Turn up a ½ inch hem and topstitch.

Tip: Vinyl-covered fabric is water repellent, but not waterproof because water can get in through the seams.  Seam holes can be sealed with seam sealant to make the seams waterproof.  Or you can simply store vinyl-covered items under a covered patio or awning, away from the worst weather.

Voila! You’ve now added some pizzazz to your patio!

For other great home dec projects ideas:

-Refer to your copy of Sandra Betzina Sews for Your Home -  ON SALE NOW for $20 (Reg. $24.95)

-WebTV Show students can also watch the Easy and Elegant Pillows,  Creating a Table Runner, Making a Duvet Cover and Buffet Silverware Holder episodes.