One appliance that gets almost daily use in most kitchens is the trusty toaster. With all that hard work, it usually ends up looking a bit worse-for-wear. Maybe it's banged up around the edges, for sure there are crumbs aplenty, perhaps a small tattoo from a scorching accident. All in all, it isn't the prettiest member of the kitchen family. Keep it accessible yet under wraps with our trendy toaster cover. This is the final project in our Kitchen Confections series for Moda Fabrics, featuring the beautiful new Vintage Modern collection by Bonnie & Camille. Our clever cozy features a pretty patchwork accent strip, bright piping all around, and an easy-tie handle so it's fast to whip it off or drop it back on. Now you see it... now you don't! 

Our sample four-slice toaster measured 10½" wide x 7½" high x 9½" deep. These dimensions are likely to similar to other four-slice models. Measure your own toaster to see if this pattern will be right for you. The cover is designed to be approximately 1" larger all around than the dimensions of the toaster; you don't want a super tight fit. You should be able to simply drop the cover into place over the toaster. 

Our thanks to Moda for sponsoring our Kitchen Confections Series. We had such fun working Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille. The collection is hitting the shelves now at your favorite in-store and online retailers. Check the S4H Marketplace for our favorite shopping options. With six colors ways (Sky, Pebble, Cream, Candy Apple, Melon and Pear), 40 quilting weight prints and 10 flannels, you're sure to find something to love. We certainly did!

Check out the entire series for inspiration to beautify your own kitchen or to create wonderful gifts for family and friends: placemats, napkins, table runner, apron, oven mitts, and today's toaster cozy. You'll also want to download the free matching recipe cards and gift tags. The series wraps up tomorrow with a mouth-watering Great Giveaway.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome Memory Craft 6300)
• Piping foot (optional but helpful for speed and accuracy)

Fabric and Other Suppllies

• ⅝ yard of 44-45" wide fabric for the exterior: we used Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics in Floral Vintage Cream (55040-17)
• ⅝ yard of 44-45" wide fabric for the lining: we used Bella Solids by Moda Fabrics in Porcelain (9900-182)
• 1½ yards of 44-45" wide fabric for the top handle and piping: we used Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics in Floral Wish Candy Apple (55044-15)
• SIX coordinating scraps or Jelly Roll strips; you will need six 2½" x 2½" squares: we used Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics in the following patterns:
  Floral Hopscotch Candy Apple (55041-15)
  Floral Wish Sky (55044-11)
  Floral Swirl Candy Apple (55047-15)
  Floral Dots Pear (55049-16)
  Floral Vintage Sky (55040-11)
  Floral Snickerdoodle Melon (55046-14)
• ¾ yard of low loft batting at least 31" in width; we used Warm & Natural quilt batting
• 1 yard of jumbo rick rack; we used ¾" poly rick rack in Red by Moda (RR41-180)
• Scrap or ¼ yard of medium weight fusible interfacing for the handle; you need two 1½" x 11½" strips
• 3 yards of ¼" piping cord
• All purpose thread to match fabrics
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pen or pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Seam gauge
• Seam ripper
• Straight pins

Getting started

1. From the fabric for the exterior panels (Floral Vintage Cream in our sample), cut the following:
   ONE 13" wide x 30" high rectangle for the main side section
   TWO 13" wide x 10" high rectangles for the front and back panels
2. From the fabric for the top handle and piping (Floral Wish Candy Apple in our sample), cut the following:
   TWO 2½" x 12½" strips for the handle
   Multiple 1¼" strips, on the bias for the piping; you'll need TWO 29" finished pieces and ONE 48" finished piece. Cut the strap strips first, then simply cut all the remaining fabric into 1¼" bias strips; you will seam the bias strips together end-to-end to equal the three finished lengths.
3. From the fabric for the lining (Bella Solids Porcelain), cut the following:
   ONE 11½" wide x 29" high rectangle for the main side section
   TWO 12½" wide x 9½" high rectangles for the front and back panels
4. From the fabrics for the patchwork accent fabrics, cut ONE 2½" x 2½" square from EACH of SIX fabrics; we used jelly roll strips, which are 2½" wide to start with, so we simply cut a square from one end of each strip.
5. From the batting, cut the following:
   ONE 13" wide x 30" high rectangle for the main side section
   TWO 13" wide x 10" high rectangles for the front and back panels
6. From the fusible interfacing, cut TWO 1½" x 11½" strips
7. Cut the rick rack into two 13" lengths

Round the corners of the lining panels

1. Place the two 12½" x 9½" front and back panel pieces flat on your work surface. 
2. Find a small juice glass or other small round object. Place the glass in each of the top corners (one of the 12½" sides) and trace the outside curve. 
3. Cut along the drawn line to round each corner. Round only the top two corners of both the front and the back pieces. The bottom two corners of each piece remain square.
   

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Quilting the exterior panels

1. Match up the front and back exterior panels and the exterior side section panel (Floral Vintage Cream in our sample) with the three batting pieces in corresponding sizes. 
2. Pin each pair together.
3. Run parallel vertical rows of stitching to quilt each pair together. Our rows are 1" apart. We used a quilting bar with our Walking Foot to keep our rows equi-distant. 
   
   NOTE: If you are new to straight lines quilting, check out our Guest Tutorial from Modern Quilting whiz, Heather Jones.
4. When the quilting of these three pieces is complete, place each corresponding lining piece on top of the quilted piece. Using the lining piece as a pattern, trim each quilted piece to match.

Create the patchwork accent strip

1. Find the six 2½" x 2½" squares and arrange them in the desired order. Our order is (from left to right): Floral Hopscotch Candy Apple, Floral Wish Sky, Floral Swirl Candy Apple, Floral Dots Pear, Floral Vintage Sky, Floral Snickerdoodle Melon. 
2. Using a ¼" seam, pin and then stitch the squares together in this order to create a strip. To do this, place the first two squares right sides together, pin along one 2½" side, then stitch together along that 2½" side. Add the next square to the remaining raw edge of the two-square unit, and attach in the same manner. Continue in this manner to create a complete six-square strip. Press all the seams towards the first square.  
3. Place a length of rick rack along both long sides of the strip. The waves of the rick rack should be flush with the raw edges of the strip.
   
4. Stitch the rick rack in place, making sure your seam line runs down the exact center of the rick rack. 
5. Fold back and then press the raw edges to the wrong side, which will make the rick rack "pop up" along the top and bottom of the strip. 
   
6. Place the completed strip on the quilted front panel so the bottom edge of the strip is  2" above the lower raw edge of the panel. Pin in place.
   

Create the handle  

1. Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse one 1½" x 11½" interfacing strip to the wrong side of each 2½" x 12½" handle strip. The interfacing strip should be positioned so it is centered side-to-side and top-to-bottom on the wrong side of the strip. 
2. With the interfacing fused in place, fold each strip right sides together lengthwise. Trim one end of each strip at an angle.
   
3. Pin in place along the one long edge and the diagonally cut end. Leave the opposite straight end open. Stitch along the long edge and across the diagonal end, using a ¼" seam allowance. Pivot at the corners.
4. Turn both ties right side out. Use a long, blunt-end tool, like a chopstick or large knitting needle to push out the corner points so they are nice and crisp. Press both ties well.   
5. Find the 11½" x 29" quilted exterior side section panel. Find the center point along each 29" side. 
6. Place the raw open end of a tie at each center point. Pin in place. 
7. Tie the ends together in an overhand knot to keep them out of the way during the remaining construction.
   

Construct the lining box

1. Place the two 12½" x 9½" front and back panel lining pieces (with the rounded corners) flat on your work surface. 
2. Fold both the front panel and the back panel in half and press a center crease or measure and mark the center point (5¾" from each side) with a pin. 
3. Find the 11½" wide x 29" side section panel of the lining. Fold this piece in half and press a center crease or measure and mark the center point (14½" from the top and bottom) with a pin.
4. With right sides together, match the center marks of the front panel and the side section panel, aligning the raw edges. Pin in place. 
   
5. Fold the side section panel down, easing it around the rounded corner of the front panel, and continue pinning the two layers right sides together. The bottom of the side section panel should match up perfectly with the bottom square corner of the front panel. 
   
6. Repeat to align and pin the opposite side of the front panel to the side section panel. 
   
7. Stitch the layers together, using ¼" seam allowance.
   
8. Repeat to attach the back panel to the opposite end of the side section panel. 
9. As an option, and especially if your fabric is prone to raveling, consider finishing all the seam allowances with a finishing stitch on your sewing machine or a serger. 
10. Turn the lining right side out. Press well. Set aside.

Piping

1. If this is your first time making piping, see our tutorial, How To Make And Attach Your Own Piping.
2. Stitch together your 1¼" bias strips as needed to create TWO 29" finished lengths and ONE 48" finished length.
3. Cut the ¼" piping cord into matching lengths.
4. Wrap the fabric around the cord. Pin close to the cording to hold it in place.
5. Using a Piping foot (optional), sew close to the cording to create your fabric covered piping. 
   
   NOTE: You can also use a zipper foot or a narrow base zipper foot to get nice and tight against the cording. If your sewing machine allows, move the needle all the way to the left. 
6. Set the 48" length of piping aside.  
7. Find exterior side section piece to which you attached the top handle ties. Pin one 29" length of piping onto each long side, aligning the raw edges.
8. Stitch the piping onto the right side of the exterior piece, aligning the raw edges. Keep your stitching as close to the piping cord as possible. 
   
9. Again, if you're new to attaching piping, check out our tutorial for additional tips on joining and finishing. We are still using our handy Janome Piping foot.
10. At both ends along both sides, remove excess cord from the piping by pulling the cord out and trimming about ½" from the end. Let the cord slide back into the fabric sleeve. This will make it easier (thinner) to attach the piping around the bottom. 
    

Create the exterior box

1. Switch back to a regular presser foot. 
2. Following the same steps you used to create the lining box, create a matching exterior box.
3. Find the remaining 48" length of piping. Pin it all the way around the bottom of the cozy, aligning the raw edges of the fabric/batting with the raw edges of the piping flange. 
   NOTE: It will look neater if you start/stop at a point where the side piping comes down to the bottom edge.
4. Switch again to a Piping foot or Zipper foot.
5. Stitch the piping in place all around the bottom edge, keeping your seam line as close to the piping cord as possible. 
6. To join, with a seam ripper, peel back the fabric to expose the cording underneath. 
7. Trim the end of cording tail so it exactly meets the head of the cording. Fold under the end of the loose fabric to create a clean edge, adjusting and wrapping this folded end under and around the loose piping tail so it overlaps the sewn down raw edge by about ½".
8. Stitch in place, matching your seam line.
9. One more time in case you dozed off before: if you're new to attaching piping, check out our tutorial for additional tips on joining and finishing.

Attach the lining

1. Find the completed lining box. It should be RIGHT side out. 
2. Turn the completed exterior box WRONG side out. 
3. Slip the lining inside the exterior. Match up the lining seams and the exterior seams all around. 
4. Pin together the bottom raw edges of the lining and the exterior. 
5. Using a ¼" seam allowance, stitch all around this bottom edge, leaving a 5-6" opening for turning. 
6. Turn the cover right side out through the opening.
7. Press well, turning in the raw edges of the opening so they are flush with the sewn seam.  
8. Handstitch the opening closed. 

Hints and Tips

Unlike a lined bag where the force of gravity helps keep the lining in place, this lining of this cozy will want to drop out when you lift the cover off the toaster. To help hold it in place, hand stitch through all the layers at either end of the handle and at the corners of the piping. You can hide your stitches behind and at the base of the handle at either end as well as right along the edge of the piping.  

Contributors 
Project Design: Alicia Thommas   
Sample Creation and Instructional Outline: Michele Mishler

Other machines suitable for this project include the Elna eXperience 660 and the Baby Lock Melody.