How to Make a Motorcycle Cover

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From inclement weather to storage, keep your motorcycle safeguarded in any situation by creating a custom motorcycle cover! Crafting a one-of-a-kind motorcycle cover using supplies from Sailrite® is a great way to make sure any motorcycle is well protected and to ensure a tailored fit for your exact model. In this tutorial, we'll illustrate how to make a motorcycle cover in detail, from patterning and sewing panels to adding a drawstring.

Video Chapters:

Determining Fabric Required — 1:03 min.
Creating Patterning Frame — 2:29 min
Patterning — 5:38 min.
Adding Seam Allowance and Cutting Patterns — 15:50 min.
Patterning Fabric — 22:06 min.
Creating Pleats — 27:50 min.
Joining Panels Together — 31:59 min.
Test Fitting Cover — 38:36 min.
Creating Sleeve for Drawstring — 41:31 min.
Installing and Tensioning Drawstring — 50:19 min.
Materials List — 51:12 min.

Materials List:

Filament Strapping Tape 3/4" - Item #5643
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas - Item #129
Dura-Skrim^® Patterning Material 74" - Item #122460
Protect‑It™ Gray 63" Fabric - Item #122679
Thread Tex 90 White Polyester UV 4oz - Item #100079
Shock Bungee Cord 1/8" - Item #104327 (Black) or Item #29302 (White With Black Marker)
Sailrite^® Woven Sew In Tags - Item #121604
Barrel Lock Cord Closure 3/16” Double- Item #121615

Tools List:

Gingher^® 8" Scissors Right Handed - Item #19104 / Left Handed #19105
Marking Chalk for Fabrics - Item #102464
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine - Item #311602
Deluxe 5 1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide - Item #103597
Sailrite^® Canvas Patterning Ruler - Item #107040
Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - Item #102400
Office Clamps, Marker, L Square, Straightedge

We’ll be completing this project in a total of five panels that will be sewn together. Yours may be slightly different in configuration, but the concept is still the same. For this particular motorcycle model, we used 10 yards of a protective cover fabric. We originally used Evolution^® Block-It^® fabric in the video, but we no longer carry this fabric. We now offer Protect-It™ fabric, a fantastic cover fabric which features superior UV protection as well as excellent mold, mildew and water resistance. Protect-It is incredibly breathable and is designed to keep your bike shielded from moisture, dirt and dust. The top layer offers strength and the bottom layer softness, making it an ideal choice to protect your motorcycle.

You can find a variety of protective fabrics on our website in a multitude of colors, styles and finishes. We’re sure to have something you’ll find ideal for your next cover! We carry several well-known, high-performance brands such as Sattler^®, Top Notch^®, Stamoid™, Softouch^® and many more. Not sure which one is perfect for your cover project? Contact a member of our knowledgable customer support team and we’d be happy to help you on your DIY journey.

Another useful addition to this particular project is a specialized sleeve at the bottom with a drawstring inside to create a more form-fitting cover. Adding a drawstring or an elasticized hem to your cover will better keep out any moisture, dust or debris that your motorcycle may face when exposed to the outdoors or while in storage. We’ve utilized Shock Bungee Cord 1/8" (#29302) and a 3/16" Double Barrel Lock Cord Closure (#121615) to make and tension our drawstring within its special sleeve. As an added touch, we also incorporated a Sailrite^® Woven Sew-In Tag (#121604) to indicate which is the outer side of our cover and declare to the world that we completed our project with help from Sailrite!

No matter what you may need, we’ve got you covered here at Sailrite! From sewing supplies to fabric and helpful how-tos, we are your go-to source for creating amazing DIY projects like this one.