tv cozy

As the song goes, I hate the tv. Except, you know, when I'm watching it. But when I'm not, I'd rather it just go away. Because it's ugly. Behold:
Thus, my new tv cozy:

I borrowed a few idea from the people who make slipcovers to form fit it to my televison. I started with a few yards of fabric in a heavy weight cotton and 50 or so pins.

To make a custom tv cozy, the general idea is to drape the fabric over the television and then outline where you want your seams using straight pins. To conserve fabric, though, I cut my material into general shapes (front, sides, top, etc) of the approximate size and then pinned myself some seams to follow.

Begin with the top piece:

But do not do like the picture here - make sure you turn your fabric right side down (otherwise your seams will be on the wrong side). Do use some sort of weight to hold the fabric steady and prevent it from slipping off. I used coin rolls here.

I did the front piece next. Again, I just cut an approximate shape and then pinned where I would want to join the top and front.

At this point you may want to pause to deal with the serious anxiety attach your preschooler is beginning to have as they realize you are actually hiding the screen from their view.

Once the child is calmed (and perhaps recovering in front of the computer where you will suddenly remember the Dora and Backyardigan's episodes you have saved there), continue to drape and pin the rest of the television until you have form fitted it.

For the back of the tv, I just put a few pleats in to gather the material into shape. The back bottom was a full wrap around. I will not pretend like this isn't a tedious part - I suggest finding another pair of hands to help hold it all into place.
Once the pinning is finished, pull the cozy off the tv (gently - do not jostle pins) and machine baste the seams. Once seams are basted, fit the cozy on both right side out and inside out to see if you need to make any adjustments. Once everything looks right, sew the seams properly and trim seam allowances.

One more fitting, inside out, to pin the hem.
Sew the hem, turn right side out, and cover tv. Enjoy the significant other's and children's horrified expressions before explaining that the cover actually comes off. Tell them if you give you grief, you will cozy the dvd player too.

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