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DIY Tutorial: Easy Breezy Cover-Up

Last Updated on February 28, 2019 by Gloria - University of Michigan
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
DIY: Easy Cover-Up

In all honesty, summer is too hot for me to be fashionable – I would much rather lounge around in a sports bra and board shorts! So, for today’s DIY, I decided to create an easy, breezy, beautiful, covergirlup, that I can throw over everything from a swimsuit to a sundress and still look fabulous.

Read on to learn how to make your own cover-up with this super-easy DIY tutorial:

Materials:

DIY Cover-up Materials

  • Lightweight Fabric (I used a $2 printed chiffon.) I bought 0.805 yards on a 60-inch bolt, but I suggest you buy at least one yard and then trim to fit.
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Optional (though highly recommended): some sort of fabric-fusion device. In this case, needle and thread, but you could just as easily use a sewing machine, fabric glue, hemming tape, etc… it all depends on personal preferences and sewing skills!

Step One:

Step 1.1 DIY Cover-up

Fold the fabric in half vertically (i.e. a “hamburger” fold). Adjust it so that one end is longer than the other, to create a high-low effect (as seen in the image below).

Step 1.2 DIY Cover-Up

Step Two:

Step 2 DIY Cover-up

Now, fold the fabric in half horizontally, into a “hot-dog” fold.

Step Three:

Step 3 DIY Cover-Upp

Make a little incision cut about 1/3 of the way from the fold – use the image on the left for reference. Be sure to cut through all of the folded layers as you do so.

Step Four:

Step 4 DIY Cover-up

Next, cut a partially rounded line, as shown in the top left graphic. Unfold the hot-dog fold. This cut becomes the “hole” for your head. At this point, the cover-up is good to go, but if you want to take it a bit further, head over to step number five.

Step Five (optional):

This step is to achieve a high-quality, not-so-DIY look. To do this, we’re basically going to utilize basic, super-condensed sewing* 101. This step is highly recommended, especially for fabrics that fray/unravel at the edges.

*Note here that I use the word “sew” but there are different options to “sewing”, such as using fabric glue or hemming tape rather than a needle and thread.

Sewing options diy cover up

How To Hem (diagram)

The first thing you need to do is to flip the fabric inside-out to the “wrong” side. I like to think of the wrong side as the side that touches the body. Usually, most fabrics are only printed on one side and the other “wrong” side is left blank.

Using the top image for reference, sew the front and back together (as shown with the green lines). You can either sew all the way down (option #1) or just at waist (option #2) t0 create a high slit.

Afterwards, we have tohem it. First, flip the fabric to the right-side out to the “right” side (i.e. the side that people see). To hem, simply fold over an inch of fabric inwards, so it’s on the wrong side (as shown in the bottom image) and stitch it down.

You need to hem everything that’s marked by little red dots in the top image. If you’re lucky, your fabric comes with one edge that doesn’t fray, which you don’t have to hem. If it is unraveling (as represented by purple swiggles) hem this as well.

The Finished Product:

DIY Cover-Up Views

When rocking this cover-up, simply slip it over your head and belt it around the middle, making sure that the front end is the shorter end.

Feedback please:

How do you like to keep cool during the summer? Will you be attempting this DIY? Any other DIYs you would like to see the tutorial for? Let me know in the comments!

Tags : cover ups, DIY, How To, Summer, Tutorials

7 Comments
Originally published on July 24, 2013
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Comments

  1. Dimitri Gee says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    It’s really a nice idea. It’s falling in an interesting way. Beautiful. Good job!

    Dimitri Gee (www.dimitrigee.com)

    Reply
  2. Virginia says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    This looks super cute! I have a bunch of remnants lying around and this is a perfect project to get rid of some of the bigger ones. I love the sheer look of this too. This tutorial is also really easy to follow/read. Great feature!

    Reply
  3. ChicTrends says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    Wow, very cool! Something I would like to try out!

    Reply
  4. Jhon says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    Nice guide, specially my gf will love this style and I also shared this on pinterest 🙂

    Reply
  5. Jess says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    I loved this idea! So simple and easy. Plus it’s a great way to jazz it up a little bit without much effort. Thank you for this!

    Reply
  6. Gloria - University of Michiga says

    May 29, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    Thanks everyone! I’m glad you liked it 😀

    Reply
  7. Kim says

    June 25, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    This was very interesting. I would therefore like to see more tutuorials for skirts and dresses.????

    Reply

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