Martha Stewart Living Television

Bird Care

Martha Stewart Living Television

Martha and pet expert Marc Morrone explain how to take care of a beautiful bird.

Birdcage Cover

This cover was designed for a cage with a distinctive pointed roof, but the how-to below can be used for any cage.

Birdcage Cover How-To
1. Measure exterior dimensions of the cage.

2. On a large sheet of kraft paper, mark the shapes for your pattern. Add a 1-inch seam allowance at the bottom edges and 1/2 inch to the other sides.

3. Use the pattern to cut out the side, back, and top shapes from linen fabric. Set aside.

4. For the front panel, cut vertically along center to make 2 pieces (to create the opening at the cage's front). Pin the front-left shape to the fabric, and with a ruler and a disappearing-ink fabric pen, add 1/2 inch along the center edge. Cut out. Pin the right-front shape to fabric, adding 1 1/2 inches along the center edge. Cut out.

5. Along the center edge of each front panel, fold under 1/4 inch. Fold under another 1/4 inch, and then press. Sew 1/8 inch from folded edge.

6. Overlap front panels at center by 1 inch. Pin them together, as shown below.

7. With a 1/2-inch seam allowance and right sides facing in, sew all of the panels together. Then sew binding to seams.

8. To hem, fold under 1/2 inch, then another 1/2 inch. Press. Pin in place, and stitch 1/8 inch from edge. Remove pins.

9. Sew on frog closures and metal tassels by hand.

Resources
Fabric for cover: linen in Green, $7 per yard, from Gray Line Linen, 866-585-4636. Frog closures in Gold, $1.99 each, from Daytona Trimming, 212-354-1713. Metal tassel in Gold (TL 1083AG), $40, from Tinsel Trading, 212-730-1030

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Martha Stewart Living Television

Bird Care

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