Caroline,
My HOTHER was covered by a black material that had a fabric type quality to it. It had an alligator skin type pattern on it.
MY SEWMOR was covered by a brown material that was a paper of some kind. It had the same alligator skin pattern as the Hother case did. The only paper I've seen that resembles it was wall paper.
I have another case with the same pattern and I think it's paper too. But that case is in OK shape so I'm not gonna tear it apart to see.
Once I get the wood parts cleaned, and glued back together it really doesn't matter what I cover them with. I'm just hoping to find something similar to the original.
Although if I used a mat black material I could tell everybody it was my "tactical" sewing machine. LOLOLOL
Or, I could do one in digital camo. That might be pretty neat.
If I could find a light cloth with pics of sewing machines on it I'd use that on one of them. Just for the fun of it.
Joe