Steering Wheel Cover DIY- How I Crushed Hubs’ Car

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story: the day I intentionally crush my husband’s car. If you’re wondering how I came to upcycle a steering wheel and mount it on my wall, it all started with a simple question ‘What’s on your bucket list?’ That’s how this whole story began.

But first, a warm welcome to the Creative Craft Blog Hop. If you are coming over from my friend Mary at Home is Where the Boat Is, I’m thrilled to have you join us! At the bottom of this post, I’ll be directing you to the next stop on this venture. But don’t forget to check out the other stops too. There’s a fine group of 14 other bloggers with inspiring craft ideas: be sure to drop back in throughout the week to visit them all!

The Story Behind This Steering Wheel Cover DIY

In 2008 a show called ‘The List’ was starting to cast for its second season. This List was all about giving participants the opportunity to scratch something off their bucket list. Hubs and I were driving in his old beater – a VW Rabbit – when he brought the show to my attention. When Hubs ask me ‘What’s on your bucket list?’ The first thing that came to mind was to crush his car. His car was literally falling apart. The only thing holding it together was duct tape and black rust paint (did you really think the two-toned colour was a fashion choice?)!

You can probably appreciate the condition of the car in this ‘before’ shot below. Yes, that’s duct tape covering the gas tank and the seam along the front hood! Water used to infiltrate and short circuit the wiring, yet Hubs still managed to keep it running and on the road as his winter car.

Back when we were dating, on our very second date, Hub’s door swung wide open on the highway as the car leaned into the curve of the off-ramp. It was almost our last date. The force of gravity was not a friend to this car! As it turned out, neither was I. It was a hate-hate relationship.

Hubs thought the whole notion of crushing his car was funny. ‘If you can get on the show’, he said, ‘go right ahead and crush my car.’ He probably never gave it another thought after that conversation. But you see, once I get something in my head I’m going to make it happen.

So, if you haven’t guessed by now, I got onto the show! But I had to keep it a secret.

Stealing the Car

The day the crew and I stole his car from the parking lot where Hubs worked was comedy of errors. The fire alarm went off, and as people streamed outside I was sure Hubs would be amongst them. I thought it was game over. Thankfully Hubs was not amongst the crowd and no one even gave us a second glance. Then, as the host and I were making our getaway, the muffler dislodged and dragged behind us! I was holding my breath all the way to the wrecking yard hoping we’d make it there with most of the pieces intact (both us AND the car).

After arriving at the wrecking yard, the host returned to the scene of the crime to kidnap Hubs. He was treated to a nice warm limo ride as I waited for him to arrive, shivering in the cold.

When Hubs got there and saw the car ready to crush, I don’t know what his first thoughts were. But I had a job to do and it involved pushing a button (who could resist a temptation like that?).

There was no way duct tape was going to fix this! If there’s a moral to this story, it’s like the host says in the video, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Right after the crushing deed was done, the host surprised us with a commemorative plaque bearing the steering wheel from the car.

Isn’t it a hoot?

Steering Wheel Cover DIY Video

You have to watch this hilarious video! You’ll probably agree that the car was an accident waiting to happen (what with the muffler falling off and the door swinging open at will)!

P.S.

Funnily enough, all Hubs really cared about was the gas cap. Unbeknownst to me, right before the show, he finally bought a new gas cap for the car and replaced the duct tape. He also had fairly new tires on the car. So the next day he went back to the wrecking yard hoping he could get those two items. By some miracle, the gas cap wasn’t crushed; it still looked sparking new! He couldn’t find his tires. However, the owner of the yard gave him 4 equivalents so it all worked out in the end.

Inspiration for Steering Wheel Cover DIY

Despite my glee in crushing the car, it was done with good intentions as an act of love. Red tulips are most closely associated with true love 🌷.

It’s been 12 years, since I crushed the car so it was high time to turn this remembrance of our little adventure into an art piece. Unless your bucket list is as weird as mine, you probably don’t have a steering wheel to hang on your wall. But you could go salvage one from a wrecking yard if you were so inclined 😉. However, this project would make a great Spring steering wheel cover for the one you probably still have in your car!

Since tulips are one of the first signs of Spring, let’s make it a Tulip Cozy! I love the vibrance of red tulips against green foliage, don’t you?

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

Initially we hung the steering wheel in our hallway near the front door. I was thinking about adding some hooks either side of the metal plate to hang our car keys.

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

But then I moved it into our upper stairway and added the gas cap (which was all Hubs’ really wanted to keep) and two of the insignias from the car.

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

I love how the red in the crochet picks up on the red in the ‘A’. The letter A is symbolic of renewal and I like to think this upcycle redeems the car in some small way 😉.

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

What do you think? Did I ‘crush’ this project (pun intended)?

What’s on YOUR Bucket List

So what’s on YOUR bucket list? Let us know in the comments below.

This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

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This steering wheel cover DIY is inspired by a true life story. It all started with the question 'What’s on your bucket list?' Get the story & free pattern! Birdz of a Feather | Steering wheel cover | steering wheel cover diy | steering wheel cover pattern | free pattern | steering wheel design | fibre art | fibre art wall hanging | wall decor | fibre art techniques | fibre art DIY | wall hanging ideas | wall hanging diy | fibre art wall hanging diy

Free Steering Wheel Cover Pattern

To gain access to the free pattern for the Tulip Steering Wheel Cozy, if you’re not already an e-mail subscriber, you need to become one by filling out the form below.  After you confirm your e-mail, you’ll receive a welcome message with the password (sorry but Bloglovin’ / WordPress subscribers won’t have access to the password unless subscribed through this form). We change the password periodically, so check the newsletter often. You’ll find our freebie library at Birdz on the Fly.

We always endeavour to bring you unique DIY projects & upcycles on Birdz of a Feather that you won’t find elsewhere. If crafts aren’t your thing, we’ve also got home and garden DIY and recipes. Feel free to browse by category on the Homepage.

Now I’d like to send you on to a special and talented friend, Kristin at White Arrows Home. She has an awesome wood cut backsplash project for you!

When you are finished visiting Kristin, please remember to visit these other amazing talents below:

  1. Chloe | Celebrate and Decorate 
  2. Andrea | Design Morsels 
  3. Rachelle | My Hubbard Home
  4. Cecilia | My Thrift Store Addiction
  5. Carol | BlueSky At Home 
  6. Jenna | The Painted Apron
  7. Terrie | Decorate And More With Tip 
  8. Rebecca | Zucchini Sisters
  9. Gail | Purple Hues And Me
  10. Mary | Home Is Where The Boat Is
  11. Cynthia | Create With Cynthia 
  12. Liberty | B4 and Afters

Happy crafting friends!

43 thoughts on “Steering Wheel Cover DIY- How I Crushed Hubs’ Car

  1. LOL Sara, what a cool story. I think my hubby would divorce me if I tried something like that with one of the many cars he’s working on at the moment. And crocheting a tulip cozy for the steering wheel is genius BTW. Love your sense of adventure and creative mind.

    • Thanks Michelle! I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t 100% sure he’d be cool with it – lol. Luckily he has a sense of humour too 🙂

  2. Sara, my husband had an old beloved Chevette that had to go. We didn’t get any souvenirs but yours are amazing!!

    • Thanks Kim! Those souvenirs were the best parts of the car – lol.

    • Thanks Kristin; I’m so lucky my husband has a sense of humour!

    • Thanks so much Kristin! The best part is that I’m still married – lol!

  3. Super creative Sara! You have a great memento and story and you’re a crocheting whiz too 🙂 Happy to be hopping with you today ♥

    • Thanks Mary! I was away from crochet for over 20 years and just getting back to it. Learned from my grandmother – I think I must channel her every time I create a piece :). Happy to be hopping with you too.

    • Rabbits are great for getting around and so cheap to fix because nothing’s computerized as cars are these days. I actually do miss it a bit!

  4. My dad owns a body shop and I think he’d really like this. I’ll be sharing it with him. Great job friend and so great crafting with you!

    • Ha ha, thanks so much Chas! Maybe there’s a crochet steering wheel in your future? Great crafting with you too!

  5. Wow Sara, that is quite a story! You did indeed do a good deed in getting that car off the road! I love what you created with the memories and his favorite parts, too funny yet a special memory too!
    Jenna

    • I know, right?! I can’t even feel guilty about it because I may have lost a car, but I really gained my husband. It was an accident waiting to happen – lol!

  6. How funny! Can I ask what the reaction was when you told your hubby his car was smashed? Love the plaque you gave him and how you decorated it. Love the three colors together.

    • Oh my Terrie – you have to see the video if you have chance; it’s hysterical !! The host actually kidnapped him and the car from work and brought him to the wrecking yard so he could watch me crush it. I had to edit him out of the video, along with his reaction, because he’s camera shy. The good news is that he has a great sense of humour – and we’re still married 🙂

  7. Wow, Sara! Your story is hilarious! Good thing you knew your hubby’s response and sense of humor! I was expecting the show to give you a brand new car! How creative to think of making a beautiful handcrafted steering wheel cover for a sentimental and memorable piece!

    • I still laugh when I think about it. Had we been on the show in the first year, a new car might have been a possibility. They had no budget to speak of in the second year lol; we were lucky we didn’t have to hitchhike home – lol!

  8. What a fun story. Thanks for sharing it. It was fun hopping with you.

  9. What a cool and unique idea. I love art that has a story. Do you think it would work for bicycle wheel? I’m so happy that you participated in the hop. It’s so fun to see how different all of the crafts were.

    • Thanks Andrea! I think a bicycle wheel could look cool! You’ll have to let me know if you try it. It is fun to see everyone’s craft; it’s such a talented group!

  10. What a funny story! I had never heard of that show and sitting here right now, I can’t think of anything that is on my bucket list. I used to want to do a 3 month world cruise, but obviously that is not on my list these days! Your cute little cover for the steering wheel is adorable! Thanks for sharing and hopping with us!

    • Thanks Chloe! It’s a Canadian show, likely not shown in the US. Hopefully you can do that cruise at some point in the future. These hops have been fun!

  11. Sara, very funny story. I don’t even know what to think of the car situation. I can’t say that I would ever make the steering wheel DIY project, since it is one in a million. I’m sure you and your hubs will have many years of great laughs and memories. This was a great great to make a memento of a special event.

    • Thanks Carol! It is nice to have the momento; it always makes makes me laugh!

  12. Great story, Sara! Thanks for sharing it with us. And love the steering wheel cozy you made. You captured a special memory with your crafting abilities.

    • Thanks so much Rachelle! It was nice to finally display it after having it in storage for so long. It could have gone up on the wall as-is, but that would just be too boring for me 😉.

  13. What a great story and fun project! It is a pleasure to join you for the hop! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction

  14. This is such a fun keepsake. I had a long loved Sprint that I still miss. Great idea

    • Thanks Leanna! Believe it or not, I miss our car too.

    • Hubs and I have definitely had some wild adventures. Nice to have a keepsake so the memories can live on!

  15. Sara, what an amazing story and great me9. I love that you crocheted the steering wheel with tulips so you both will always remember this loving memory you made together 🌷🌷🌷

    • Thanks Deana; nothing like a little symbolism to cement the memory 🙂

  16. I love the story behind your craft project, Sara! My first car was a 1984 VW Rabbit GTI, and it was my baby. I had to carry jumper cables with me because it used to stall out all the time. I had it until I was 21 and I cried when I had to let it go. I wish I had a momento to remember it like your husband’s steering wheel. You did an amazing job with the crocheted steering wheel cover. It is now truly a work of art! And what a fabulous conversation piece to have on the wall! It was so fun crafting with you again 🙂

    • Thanks Rebecca! Sounds like you had a similar experience with your Rabbit too; Hubs was on a first name basis with all of the tow truck drivers – lol. It’s always fun crafting with you too. Can’t wait until our next one!

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