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Baby Carseat Cover Tutorial

 

When I found out that I was having a baby girl about a year ago, I decided to put my limited sewing skills to the test and make a cutesy covering for her carrier.  I searched Pinterest for covers that would be easy to make, but would have a little extra pretty flair.

I found this fabulous tutorial.  I added in the big green buttons and I made the Velcro straps slightly different than the original.  You can embellish it (with buttons, rick rack, ribbon, etc.) as much or as little as you like!

I’ve gotten so many compliments on it.  I love that I can put baby in her “cave” when she’s sleeping and it offers a shield from peekers and pokers while we’re out.  And she sleeps longer when she’s in it because it’s darker in there.

These make fantastic gifts, also!  Before I started sewing, I got so excited when someone gave me something like this that I couldn’t make for myself.

I made this before I started my blog, but check out Make-it-Do if you’d like step-by-step pictures of the process.

 

{MATERIALS}
 
1 1/3 yards cotton or flannel fabric for the top
1 1/3 yards cotton or flannel fabric for the backing
Sew-on Velcro (don’t get the sticky kind because it may gum up your machine)
Fabric Marking Pen or Pencil
  1. Cut top and backing fabrics 35″ wide and 42″ long.  Be sure to cut directional fabric in the right direction.  I pieced the top by cutting a strip of the backing fabric and sewing it onto the top piece.  If you do this, just make sure that your finished dimensions are 35″ wide and 42″ long.
  2. Create curved corners by placing a large bowl in the corner and tracing around it with your fabric marking pen or pencil.  Cut along traced line.  The rounded corners keep the cover off the floor, so they are functional and decorative.
  3. Cut straps 2 from backing and 2 from top (or four from your backing like I did), 4″ x 9 1/2″.   If you want to do any piecing, just make sure the finished dimensions are 4″ x 9 1/2″.
  4. For the main body of the cover, place right sides of front and backing together and stitch together using 1/4″ seam, leaving a small opening.  NOTE: All seams are 1/4″ unless otherwise noted.
  5. Clip curved corners and turn right side out.  You can use a chopstick or a butter knife all the way around the seam for a nice edge.  Iron flat.
  6. Using a scant 1/4″ seam, topstitch all the way around the outside edge to give it a nice, finished look, and to close the small opening.
  7. To make the straps, place the right sides of front and back together (or the right sides of the backing fabric together like I did).  Stitch around, leaving one end open.
  8. Clip corners and turn right side out.  Again, use a chopstick or butter knife for nice edge.  Iron flat.
  9. Close the opening.  Repeat steps 7-8 for the second strap.
  10. Fold straps to check placement of Velcro.  Pin and stitch Velcro into place.  Make sure the end where you stitched closed is on the inside and therefore will be hidden.
  11. Press the straps in half to act as a guide.  For placement of stitching on the straps, (to attach the straps to the body of the cover), measure 4 1/2″ in from both sides, and draw a line with fabric marking pen. **If your carrier is a different design like mine was, you may need to measure where to put the straps by hand to ensure they end up in the right place.
  12. For placement of straps, measure 19″ from the top and 11 1/2″ from each side.  There should be about 5 1/2 ” between each strap and about 21″ from the strap to the bottom.  If you’re a visual person, see this illustration for strap placement.
  13. Pin straps into place.  Stitch and then reinforce stitching.  The stitching will be 1″ apart, and I stitched in a box shape.
You’re done!
I re-covered the inside of my carseat also, but I’ll save that tutorial for another time.
What do you think?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. This turned out great! I made one similar for my little one this past year. I love it! Good job!

    I'd love for you to check out our Pattern Party! We invite those with free patterns or templates to share. We are also having a giveaway this week!
    http://getyourcraptogether.blogspot.com/search/label/Pattern%20Party

  3. Adorable!!! I just found your blog and I LOVE it! :)

    I just started my own little "Pinteresty" blog. I would love for you to follow me back so that we can continue to share ideas!
    http://naptimenothings.blogspot.com/

    Your newest follower,
    Sarah @
    Naptime Nothings

  4. I love the car seat cover! It looks so comfy and cozy. I am a major fan of minky. It reminds me of the minky crib sheet my sister made for my son and her little girl (http://shaffer-sisters.blogspot.com/2012/06/snug-as-bug-on-rug-minky-minkee-crib.html). You have a cute blog. We are your newest follower. Feel free to check out our blog. I'm pretty sure you will love it. We also love to sew for our kids, cook delicious food, and silhouette projects.
    Al @ shaffer-sisters.blogspot.com

  5. It is sew (hehe) cute! If I had a little baby again, I would love to make one of these.
    Thanks so much for linking up at the Real Family Fun link party! Hope to see you next week.
    KC

  11. This is so cute. The colours are so pretty! I would love for you to come and share this at our Monday link party!

    http://www.huckleberrylove.com/2013/04/much-ado-about-monday-no-4.html

    Hope to see you there,
    Jamie
    www.huckleberrylove.com

  13. This is adorable. I would have loved one of these with my babies. If you get a chance, please share this on my linky party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/04/sunday-linky-party-2.html

  14. I am totally pinning this! Great job and super cute! I will be making one for when my little one gets here! I can't wait to see how you re-covered the inside of your car seat too! Thanks for sharing over at Much Ado About Monday link party!

  15. I LOVED having one of these for our second child! Saving this for a gift idea; thanks! :) Thanks for sharing last week on Saturday Show & Tell on Cheerios and Lattes! You are a Featured Favorite this week! We loved having you join us last week and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week!
    Have a great weekend!
    Mackenzie :)

  16. How adorable! I never used one of these with our first child for some reason, but now that the 2nd is on the way, I think I'll be making one for sure... even if it's just for the adorable-factor. I also love how the car seat cover turned out! I was a co-host for Wow Me Wednesday, and I've featured your post! Stop by and check it out :) http://www.twotendesigns.com/2013/04/wow-me-wednesday-link-party-features.html

    Thanks for sharing!
    Kim @ Two Ten
    www.twotendesigns.com

  17. I made this too! I used the fabric that matched my son's nursery. I made curved corners. I just used a big pasta bowl to get the right amount of curve. It makes a great blanket to lay the baby on once you get to the destination as well. So happy when I realized that. Helps on the amount of Stuff that moms always need to have. the car seat cover looks great too.

  19. I love the look of your car seat that you covered (not the canopy, but the actual car seat)...and I'm looking into making one for my new baby due in October. I haven't been able to find the tutorial for the car seat cover. If it's not on here yet, could you possibly email me the link to the pattern where you may have found your inspiration? Thanks! lachilena.king@gmail.com
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