Friday, July 15, 2011

Sewing: DIY Car Seat Cover Canopy Tutorial


Today's Sewing Tutorial is for this adorable
DIY Car Seat Canopy Cover


You may have noticed I am the ONLY girl in this household.
When a close friend of mine found out she was expecting a girl I jumped at the chance to make this adorable PINK Car Seat Cover for her!  :)



I found inspiration by these blogs:

Please visit these blogs as they have amazing tutorials also!

 First: Start with some adorable fabric.
I scored this fabric below from one of my favorite places:
Click HERE for this week's Hobby Lobby sales.

Step 2: Cut to Size: 35 x 42

I followed THREE main Car Seat Tutorials and took the best from all of them. 
The final size I ended up with was 35 wide by 42 inches long.

Step 3: Round Corners

I loved the car seat covers with rounded corners. The process for each was a little different. I decided to go with a wide sweeping corner.  I marked in 10 inches from the corner on the narrow side (front of the cover) and on the widest part of the cover 14 inches from the corner (the side of the cover).
Like this:

Then I drew a line between these marks (making a triangle) and free hand drew a curvy line within the triangle that looked nice.
If this step makes you uneasy you can just grab a bowl from the kitchen and use the rounded edge as your guide.

Step 4: Pin edges together and cut your First corner


Step 5: Trace & Cut all Corners

In this step I simply flipped over my fabric rectangle, matched up the edges and traced this corner curve onto the other corner.  I did this three times and got the same pretty curved edge in each corner. Easy!
*Tip:  Remember put your fabric right sides together at this phase prior to cutting so that your edges are all pinned and ready for sewing in the next phase :)

Step 6:  Sew 1/4 Around the edge
The important thing to remember for this step is that your fabrics must be facing wrong sides OUT.  We will be leaving a small 4 inch area not sewn closed so that we can turn the fabric right side out.

Step 7: Clip Corners
Clipping the corners will help make the fabric lay nicer once flipped the correct way.

Step 8: Time to FLIP!
Now it's time to flip inside out, or in this case, RIGHT side out.  
If you have trouble with the corners, grab a pencil or chopstick to really push the corners and edges out nicely.


* TIP: Remember to Press with an iron once you have your car seat cover right side out to get a nice crisp edge.

Step 9: Edging
Sew 1/4 inch around the entire length of the car seat cover.
This will make a super finished edge that looks very professional. It also seals up the small area that we left un-sewn.  I'm using white thread on top and brown in the bobbin below.
Here is a close up of the edge.... doesn't it look pretty?!

Step 10: Create Straps
There were so many different ways to make handles for the car seat cover that it was hard to choose. I didn't have enough fabric to get too creative so I sewed what I had leftover into small strips.  My plan was to create a brown contrasting stripe down the center.  

If you like my straps here is how to make them

I took 4 pieces of fabric that were 2 x 9.5 and sewed them together
Cut the edges with a rotary cutter to make sure they are all even.
Here is what they look like after sewing each strip together:
* Tip: Be sure to Iron before sewing together in step 11


Step 11: Make a tube!
Now you will need to sew the edges of your 4 strips together to make a tube of fabric.
Below you can see on the left what the finished tube will look like once you have turned it right side out. 
The one on the right shows what it looks like after sewing.

Step 12: Iron & Close Tube
The next step requires you to iron your tube flat.
Be sure to position your stripes of fabric just how you will want them in this phase.
I wanted a Brown stripe in the middle with Pink on each side. Before Ironing I made sure it looked good and ironed into place
Then, gently tuck under the top and bottom about 1/2 inch and sew closed.  
I sewed all along the edge of the entire strap to again make a finished edge.

Step 13: Get ready for Velcro

The step below shows my finished Velcro ready straps!
I put two rectangles of the soft "loop" side on the top of the strap and two rectangles of the "hook" on the bottom part of the strap.

*TIP- Be sure to position these correctly so that the strap will close. This means that your "hook" Velcro will actually be on the opposite side of the strap than the "loop".  
See below how it is turned to show both sides?
Step 14: Attach the Straps

This step had me totally nervous.
I'm not going to lie.

Here is a close up of the strap: 


It turned out Great!! 
First, I folded the fabric in half the wide way (or "Hamburger style" as Oopsie Daisy says in her tutorial)

I measured 9 1/2 inches from each side of the car seat cover.
Then, I sewed on each strap with a small rectangle.
I used a zig-zag stitch on mine.



Please leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!

And, if you like this tutorial, please follow my blog :)
Thank you
This project was featured on:
SewHappyGeek
Confessions of a Stay At Home Mommy

Linking up to these great sites: Serenity Now, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, While He Was Napping, Just a Girl, Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous, Home Sweet Farm, Tidy Mom, 504 Main, Truly Lovely, Paisley PassionsMaking the World Cuter, Six Sisters Stuff, I Heart Naptime, Making The World Cuter, Craft O Maniac, Embelishing Life, Skip to My Lou, Sew Chatty, Keeping it Simple, Sew Can Do, Ninth Street Notions, C.R.A.F.T., Polish The STars, Chocolate Drool and Kisses, Canoe Ridge Creations, 11th Heaven's Homemaking, Ladybug Blessings, Sugar Bee CraftsVintage Wanna BeRunning with Glitter, Skip the Housework, Today's Creative Craft,Tootsie Wootsie, Sew Woodsy, Tip Junkie, Sew Much Ado, Six Sisters Stuff, Tip Junkie, Girl Creative, Not JUST a Housewife, Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Fabric Bows and More,Good Bye City Hello Suburbs, Funky JunkMy Repurposed Life

32 comments:

Six Sisters

That is so cute! I'll have to make one of these for the next one. :) We would love for you to come share this at our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday" link party! http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/07/strut-your-stuff-saturday-week-2.html

Love,
The Sisters @ sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com

Emily Stephens

WOW! This is super cute! I'm bookmarking to make for a friend expecting her first in October. :)

Thanks so much for linking up with the Feed Me Friday hop. So glad that you did.

Best,
Emily from Nap Time Is My Time

About a Mom

Hi! Great project! New GFC follower from july blog hop! Hope you'll stop by http://aboutamom.com to say hi and return the follow!

Katrine

Hello!
Oh, how clever! Well done :)
Thanks for sharing!

I’m your newest follower -stopping by from the blog hop, would appreciate it if you’d follow me back

Katrine
http://thegentleflower.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGentleFlower

Jenny Sulpizio

How cute is this and how much do I adore Hobby Lobby? I swear, I enter that store and waves of happiness take over me. It's a crafter/home decorator's dream I tell you! :)

Thanks for following my blog, and I am sending the love right back from the hop.

Blessings,
Jenny Lee Sulpizio
http://www.jennysulpizio.com
Author of "Mommy Whispers"

Beautifully Forgiven, Kortney

Hi Amy! This is so cute!! I would love to sew a few of these up to give to family/friends!! You make it look so easy!! Thanks for sharing!

I'm stopping by to say hi from the Super Stalker Sunday Hop! Thanks for linking up with us to stalk around!

Have a great Sunday,
Kortney
Kortney's Krazy Life

Ann Jones

Great project, so cute! New follower from super stalker hop, have a great week!

http://wvfrugal-wvsaver.blogspot.com/

Megan

Adorable! Thanks for linking up to {Sew} Modern Monday and have a great week!

Anonymous

Your canopy is lovely, the rounded corners are great and being the mom of four girls, of course I love the pink! Great tutorial.

Karima

Great tutorial, I always wanted one of them, great fabric choice! Mow google following you, regards, Karima x
www.karimascrafts.com

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy

Thank you for linking up to the Tuesday Confessional link party! You've been featured, so stop by and grab a brag button! http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/sew-awesome-kiddie-creations-from.html
~Macy from Confessions of a Stay At Home Mommy

Katie

Great job! I'm your newest follower and I'd love if you would join us over at Sew Woodsy and link up this project!

Mariel@ www.sexymodeststyle.com

sooo cute! i love how easy you made this tutorial!

come link it to my woot woot wednesday linky party!

http://tootsiewootsieboutique.blogspot.com/2011/07/woot-woot-wednesdays-2.html

Camille

You are seriously such a cute Mormon Mom! And an inspiration to Mom's everywhere! I am LOVING your blog and I am happy to be your newest follower. Thank you so much for linking your cute car seat cover up to our Link Party! We would love to have you come back today and link up again to Strut Yourself Saturday!
-Camille @
SixSistersStuff.blogspot.com

Sewplicity

This is precious...I wish I had an infant to make one for (almost)! I'd love if you linked up on my Weekend Craft Hop - I have lots of sewing Moms who visit my site who would be inspired and excited by your tute! http://sewplicity.blogspot.com/2011/07/weekend-craft-hop.html
I'm your newest follower!

Brynn @ MommyDigger.com

Very cute! I'll have to make one of these for my next little one someday :) Thanks for sharing this great sewing tutorial!

I'm following you back from the hop :)

www.mommydigger.com

Katie

Love this! Thank you for linking up last week at Sew Woodsy! Please come back tomorrow and link up your most recent project!

LrSchwtz

Thanks for this great tutorial. Yours turned out beautiful. Please stop by www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party! I'm your newest follower!

Ginger@gingersnapcrafts.com

Thank you so much for all the make up goodies you sent from the giveaway! :) Would love to have you link this up to my {wow me} wednesday link party {if you haven't already!}. :) It's going on right now over on my blog.

Ginger
gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com

Michelle @ Delicate Construction

I love this! Wish I would have had this when my baby was smaller! Great tutorial!! I am visiting from Funky Polkadot Giraffe and I am a new follower!! Hope you have a great week and that I see you around soon!
Michelle
www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com

SewHappyGeek

Love it! I featured you today on SewHappyGeek (www.sewhappygeek.co.uk)

Anonymous

I featured your very cute seat cover @ WorkShop Wednesday! Thanks for partying with us!

Brittany

Used your tutorial and it was great! Thanks so much!!

Anonymous

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CSR Performance Products 6015 15' Zero Friction Push/Pull Cable

Kate Dunkin

Great read Amy! I was looking for a push pull cable when I came across your post , I'm happy I did because this was a very insightful and interesting read. Thank you for sharing this with us.

SM Blogger
This comment has been removed by the author.
Accidentally Wonderful

Ooh I'd better get on making one of these before March when my daughter is born =) I'd love it if you stopped by my blog and shared this on my linky party! http://accidentallywonderful.blogspot.com/2012/11/now-co-hosting-inspiration-spotlight.html

Accidentally Wonderful

Thanks for linking up to Inspiration Spotlight! I'm pinning this to my Inspiration Spotlight Favorites Board!
http://pinterest.com/bekapoe/inspiration-spotlight-favorites/

Theresa

Nicely done. Have to pin this to make for a shower gift. Visiting from DearCreatives.com

Ro Family

I made this cover for my car seat 7 months ago and got rave reviews. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and I loved the pictures. They really helped!

Unknown

Seat covers is a protector that provides beautiful looking from any seat. It is also protected form the suns uv rays, food and drink spills, sliding in and out of your vehicle, etc. Our company provides many kinds of beautiful seat covers. I am totally impressed with this article and the information you have posted on here is really helpful and informative. Thanks admin.
Seat Covers Unlimited

juwel50

I saw this on Pinterest and had to give it a try for my new great granddaughter. Your directions were very easy to follow and since it's been awhile since I've sewn anything I really needed easy! I used a small plate to make the corners....I was too nervous about just free handing it! I followed your directions on how to make the straps and they turned out beautiful. Had to improvise on the placement since her car seat handle is a bit different. I really just wanted to say thank you. And now that I've gotten back into sewing, let's see what else I can make!
Thank you once more and I will certainly be following your blog.