7/24/10

car seat canopy with peek-a-boo tutorial

Only one more month left before our sweet little baby will be here. I've been super busy trying to get all of the little projects done before life gets even crazier. I have been wanting to make a car seat canopy for a long time, I think it is because I am extra paranoid about taking a little baby out into the world after working at a hospital for many years. People think I'm crazy, but I'm okay with that. Anyway, I think the canopies, tents, whatever you would prefer to call them are an awesome idea to keep whatever it is you want away from your new little one: bugs, the sun, others. And I based mine on this tutorial, but I wanted to make it with a little peek-a-boo so that I could open or close the cover as much I wanted. I couldn't find a tutorial that gave measurements for that type of alteration, so I thought I would write a post just in case there are others out there who would like to make one too. Hope it helps:) 

As with all tutorials on my blog, this is for at home use only, so please play nice.

What you need:
1 1/4 yd.          lightweight fabric
1 1/4 yd.           coordinating lightweight fabric
a little extra fabric or ribbon for handle straps
60" of coordinating ribbon for peek-a-boo closures
velcro

*All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise specified.

These fabric requirements are based on my Chicco car seat, you may want to measure your car seat first to make sure that the cover will be all that you desire and more. My finished cover was about  43" L x33" W. The length running from the front to the rear of the carseat. Also in fair warning, I am over estimating the amount of ribbon for the peek-a-boo closures. Personally I only used about 30", but the ties are much shorter than I would have liked. I was in a very anti-go-to-the-store mood, so I just used what I had on hand. Probably will regret my laziness later, but oh well. With that said...

Cut out your pieces:
Cut out one 35 1/2"x 26 1/2" piece and two 17 1/2"x18" pieces from both yards of fabric. Also cut two 5x9" pieces for the handle straps (I cut four so it could be reversible). You know, so I could coordinate the cover with whatever I am wearing that day, since I am that put together. Right.

Sew on peek-a-boo flaps:
Lay one 35 1/2"x26 1/2" piece of fabric down in front of you right-side up, so the 35 1/2" length is going from left to right. Pin one 18"x17 1/2" piece of the same fabric starting at the bottom left corner of the larger fabric piece. See diagram for details. Sew starting at bottom left corner toward center stopping about 1/4" from center.

Attach second 18"x 17 1/2" piece to opposite end likewise. There should be about 1/4" overlap at the center. Begin sewing from bottom right corner toward the center, again stopping 1/4" from center. Press.

Sew coordinating fabric pieces together in the same fashion.

Attach ribbons for closure:
Really you can use whatever you would like for closures, I'm sure buttons or snaps would work great too. I just had the ribbon on-hand, and I think ribbon is especially cute for little girl things. Anyway, Place ribbon as shown below down the center of both fabric flaps as desired, be careful to align both sides the best you can. Pin in place.
Sew together front and back pieces:
Place coordinating fabric over your fabric with attached ribbons. Sew around all edges, leaving about 3-4" open for turning. 

Create rounded edges: 
If you would like the edges of your canopy rounded, take a bowl from your kitchen and place at each corner marking the rounded edge. Sew around each corner. You can do this before sewing the pieces front to back, but I think it is easier to keep everything in place if you do it after. Turn cover right-side out and press. Top-stitch around all sides. I actually sewed around it twice just for fun, once closely around the edge and again about 1/4" inch from the edge.

Make straps:
To make straps, place the 5"x9" squares of fabric right-side down if front of you. Bring each edge toward the center 1/2" and press into place. Finally, fold the piece in half width-wise and press. Top stitch around all sides. Test out where you want to place your velcro using your car seat handle. Sew on velcro where desired.










Attach straps to cover:
The final and perhaps most tricky step is to attach straps to the cover. I just measured my car seat and pinned them in place, then I tried it out to see if that was really where I wanted them. When I was happy, I sewed them in place going around it a few times to ensure they were very secure.



Embellish as desired: 
Of course, if you would like you can embellish your handiwork a little. I thought mine could use a little festiveness so I just added some fabric flowers.



I feel a little like I have mommy-brain right now, so if there is something I forgot to include or that doesn't make sense leave a comment and I will try my best to clarify. Thanks for stopping by:)
















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18 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tutorial! I so need to make some of these for my soon to be expecting mothers. Love your fabric selection! Fabulous!

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  2. This is great!!! I want to make one of these for a friend expecting but I never liked how you had to lift the whole thing up to see in, I will be trying this! Thank you for giving the tutorial =o)

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  3. great idea for a baby shower gift! I love that it opens in the front!! So cute!!

    ...visiting from Sassy Sites!

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  4. This is fantastic!!
    I love the fabric!!
    I am stalking Haley's stalkers...glad I found you!!!!
    =)

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  5. Super idea! A good friend just had a baby, and I'm trying to decide which wonderful project to make for her. :>) I linked to this on my weekly roundup - thanks for sharing!

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  6. I love this! I have been searching for a tutorial so I could make my little one a canopy cover like this. Would it be pretty easy to add elastic ad the bottom to secure it the car seat? I live in Utah and with all the snow that will be coming our way soon I think it would keep her more warm but I'm not sure how to add elastic and if I would need to add it just to the back or around the whole thing. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for this fantastic tutorial I'm going to get fabric to make one up tonight :)

    ~Nicole

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  7. I'm wanting to add it just to the back so it can secure without the wind making the canopy blow up.I'm not explaining it probably how I should here is a link as to what I'm talking about :)

    Thanks!!

    http://kalicocrafts.blogspot.com/

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  8. I know I'm coming to this late, but there's a great local company who sells patterns for elastic-tucked canopies. They're perfect for the weather here in Utah! http://thebutterflynet.etsy.com

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  9. Hi can u please post a pic of what the red reversible side looks like? I am so visual!! Thank u for the tutorial.

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  10. I was really waiting for the information about new 2013 vehicles, and thank you so much for sharing a nice wording with us, please keep it up.

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  12. I Just found this, and i am a bit confused with the wording. So does it end up being 3 separate pieces? the back and then one for each side for the slit? just trying to wrap my brain around it.
    I love that you did this tutorial btw, and your colors are cute!!
    thank you

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  13. I am very confused after seeing on my flaps, maybe some steps were missed? Please get back to me as I am in the middle of the project now. 😕

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  14. Can you please answer Jenny and Theresa?! This is so frustrating when you go awol and we can't figure out the directions.

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  15. I'm also a little confused,so the split is two seperate pieces? Thank you for your help, Michele

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  16. I'm also a little confused,so the split is two seperate pieces? Thank you for your help, Michele

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  17. Your instructions do not show how important directionality is when cutting and placing the material. And not answering questions is not good. I will not be back for any other tutorials when there are so many out there to choose from.

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