Car Seat Canopy Tutorial

You asked for it so here it is! (Okay, so no one technically asked for it, but I do get people who find my site by searching for a Car Seat Canopy Pattern all the time, so I thought I would share with all of you crafty people out there.)

This Tutorial is for a basic flip up Car Seat Canopy.
This is also the first tutorial I have ever written. Tell me what you think!

Materials needed:
1 yard and 4 inches of Fabric A (top layer)
1 yard of Fabric B (bottom layer)
Matching thread
Sew-on Velcro (I prefer 2 inch wide)
A rotary cutter is very helpful, but you can just use scissors

I always pre-wash my fabric and then iron it before I start a project. This ensures no weird bunching or shrinkage.

Trim rough edges of fabric.

Then cut both fabrics A and B to the same size. Some fabric are a little wider than others. Because of shrinkage you will most likely end up with both layers about 35" by 42" but any size with in a couple inches of that will be just fine.

You should have about 4 inches of fabric A left. Set it aside for the straps.

Lay both fabrics right sides together, making sure that they are nice and smooth. Cut all corners to make them rounded. I use a large dinner plate as a guide.

Sew around both fabrics leaving about 8 inches so you can turn it right side out.

Before you turn it snip the corners so there is no bunching.

Press the turned cover making sure the top layer is slightly over the bottom layer, so it doesn't show from the front.


Top stitch all the way around, this also sews shut the portion left open for turning.

Now on to the straps!

Cut two pieces 4" by 17"

Fold them in half, right sides together.
Sew around all three edges, leaving a couple inches for turning.

Turn, press and top stitch all the way around.
Sew on velcro. I use 1 1/2" by 2".
Make sure the hook side of the velcro is sewed on one end and the fuzzy side sewn on the opposite flipped side so it with attach around the car seat handle.

Now to sew them on the main canopy!

Find the exact center of the fabric canopy by folding it in half one way
and then in half the other way.

Most car seat handles are about 5" wide, so I sew each strap on about 2 1/2 to 3 inches from center (leaving about 5 to 6 inches between them).
Pin center of strap to center of canopy.
If the pin is centered you can sew with the pin still in.

Sew them onto the canopy. I make a 1" by "width of strap" box around the centered pin.

You are now done!!!
Unless you want to put bows, buttons or flowers on the straps! Have fun!