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!



27 comments:

Kari Sweeten said...

Thank you so much for sharing this!! LOVE IT! I will be featuring tomorrow!

Virginia said...

This is adorable! I'm expecting baby #4 in the fall and have never had anything like this- I've always just thrown a blanket over the carseat. I'm so making this! Thanks for the great tutorial!

Anonymous said...

These are so adorable! Thanks for doing a tutorial!

angie said...

great tutorial! ehat a great idea this is, love it!

Cassie said...

Thanks for the great tutorial! I am going to make one!

angela said...

Great tutorial! Easy to understand with great pictures! Thanks a ton!

Angie said...

Oh! Thank you so much! I've been looking everywhere for this!

Anonymous said...

My friend has made a couple of these from your instructions. She sent me here so I can make one too. Thanks for the great post.

Becca said...

Thank you, thank you!!! I am SO excited to try this out. :)

Nikki said...

I was one of the many searching the internet for a tutorial on these canopy's. Thank you so much for a great tutorial and such detailed directions!

Anonymous said...

I found these instructions by googling too! THANKS SOOOOOO much. I am for sure making this. You are awesome! Thanks for sharing your talents with the rest of us. Keep up the great work!

Ivan, Jenna, and Allison said...

Thank you so much for putting this tutorial together. I found you through Google and followed all of your instructions and the canopy came out perfectly - your directions were spot on - all inclusive and direct. I have already passed this blog along to a quilting friend. Keep doing what you are doing and I am bookmarking this to make again for a friend.

Jennifer said...

This is so cute! I found one on sale that I absolutely fell in love with, and didn't want to spend $35. So, I found your tutorial and can't wait to make it. Thank you.

Michelle said...

Thank you for posting this tutorial. I am going to make this for a friend! You are great!

Star @ A Load Of Craft said...

I linked this post on my craft blog here: http://aloadofcraft.blogspot.com/2010/02/carseat-canopy.html

Thanks for the great tutorial!

Lynette @ My Craft Discovery said...

These are PERFECT instructions so I can quickly make one for a friend who's having a baby soon. Thanks! I'll add a second set of straps on the other side to make it reversible, and to allow toys to be hung on the side baby's on. Thanks!

Janae -- Thoughts in Vinyl said...

We are expecting our 5th baby and I have been looking for a tutorial to make one of these. Thanks so much! I just might have to make them to give to all my friends when they have a new baby too.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much!! I just finished mine...the instructions were so easy to follow and it just looks amazing!!!

Anonymous said...

I have made several of these! Sew(so) easy and fun. I made mine reversible by sewing an additional set of handles on the other side. It can be kind of tricky, but I just always lay out one set of handles as instructed in the tutorial and then turn the cover over and match the other set up on the other side and pin in several places. This will keep you from having two seams and prevent sewing bloopers. By making it reversible you can then hang toys from the underside, etc.. My daughter-in-law loves hers.

Photofashionista said...

Thanks so much for this tutorial! I love your simple trick for rounding the corners, I would have never thought of that. I made two of these, one for a friend, and one for myself. I also made mine reversable. I added a snap on each set of straps for a fabric flower to attach. So cute! Thanks!!

Lindsey said...

Thank you so much for posting this on your site! I haven't been able to find the pattern anywhere and I'm really excited to make it for my baby and all my expecting family members.

Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

thank you! thank you! thank you! i've been looking for this everything! your details were perfect!

Misty said...

LOVE this! I'm actually working on a car seat cover for our son right now! I'm also having a little game/giveaway:

Want to win a free pair of earrings from Foggy Morning Jewelry Designs?! Join the game: http://www.expectnet.com/games/GuessCharliesStats
The winner will be the person closest to guessing our son's birth stats!

danielle :) said...

YAY! YAY! YAY!
Just bought fabric for this and can't wait to finish it! Who knows when the baby will be here *we're adopting*, but when he comes we'll be ready! ThAnKs So MuCh!!

~Mikal said...

Thanks so much for posting this! Love your blog. So happy that I found it. Please, follow me back. www.shearluckenterprises.blogspot.com
Thanks again. Can't wait to try this out.
~Mikal

michelle said...

LOVE THIS!!! I've been google-ing for hours looking for just this tutorial. My new baby niece and I thank you!
xo
Michelle

Unknown said...

I have been using this tutorial for years and make a canopy for everyone I know!!! Everyone loves it too! I started using snaps instead of Velcro and it holds up much better! Thank you for sharing this many many years ago :)