If you have an old car seat you can't stand the looks of, sort of like this one:
... and you dearly want a different cover but oh, if you buy them, they are so expensive! Especially the original covers from the maker (if your model isn't so outdated that they stopped making covers years ago), and the ones you can find on Ebay are mostly, well, not exactly your style? The only answer is to make one yourself.
So I googled for patterns for my car seat and I meant "sewing patterns" but somehow Google thought I want different "fabric patterns". I narrowed my search and still didn't come up with anything. I'm sure you can buy sewing patterns for just about every car seat out there but, well, mine is old and I didn't feel like buying anything, either. The few tutorials I found didn't help me, either. Mostly, the suggestion was to take an old cover, rip the seams, and use the resulting pieces to create your new pattern.
But the padding? And the elastic hem? And old those holes for buckles and snaps and whatnot? It just seemed overly complicated.
So this is what I did.
I took the old car seat cover and pinned fabrics of my choice to it, sticking to the seams of the original cover.
I started out by doing this on the ironing board but I quickly learned it's much easier to keep the cover on the seat. This way, you can smooth the fabric around the curves nicely.
You can also play around with the fabrics and see which combos you like. I ended up using part of the Wheels! fabric line by Riley Blake. (Only a day later it occurred to me that I really did want to use this for a quilt for Jacob. D'uh!)
Anyway, pin away, using lots of pins. You want to be sure that all spaces are covered (see that tiny little bit of white-dots-on-blue peeking out on the bottom? Yeah, I didn't either, until way later...)
Once you got everything pinned in place, add some additional pins right where the crucial holes are - you can feel them through the fabric, or eyeball it. It's not important that these pins are precisely placed, just that the fabric in this area is stuck to the cover so that it doesn't shift around when you pull the cover off the seat.
Which you will do now. Flip it around and use a fabric marker to mark each and every single slit and hole -- just trace the holes onto the new fabric.
I'm a multi-tracer, as you can see.
In the next step, I ironed the cover to press down the seams so that I have it easier reassembling the whole thing - because now, you need to take it apart again. That step is optional
Next, I put some interface on the fabric to strengthen it - car seats take a lot of abuse. I used a Vlieseline H200 - not too strong, not too limp. Around the slits and holes, I tripled up.
Sew the hole outlines with a button-hole stitch. I have to tell you that I suck at button-holes. The very last belt slit I made was the best one and that is the bottom one which will be covered up because Leah's already on the second hole. Oh, well. I could have sworn I made a photo of this but it seems I didn't. (I'm adding a close-up of the finished product instead.)
Rip the holes open and tidily snip away all stray pieces. It shouldn't be too bad because of the interfacing.
With a needle and thread, align the new and old holes and sew them together with an invisible stitch. This makes sure that your fabric won't shift around when you pin it up again and also that the old fabric won't show through those holes. You do not want to ever think about this old fabric again, right? So tuck it out of view.
The next step is easy: Reassemble your pieces onto the old cover (best done, again, with the cover on the seat). By the way, I let the extra fabric hang over on the hem and didn't cut that until the very end.
I also pinned the curvy (dotted, in my case) parts in first, with the fabric extending an inch or so into the other panels, and then pinned the center. Then I pinned the outer piece under the curvy one. You can change that according to taste, I'm sure. Use lots of pins - the more, the less everything shifts around when you sew it all up.
Now comes the fun part: sew along the seams with your machine, right through the old cover. Don't sweat it if you don't hit the exact seam ditches. Nobody can tell later. It's like quilting because you sandwich everything together. I also added some horizontal quilting seams through the center part to prevent shifting and tearing when a child sits in the seat.
Again, put the cover on the seat and now tuck the excess on the sides under the hem and pin. Sew one long seam with a seam allowance you are comfortable with - I used a quarter inch -- all around the car seat. Do make sure that all those little elastic fastening loops will still stick out at the end (I didn't and it didn't matter much because my cover stays in place with the elastic hem that hold the fabric under the rim of the seat.) Trim the excess with pinking shears. (If you are anal, cut after pinned and hold the hem under. That's the neater version.)
Use the seat belt covers as a model and make two tubes from a coordinating fabric. Dress up your car seat. Done!
Your new car seat will definitely fit (because it's the old cover, eh?), it's nicely padded, and you can be very pleased. Well, I was, anyway.
I would not say it's perfect but I'm loving it. It's so much better than the old cover!
And please excuse the dearth of photos from the last couple of steps - I did this early this morning after a night of vomiting kid and another case of early-up-kid. That's why this is only a tutorial of sorts. My brain is tired.
Looks really beautiful!
Fantastic work, Claudia!
But it seems too difficult for me... I was even unable to read the full instructions. I will keep my awful one (-:
Posted by: maria | June 12, 2010 at 03:10 PM
Awesome!
Posted by: Christine | June 12, 2010 at 05:49 PM
My contribution:
C: "Which do you think, this or the brown?"
D: "Brown hides stains. There will be stains."
C: "Yes, but patterns hide stains too."
D: "Okay."
I don't know what she'd do without me.
Doug M.
Posted by: Doug M. | June 13, 2010 at 01:25 PM
Beautiful! You are better than Martha Stewart! And where do you get the energy to do all this? I admire you.
Posted by: Monique | June 14, 2010 at 12:18 AM
Oooh, pretty! Remind me to give you the bright pink booster seat covered with yellow crowns, when TPT outgrows it. Because I am helpful that way.
Posted by: neurondoc | June 14, 2010 at 10:57 PM
How cool. I wish I would have seen this tutorial before I recovered my seat. I actually took my entire seat apart, piece by piece...sewed a new piece of material over each piece and then sewed it all back together. A lot of work! I guess it was okay, just another way of doing it. I wonder which way I would like best...though I hope that I never have to re-cover another seat again to find out!!!!
you can check out my seat here:
http://floralshowers.com/sewing/a-nice-new-old-seat/
you did a wonderful job! =)
Posted by: Anne @ floralshowers craft blog | June 15, 2010 at 12:39 AM
While its cute, unfortunatly it is not safe at all to use a handmade cover. You dont want to make your child into a crash test dummy do you?
Also, if your seat is that old that you cannot find a manufacturer made cover for it, then its most likely expired. Carseats expire after 5-6 years depending on the model.
Looks like its time to buy a new carseat! You can use your fancy one as a fun chair in the playroom or something though!
Posted by: Leigh-Ann, Certified carseat tech | July 31, 2010 at 06:07 AM
You are AWESOME! Love, love, love! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Sharon | October 17, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Thank you for posting I have been looking everywhere!!
Posted by: Kelly | October 20, 2010 at 09:39 PM
Wow!! That came out great!! We just got a new car and my son got a new seat because has outgrown his old one and my poor daughter's is looking shabby. Might have to try this!! Thank you!
Posted by: Monica | October 14, 2011 at 06:10 AM
This is a wonderful idea but to a first time sewer like me it is kinda scary you should consider selling and making these on etsy it is truly unique and would be one of a kind so so cute!!
Posted by: Acacia Tanner | October 14, 2011 at 07:37 PM
Found your tutorial through Pinterest. I am 36 wks prego and about to have my first boy after having 4 girls! Our car seat is pink. YIKES! So we are in frantic mode. I have been thinking either I buy a new car seat more gender neutral or buy a cover that still is pricey. I have looked at tutorials like you mentioned int he beginning and never felt confident enough to seam rip the cover up. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to make this tutorial. I think I actually could do this on my own. I guess I better get on it since he might show up this week. Thank you so much!
Posted by: Jenn-lee at Moments | October 15, 2011 at 04:42 AM
Have all 4 girl been in one car seat and it's not expired?
About the post... where is the chest clip for this seat? -_-
Posted by: Jess | October 15, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Mamas--this is dangerous to do. It is not fire retardant like standard carseat covers are required to be, and any aftermarket things will void the warrenty on your seat, plus they are not safe. While it is adorable to do to your stroller, you should not do this to your carseat.
Posted by: Kristen | October 15, 2011 at 11:02 PM
To Jess,No,The car seat is only 22 mos old. Was only used for 14 mos of that.I have read up on every safety concern/ and insurance/warranty liability there is on this.I have read many tutorials with lots of nasty but informative and interesting comments on safety concerns as well.I will use a flame retardant spray for cottons to make sure it is flame resistant also.
Posted by: Jenn-lee at Moments | October 16, 2011 at 05:15 AM
That is so stinkin cute! Thanks for sharing. I feel so inspired :)
Posted by: Steph | October 17, 2011 at 12:05 AM
After market products are dangerous and not covered under any car seat warranty. Also most states have a proper use class and by using a after market product you are breaking the law. A cute car seat is not worth your childs' life!
Posted by: Crystal | October 17, 2011 at 12:58 AM
Personally, I suspect all the vodka my kid spilled on the old seat cover will end up being more flammable than the new cotton cover, or, say, the non-flame-resistant clothing she'll have on her body. But these comments have opened my eyes! Only kevlar onesies and a closed sippy cup of vodka for us from now on!
Posted by: Carrie | October 17, 2011 at 03:45 PM
Big deal, if you don't like it, don't make one! I for one think this is a fantastic idea, you did an awesome job! Thank you for giving those of us that don't knit-pick people's posts options!
Posted by: Andrea | October 17, 2011 at 11:04 PM
I'm appalled any women would willing put there child in danger for the sake of "cuteness".
Posted by: Crystal | October 18, 2011 at 01:55 AM
Thanks for all the nice comments! It's a fun project and I'm a bit overwhelmed that a simple pin on Pinterest will create such an interest! The power of social media.
For those concerned about safety: Check your assumptions at the door. Also, turn your brains on.
First, just because fire-retardant fabrics on child seats are an industry standard doesn't mean this standard makes sense. If your car is on fire, your car seat is the least worry. Kid's pajamas have to be treated with flame retardants which means you cannot sew pajamas for your kids without endangering them? No. Also, flame retardants are really bad for you and you are willing to expose your child to them? See, you can turn this any way you want.
Second, the car seat was actually checked by an inspector and found safe and sound. Surprise!
As some said, if you don't like it, don't do it. If you jump all over someone without knowing the facts, you come out looking not so good.
Posted by: claudia | October 18, 2011 at 08:06 AM
Someone asked about the chest clip - in Europe, chest clips are not mandatory and actually considered unsafe. Other countries, other customs...
Posted by: claudia | October 18, 2011 at 08:07 AM
If your model is so outdated that they stopped making cover years ago, you probably need to throw out the car seat cause there's a good chance this its expired.
I'm NOT saying this seat is expired, just want to make it clear that you can't just cover any old car seat and "make it new"
Personally I would not do this to any car seat, or anything that voids the warranty really, my child's safety is just too important!
Posted by: Ariana | October 19, 2011 at 02:17 AM
The whizzing-crack noise you just heard was a clue being ignored by someone reaching a conclusion at supersonic speeds.
Posted by: NYCMT | October 19, 2011 at 08:07 PM
I love it! SUPER CUTE!
I need to recover my daughter's seat as she's stained hers to death and I can't get it out for love or Oxyclean.
Also, I fear for the kids whose parents are so helicopter-y they worry about car seat covers not being flame retardant. You KNOW those are going to be the kids still living in mama's basement in 30 years...
My two year old herds the cows out to pasture. Wonder what they'd say about that?
And why do car seats even have expiration dates? Do you think they turn into pumpkins at midnight on the day they expire? Yeah. Me neither. We just use them so as not to pay the $10 fine if the kid isn't buckled properly when the Trooper pulls you over for hauling the trailer of cattle too fast. :D
Common Sense. A lost art.
(disclaimer, i really don't have expired car seats because my kids aren't old enough for the seats to be expired. and CPS doesn't care that my kids herd cows, but PETA has a problem with our workng dog...)
Posted by: IdahoBecky | October 20, 2011 at 05:30 AM