How To Make A Car Seat Tent

Car seat tents (or covers) weren’t very popular when I had my first little guy.

They are pretty much EVERYWHERE now!

With all the really cute designer fabrics, it’s just become a necessity.

The great thing is that they are really easy to make and so much fun to personalize and make all your own.

I used fabric from All Star 2 by My Mind’s Eye for Riley Blake.
It’s the perfect little boy fabric, if you ask me.

-SUPPLIES-

1 1/4 yard of fabric for top
1 1/4 yard of fabric for back
Velcro
Matching thread

These supplies are for just two fabrics.

If you want to piece it like I did, get 1/2 yard of the third fabric and get only 1 yard for the top.

You could probably get away with only getting 1 yard for the backing fabric, but the 1/4 yard extra is for just in case.

First Step:

Cut your top and backing to be 36″ wide x 42″ long.

Since I pieced mine, the top fabric I cut 36″ wide x 30.5″ long

For my piecing, I cut it to be 36″ wide x 6.25″ long. I did two of these for the front and back of the top.

Second Step:
(if you are piecing)

Sew the pieces to the main fabric, right sides together.

Press seams flat.

The top and back should now both measure the same at 36″ wide and 42″ long.
Make adjustments if it doesn’t match.

Third Step:

Put right sides together and pin in place.

Fourth Step:

Trace and cut curved edges.

To do this, get a large bowl, and I mean LARGE, and put it on the corner to trace the curved edge.

You can cut as you trace or you can cut all four edges at the same time. Just remember to remove pins and re-pin as you cut the edges.

Your fabric should look like this (except with right sides together). I did mine the hard way.

Fifth Step:

Sew fabrics together using a 1/4″ seam.

Make sure to leave a small opening so you can turn it right side out.

Once sewn, clip the corners.

Sixth Step:

Turn your car seat cover right side out. Use a tool to push all the fabric to the seam.

You can get a great turning tool for this at The Ribbon Retreat.

Then press the edges down.

Make sure to press the edges of the opening under.

Seventh Step:

Pin the opening closed.

Stitch the opening closed, and continue to Top Stitch around the whole car seat tent.

Eighth Step:

Cut out your pieces for the straps.
(You can also use ribbon for the straps instead.)

Cut 2 pieces from the top and from the back fabrics to be 4″ x 9 1/2″.
(You will have four pieces, all 4″ x 9 1/2″.)

If you want to piece it like mine, cut two pieces of the third fabric to be 2″ x 9 1/2″. Cut 2 of the top fabric to be 6″ x 9 1/2″.

Ninth Step:

Sew pieces right sides together with 1/4″ seam. Leave one end open so you can turn it right side out.

To do the third fabric, sew the edges together and press like in the picture below.

Tenth Step:

While the straps are still inside out, sew one side of the straps shut.
(If you are only doing two fabrics, skip this part since you already sewed one side shut.
Continue to the next part of this step.)

Then turn the straps right side out and press.

When you are pressing the edges, press the open ends inside the strap.

Eleventh Step:

Cut your Velcro to be the width of your strap.

Place your Velcro on the straps where you want them to be.
Make sure that they are on the correct sides to fasten together.

Sew on your Velcro.
When sewing, make sure to stitch over the opening so it is sewn shut at the same time the Velcro is sewn on.

Twelfth Step:

Now that your straps are finished, we need to attach them to the car seat tent.

To find out where to put the straps, you can put the car seat tent on your car seat and mark where you want the straps to be.

I followed some instructions that suggested placing the straps to be 19″ inches from the top and 11 1/2″ from each side. There should be about 5 1/2″ between each strap and about 21″ from the strap to the bottom. Of course, I changed things a little bit to get it just right for my car seat. I brought the straps a little bit closer.

Pin your straps in place and stitch a rectangle like the picture below.
It was about one inch wide and the length of the strap.

Another great alternative to making the straps out of fabric, is using ribbon!

When using ribbon, you can add the Velcro or you can just tie the ribbon over the handle.

All finished!

There are so many different things you can do to embellish a car seat tent.

Get creative using ribbon, Ric Rac (I love the look of the Ric Rac sewn into the edge), different fabrics, buttons, bows, etc.

Another great thing I’ve heard of doing is adding an applique on the underside of the car seat tent so the baby has something to look at! Great idea!

The possibilities are endless!

I love mine, and I hope that this new baby likes it too.

Idea inspiration from Make It Do.