31 January, 2009

Waterproof Stroller Seat Cover Tutorial!

Here is the tutorial that I was promising! I would say this is an advanced beginner sewing project.
What you need:
--Sewing machine, scissors, thread, seam ripper, soft measuring tape, WATER ERASEable fabric marker/pen/pencil.
--1/2 yard of fabric for the top and 1/2 yard for the bottom if you want them different, if not, 1 yard should be fine for both sides if you want them the same. I used fleece so that the back would be slightly grippy.
--Shower curtain liner. I would get the intermediate one, not the cheapest but not the most expensive. You want it to hold up to machine washing.
--Stroller you will be making the seat cover for.

First, measure your stroller seat. Measure from the top of the seat to the bottom at the widest point and across the back from left to right at the widest point. Add 1 inch to these measurements and that is how big you will cut your fabric.
Measure from top to bottom of seat.
Measure from left to right of seat.

Then, lay out your fabric. If you are lucky enough to have a cutting table you won't have to use the guest bed like me!
First, measure and cut your fabric for the top. I cut the width first, then trimmed the length.
Measure fabric Measure length of fabric
Cut out designer fabric

Then, lay your front fabric on top of your back fabric right sides together and cut out your back fabric.
Put RIGHT sides together

Put the front and back layers on top of the shower curtain, PIN all 3 layers together and cut out the shower curtain.
Lay fleece, designer fabric on shower curtain, PIN, cut out.

Take the 3 pinned layers to the sewing machine and sew together. I like to use a 1/4 inch seam allowance, which is usually about the width of your machine foot. ***Don't forget to leave about a 3" gap at one end so you can turn it right side out!!***
Sew all 3 layers together using a 1/4 in seam allowance.

Once you have sewn the layers together, trim your seam allowances (if you are sloppy like me, lol) and trim your corners to aid in turning. When you trim your seams and corners, it decreases the bulk you have to fight with when you topstich.
Trim corners to ease turning

Turn, turn, turn! I reach in and grab the opposite corner from where the turning hole is and pull that through first, then the rest follows pretty easily.
Turn, turn, turn!Almost done

OK, now you are ready to topstitch. Go around and flatten out the edges and make all the seams point the same way, and pin the 3 layers together. Some people prefer not to pin while they topstitch and that is fine, but I find mine looks neater that way.
Ready to topstitch.Approximating edges for topstiching

Now, when you get to the hole where you turned it, tuck the edges in and pin. Tuck in far enough that when you topstich it will catch the edges.
Turning hole
Tuck in and pin

I have found I like a 3/8" topstich rather than a 1/4 inch, but make it as wide as you would like! Be careful and go slow when you get to the hole for turning.
Topstich with 3/8 inch seam
Sewing the hole closed
Stitching the turning hole

Now, back to the stroller. Measure where the straps are and how wide the webbing is.
You want to measure how far from the top and sides the straps slots are so you know where to mark on your fabric. Also, put the cover in the stroller, do a dry run and put a few marks for guidelines too if you want.
Measure where strap slots are
Mark strap slots and test fit
Marking strap slots

Mark your slots for your straps. For the Phil and Teds, I like to use 1.5 inches wide, 1/2 inch tall and 2 inches from the sides of the fabric. But, it will depend on your stroller and the width of the webbing. Make sure that if you made marks from when you laid the cover in the stroller, that the marks will be in the MIDDLE of the holes (boxes) you make.
Mark where you will sew for the strap slots.
All marked out:
Strap slots marked out.

Pin around your strap slots so that the layers don't shift on you when you are sewing the strap slots. Try to pin far enough away that you won't have to move the pins while you sew.
Pinned around strap slots
Detail of pinning:
Detail of pinning

Set your machine to do either a manual buttonhole or a VERY tight and short zigzag stitch.
My machine is set to zigzag and buttonhole width

Stitch on the boxes you made marking the strap slots.
Stitching around strap slots

You will need your sharp small scissors, your seam ripper and patience for this next step!
You will need a seam ripper and small sharp scissors
Use your seam ripper to cut a hole in the middle of your boxes where you stitched around. Then, use your scissors to CAREFULLY cut out the rest of the fabric, shower curtain liner and fleece/backing.
Insert seam ripper and cut slot for scissors
Slot for scissors
Slot for scissors after seam ripper
Cut out on 3 sides
Cut out on 3 sides
This is what it should look like when you get done
Cutting out the strap slots

All done! Put it on the stroller and check it out!
All done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All done!

On the stroller
Phil and Teds Sport Double with custom covers

Feel free to email me with questions or suggestions!

28 January, 2009

Snow Day Sewing

So, we got a FOOT of snow yesterday and the day before, and Jeremy stayed home from work. We all stayed in and did not leave the house, it was GREAT! to have a Saturday in the middle of the week.
I did some sewing. I made a blanket for the new baby with green minkee on one side and the other side was alien flannel. Very cute. Still trying to find some cute boy fabric, that is on my to do list for the next few weeks.

The next thing I did was make a seat cover/seat pad and handle cover for my (Adeline's) new Phil and Teds Stroller! The doubles kit is on it's way, and then it will work for both of them. I am SO excited about this stroller. And the best part is, I sold a bunch of stuff we did not need to pay for it!

So here is the cover. LOVE the way it turned out. It is waterproof as well, I added a layer of shower curtain in between the layers of fabric. The back is brown fleece, I did not take a pic of it.
Stay tuned, when I do the one for the doubles kit, I will do a tutorial. I thought about it halfway thru this time.

Phil and Teds with Cover!

Handlebar Cover

She likes it!

10 January, 2009

Birthday Party!

Well, we had Adeline's First Birthday Party.
It was CRAZY!! So many people and kids. It was a lot of fun though. We had it on a Saturday, and the theme was Music. Adeline is totally into music of any kind. She will stand and dance when there is any kind of music on the raido or the TV.
Here are some pictures of the party!

She loooved the balloons!
Adeline Bday Party 006

Jeremy, Adeline and Grandma Kim (and Ryan sneaking in the side of the picture!)
Adeline Bday Party 019

Adeline and all her grandparents!
Adeline Bday Party 025

Sorry no cake pictures. She was not too excited anyway. She did not eat any of it!

04 January, 2009

Sweater Pants

Here are some "longies" (aka: wool diaper cover, aka sweater pants aka recycled wool pants) that I made from a sweater I found at Goodwill. For Adeline's pair, I used this pattern and for Kenzie's pair I used this method.
Adeline's Pants
Adeline11mos3 053

Adeline11mos3 019

Kenzie's Pants
Adeline11mos3 051

Both Pants!
Adeline11mos3 029

And just because they are cute!!
Adeline11mos3 034

Adeline11mos3 016

01 January, 2009

Where's Adeline??

Peek a Boo!
Adeline will cover her face and wait until you say "Where's Adeline" and then she will throw her hands up and giggle! It is SO cute. Here are a couple of pics of her playing "where's Adeline!"

Adeline 11 mos2 009

Adeline 11 mos2 029

Oh, and I made thoes CUTE legwarmers using this tute. WAY cheaper and studier than babyLegs!