This is my daughter, Raya.
When you first have a baby, it’s hard to imagine how quickly they grow. It doesn’t matter that people tell you it goes fast – you have to see it with your own eyes before you finally understand. In just 7 months, my daughter has gone from a baby squish to a drooling, rolling, striving-to-be-independent young lady. She doesn’t want to be stuck in her infant carrier anymore, she wants sit up and be out so she can help me shop (good girl)! So last week, I put her in the cart – like a big girl – for the first time. She loved it!
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Basic sewing supplies (scissors, thread, sewing machine, etc.)
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Fabric – 2-1/4 yards total, or 3/4 each for inner body, outer body, and ruffled cover if you are using different fabrics for these, based on approximately 45 inch widths. My project is all made from the same fabric but feel free to experiment or improvise based on what you may have already!
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Padding – 25” x 37” piece of quilt batting or fleece
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1-3/4 yds. of 3/8 inch elastic – but if you have 1/4 or 1/2, those should work just fine too
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Optional – 1 1/2 yards of strap, plastic buckle, and adjuster thingy. This would be if you want to use your own strap around your baby vs. using the safety straps that are generally attached to the cart. *Note – this step is not pictured. I didn’t bother with this and have used the straps that you generally find already on carts with good success. (I’m only a medium germ-a-phobe, LOL!)
Don’t skip this step, even though it’s tempting to jump right in.
Your cover is bound to get dirty and spilled on, etc. – remember, the reason we need one is because we don’t like the idea of putting our babies into dirty carts in the first place! You don’t want to do all the work sewing this together just to have it shrink funny the first time you wash it. If it comes out of the dryer wrinkly, you will probably also want to iron it so you can cut nice clean lines.
For the ruffly cover part that will stretch over all the interesting surfaces you’re trying to keep your kiddo from touching, cut two widths of fabric at 13 1/2”. Because the ruffle part will be gathered and elasticized, you don’t have to be spot-on for these. I’m a firm believer in working with what you have. But the height I used for this is exactly half of a 3/4 yard, and just use whatever width your fabric is, which is anywhere from 42 – 45 inches usually. *Note – if you have more than 3/4 yard, by all means, add another inch or two to your ruffle. You won’t find slightly more to be cumbersome once it’s been elasticized.
That’s it for hour one! Take a break if you need to, otherwise we’re moving right along to construction.
Repeat on the other 3 corners. Once that’s done, you should have a 3-dimensional shopping-cart-looking piece. I know it doesn’t have legholes yet. We’ll get there.
Line it up, right side facing just like the other piece, but this time you will have the padding on the outside when you sew.
When you’re done, turn the piece right side out, so that the outer body part is showing and the padding is inside. Slip the inner cover into this piece, so you have your little bucket seat constructed.
Pin along the top edge to keep everything in place while we make some leg holes.
Stitch a square around your tape, or whatever method you have used to block off your squares, through all three layers. We will be cutting these out and binding the edges to make the legholes.
For those who like to use bias tape, this is an excellent time to do so. I didn’t have anything to match on-hand, and didn’t feel like making any, so I will show you my cheater way to bind the edges. It’s on the outside of the cover which will be inside the cart, so I don’t feel too terrible that it’s not as lovely as it should be.
Trim away your outer layer and the batting/fleece, and then. Trim down each triangle left from your inner layer so that it’s easier to work with – about an inch left from each side of the square should work well.
Now, stitch your makeshift binding in place right down the center of the fold you just made. Tadaa, legholes. Okay, leg hole in my case, but I swear, I fixed it later. :P
Never sewn a buttonhole before? That’s ok, this was actually my first time too! I used these instructions. Test one out first on a scrap of fabric to make sure you understand the technique. What’s good about this project is that the buttonholes will always be to the back, and not on the front of, say, a garment that everyone will see. A perfect-looking buttonhole is not critical!
Your seat is done, mama!
Then, with the wrong side up, fold one of the edges over to create a casing for your elastic. Stitch all the way around your 90-inch loop, leaving a 3-4 inch gap unstitched so that you have an opening to thread your elastic. Do not accidentally forget and stitch the whole casing shut. I know – who would do that? Ahem.
Now it’s time to pin the ruffle to the seat. Put the ruffle into the inside of the seat, so that the right side of the ruffle faces the inside of the seat, and the casing is at the bottom of the seat. Space and pin it equally. Use a whole lot of pins. Which is a pain, but the more you pin, the cleaner look you’ll end up with, so don’t rush this part.
And so on, until you have about eleven million of them. :)
OK, all pinned? Then we are nearly done! Stitch along the top edge. I’d recommend double-stitching or using a zigzag stitch to make it nice and secure. For you lucky mamas who own sergers {envy} now is a great use for those. Remove all eleven million pins, the turn the ruffle to the outside. You should have a nearly complete-looking cover!
Once it’s threaded, stitch both ends together securely with a zigzag stitch. I stitched about 2 inches together, making a great big elastic loop.
Close up the hole you made in the casing, and you are DONE, mama!
Now go take your baby out shopping or out to eat (you know, or both) so you can admire your handiwork!
Diane says
Hello! I’m way late to this party (it’s 2024), and I’d like to make this cover. There is a reference to pictures, but I don’t see any? Have you moved this to some other platform?
Thanks in advance
Aly says
I’d like to know this too!
Furniture says
I have always wanted one of these and your tutorial makes it look do-able! Looks like your little blog has grown a lot since last time I visited, how exciting!
Andrea says
This was a wonderful pattern. I made 2 for my granddaughter. Thanks so much!
Sharon says
Hi Andrea, have you got any pictures of the seeing stages and the finished product?
Carole says
I don’t see any photos either.
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Maureen says
I am an experienced seamstress. I have been sewing since I was about 12-13 and I am almost 56. Never have I ever had a pattern as difficult as the one I purchased to make this product. So thankful I found your pattern, as I was significantly easier. The one thing I did a little different was the ruffle. I pre-gathered the ruffle using a zig zag stitch over waxed dental floss (you don’t have to do as much pinning). It makes gathering so much easier and once sewn in place, I remove the floss (waxed makes it slippery and easy to remove). It turned out awesome!
I wish I could post the picture so you could see it.
Thank you so much for sharing your patter.
LeAnne says
This is very clever and much less expensive than buying one! You could run a gathering stitch on the ruffle before pinning it, but I would do the same thing about measuring halfway and pinning, so it would just be an extra step!
vanina says
What a great idea! Your baby is adorable, I too have a 7 months old! :)
Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy says
Thanks for linking up to last week's Tuesday Confessional! You've been featured so stop by and grab a brag button!
http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/08/favorites-from-last-weeks-tuesday.html
~Macy
Abby says
Great tutorial! On my to do list now for sure! Thanks!
P? says
This is an excellent idea and I like your choice of fabric…and that you shared the step-by-step. I think someone should design something for grownups to wrap the shopping cart push handle in, so they don't pick up cold and flu germs during the season. Are you game???
SJ says
I'm so honored that you chose to join the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop. Thank you for adding this special masterpiece to rock my party :)
The Tootsie Wootsie says
i should make one of these! In 2 months my baby will be able to sit in the cart! better get sewing!
Come link this up at my woot woot wednesdays!
http://www.tootsiewootsieboutique.blogspot.com
Prudently Painted Vintage says
Ok I have to say I love your disclaimer! People are funny thinking they are the only ones that could possibly come up with an idea. Haha!
Great tutorial! I am pinning it for future use!
By the way your daughter is beautiful :)
Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy says
This looks great and I love your fabric choice! I would be thrilled if you linked this up to my Tuesday Confessional link party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/tuesday-confessional-link-up-party.html
See you soon!
~Macy
LrSchwtz says
What a fabulous tutorial! Thanks for sharing. Please stop by http://www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party! I'm your newest follower!
The Autocrat: Haley says
Too stinkin' cute!!
Lindsey says
What a great idea! Thanks for such a detailed tutorial!
Ladybird Ln says
How fun is this! I have always wanted one of these and your tutorial makes it look do-able! Looks like your little blog has grown a lot since last time I visited, how exciting!
Carlee
http://www.ladybirdln.com
? ??????? says
That is a wonderful idea for the little ones. I hate shopping cart germs. In fact as an adult I got chicken pox several years ago, and the doctor said I probably contracted them from a shopping cart. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party. Please add my link or button.
artsy_mommma says
Great tutorial! I love the material you chose. Thanks for stopping by my blog :)
Amanda
http://funhandprintart.blogspot.com
Jenn says
Very impressive!! I Love that you saw something you wanted and just went home and made one yourself!! I love this idea, then you don't have to worry about them sucking on the handle – oh yuck. Plus, she looks comfortable!
NicoleD says
This isnon my list to do! Thanks for sharing your tutorial? Your cover turned out great and your daughter is adorable!
Nicole says
Great idea and your little girl is just precious! :) Thanks for linking to Thrifty Thursday!
Just Jaime says
Cute! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa says
Cute idea! I may have to try this in a few months!
laxsupermom says
Terrific tutorial! Love the fabric you used – so pretty! And your model is an absolute doll! Thanks for sharing.
I'm hosting my monthly Before Blogging Throwback Thursdays party, and would love for you to link up anything you made/did/bought Before Blogging, which for you would be just about anything. Can't wait to see what you bring to the party.
Anonymous says
Sooo cute!! You are so talented! And Raya looks like she loves it :)
Dani!
Crystal says
Excellent tutorial and such a great mommy solution!
I would love for you to share a link to this on my meme!
http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/07/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions/
Trish - Sweetology101 says
my child is 7 and I don't sew…however, that baby is cute so I had to click here from a link up and just tell ya that!
mandy says
Grocery carts are digusting! Great tutorial (not to mention a lovely model!) I want to make your bouquet pillow for my soon to be sister in law. What a great idea! Thanks for visiting today!