How to Make Infant Car Seat Covers

An infant car seat cover is invaluable for keeping an infant warm in her car seat during winter months. A fleece car seat cover can take the place of bulky winter bundling for the baby. This keeps him safer in the car seat because the fit of the straps around the baby does not have to allow for bulky outdoor clothing or blankets. The car seat cover goes over the baby buckled into the car seat.
Here are instructions for making a fleece car seat cover.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 yard polar fleece 1 1/2 yards of 1-inch-wide elastic Sewing machine Sewing notions (scissors, thread, etc.) Tape measure Car seat

1. Measure the width and length of the car seat, extending the measurement over the edges of the seat by at least 2 1/2 inches. Add 2 more inches to this measurement for seam allowances and to ease the fit.

2. Cut the fleece into a large rectangle according to the measurements taken in Step 1. Slightly round the corners of the rectangle.

3. Cut a circle of fleece 8 inches in diameter. This will be the hole for the baby's face.

4. Pin the fleece circle with the top edge of the circle about 9 inches from the top of the cover. The circle should be centered width-wise on the cover.

5. Stitch around the edge of the circle using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Cut out the inside of the circle and the cover about 1/4 inch away from your stitching. The raw edges of the seam should be placed underneath the cover. With the raw edges tucked underneath, top stitch around the hole to finish this edge.

6. Sew a 1 1/2-inch wide casing around the edge of the cover for the elastic. Leave approximately 1 inch open for inserting the elastic.
   Pass the elastic through the casing. Then, adjust the length of the elastic to make a cover that will have enough stretch for fitting over the seat. Sew the ends of the elastic together, and finish the casing by stitching the opening closed.