How to Sew Shopping Cart Covers for Children

A cart cover provides a comfortable, cool and dry barrier for children while they sit in a cart. Toys and books can be secured onto covers using additional pieces of webbing or fabric, to offer children some entertainment while parents are shopping. For best results, consider using cotton weaves or cotton blend fabric for cart covers.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern
• Thin interfacing
• 4 yards fabric
• Disappearing ink pen
• Scissors
• Thread
• Pins
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• 1-inch plastic safety buckle
• 1/2-inch elastic
• 1-inch nylon webbing
• Batting

Instructions

1. Select a pattern by looking through pattern books at a fabric or craft store. McCall's has an excellent pattern that provides the option of a single or double cart cover (see Resources). Purchase all necessary supplies including fabrics and notions. Supplies and fabric amounts are listed on the back of every pattern.

2. Prewash all fabrics in the same water temperature and with the same drying time that you will use on the completed cover. This ensures that the fabric is preshrunk and the finished result will fit most carts properly. Take the fabric out of the dryer immediately to prevent wrinkling. If the fabric is still too wrinkled to work with, press it with a warm iron.

3. Unfold the pattern and identify the necessary pieces. Place the pattern on a hard surface and pin the interfacing on top. Trace the pieces onto the interfacing using a pen. Do not use a pen that could leak through the interfacing onto the pattern. Note the specific details of the pattern onto the interfacing, including the view, piece and how many to cut. Unpin the interfacing and pattern and cut out the pieces. Fold up the pattern and place it back into the envelope for later use.

4. Place the fabric on the surface and pin the interfacing pieces over it. Verify that the interfacing pieces are going in the right direction---for example, if the pattern noted a certain direction for the fabric grain or fabric print design. Cut the fabric out using the interfacing cutouts as a guide. If the pattern included any marks, such as notches or fold lines, use a disappearing ink pen to mark these directly onto the fabric.

5. Read the pattern's instructions completely through to ensure all necessary pieces and supplies are ready for use. If you're unsure of certain stitches or instructions, re-read and verify definitions before beginning work.

6. Set up the sewing machine and verify that the machine's bottom bobbin contains the correct color of thread. Also, check that the bobbin is completely filled. This will ensure longer use and fewer interruptions for bobbin switching.

7. Follow the pattern's directions carefully. Cut away all hanging threads and inspect the finished product for any missing seams, stitches or parts. Wash the cover to erase the disappearing ink marks.

Resources

• McCall's: Cart Cover Pattern