Make a Quilted Car Seat Cover (car Seat Tent)

I saw a blog on a car seat cover, and decided that it would be even cuter as a quilt!! So, here's how I made mine.
What you will need:
A quilt that measures 22 x 44 (I'll talk about this size in just a bit)
4 coordnating fabric (Scraps!!) 2 1/2 inches by 10 inches
2 2 1./2 x 10 inch interfacing
4 snaps (or 2 big buttons)

I'll work through the options, so read it all before you go shopping! :) 

Step 1: Your Quilt

Make your quilt!   This isn't an instructable on how to do that, you'll need to look at a different instructable for that, but here are some tips to tell you what size of quilt you want to use.

I have made 4 of these covers for friends, and they have each been a little bit different.  The size that I like the best is 22x44. This size works good because it completly covers the car seat but doesn't drag on the floor.  If you choose to make it bigger, I wouldn't go beyond 26x 50. But use a size that works well with the pattern you choose.

This quilt is a nine patch each nine patch measures 5 1/2 inches. There are 4 nine patches across and 8 nine patches long. (22x44)
This is my most recent quilt, and you will notice that I angled the corners.  After I had it quilted, I cut diaganaly through each of the corner nine patches.  Not only does it look super cute it also makes it so that the quilt is less likely to get caught under the car seat.

(The Mickey Mouse quilt  was a four patch with solids and they measure 4 1/4.  There are 6 across and 11 long. with a 1 1/2 inch border and a 2 1/2 inch border (24 x 44) )


I don't use batting in these quilts. This is because the batting makes the quilt heavier and I want the quilts to be breathable.

Piece your quilt and then quilt and bind it. The steps following are how to turn it into a cover!!

Step 2: Making Your Straps

Place your scraps right sides together with interfacing on top.
stitch all the way around leaving just enough room to turn it right side out.
Iron it (I always forget this step grr, but it looks so much nicer when you do)
Stich your opening closed.

Step 3: Snaps or Buttons

Decision time. . .
Big buttons or snaps
I have done both, to give as gifts and they are both cute!! my own cover just has ribbons (yeah, I cheated, but in my defense, it was the first one I made, and I didn't know how to do the others yet :) )

Big buttons are added just like a button to anything else, measure your button, and use your machine to make your button hole. This is why the interfacing is important. Fabric needs the extra support when you use it. wait till you get your straps on the quilt to sew on you bottons.

Snaps
Snaps scared me until I saw a friend use them. I bought mine at WalMart, but I'm sure that most fabric stores and hobby stores have them. The instructions are on the box. One thing I would like to note is, take the papers off your spool of thread before you line it up on the snaps. This will make it easier to see if you are lined up propperly!!
2 snaps on each strap about an inch apart.
make sure you have them lined up for the opposite side, and place them on now, before you attatch it to your quilt!

Step 4: Placing Your Straps

Mark the center of you quilt.
Measure 1 inch down on a 44 inch long quilt or 3 inches on a 50 inch quilt ( the foot part of your quilt, you won't want it to be so long that it gets caught under the base of the car seat).

Now you are still in the middle of your quilt, and your ties need to move out, measure 3 inches from the center and center your strap there, holding it down with pins that hold down a 2 inch area. Repeat, from the center line on the other side. (pay attention to how your snaps or button holes are. You should put hang your quilt on the car seat if you have it, or a hanger if you are making it as a gift just to make sure it looks the way you want)

Sew the straps down. I make a box, and then fill in a few rows inside, just because I don't want to stress just one row.

Step 5: Finishing It Up

This is it!
Trim all your loose strings, make sure all the pins are gone.
If you using a button, add it now.
Wash your cover and then use it!!


This is my first Instructable, so I hope I did it right :/  Let me know how I could make it better!!
Enjoy your car seat cover!!