DIY Car Seat Canopy Cover + Free Printable!

Car seat covers are more than just a stylish baby accessory. They are essential to safety while traveling! If you have ever been in an elevator with a stranger who coughs or sneezes then you may know the anxiety of potentially catching what they have… Now triple that to the nth degree when you have your precious newborn with you in their car seat. It terrifies me to imagine all those microscopic germs falling down onto my sweet vulnerable baby and wreaking havoc on their delicate immune system. 😱 Just no! Not when keeping your baby safe from strangers is really easy.

Having a car seat cover will keep them out of direct contact.

Also, if you don’t already know this – similar to having a big pregnant belly…there is just something about babies that make strangers lose all self-control. There have been more than a couple of times when a stranger had just decided to touch my baby without permission! Granted, it was usually a sweet old lady in the check-out line but still, a stranger, and it freaked me out. Not only am I like, “Who are you?” but I have no idea if they’ve even washed their hands recently. Gross.

Keep wandering hands of your baby with a car seat canopy cover!

A car seat cover canopy will also eliminate light, allowing your baby to get more sleep! It really is such an awesome thing to have and you can totally make one yourself! I’m going to show you how I sew car seat cover canopies at home.

Car seat covers are my most favorite gift to make for new parents. It’s just one of those things that you don’t see how valuable it is until you experience it in action and you think to yourself, ‘thank God!’. And if you decide that ‘yeah a car seat cover is super important, but this seems like a lot of sewing’,

THEN YOU WILL SO BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY HOW SIMPLE IT IS!

So let’s get started!

Sewing a car seat canopy cover is really easy but be WARNED – THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE TUTORIAL. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE ON HOW I MAKE THESE – BUT THEY ARE EASY!! So easy in fact that I used to store my pattern on a post-it note! 🙊 But you can be way cooler than me and download the cut list I created for you!

Here is a printable cut list for you to keep handy. This pretty printable will help you remember exactly how much fabric you’ll need and cut measurements so that you can make this car seat cover canopy again and again!

Just enter your email below for a Free Instant Download! 👇 🙌

What You’ll Need:

• 1 yard outer fabric (1.5 yards if using a directional pattern)
  • Fabric suggestions: flannel or high-quality cotton
• 1.5 yards lining fabric
  • Fabric suggestions: high-quality cotton or sateen
• 5 yards Bias tape or Piping
  • Typically 2 pre-made packages
• Cutting Mat and Rotary Blade
• Straight Edge/ Quilter’s Ruler
• Printable Cut List
• Sewing Clips or Pins
• Sewing Machine with coordinating thread
• 2 buttons

Step 1 of 20

Cutting the Fabric

• Cut out two – 34″ x 42″ rectangles.
• Cut one lining and one outer fabric.
• Since cutting large pieces of fabric can sometimes be difficult, I like to fold the fabric in half by matching the selvage edge and then cutting a 17″ x 21″ rectangle.
• Just be sure to keep the folds on the outer edges.
• You will also need to cut two – 6″ by 9″ rectangles that will be used for the straps later!

Step 2 of 20

Lay each folded rectangle on top of the other.

This ensures that front and back rounded corners match up and will save you time from cutting each corner individually.

Step 3 of 20

Clip the fold together and peel back the top layer and bottom layer of fabric, leaving the 2nd and 3rd layers facing each other.

Clip or pin the sides together so it will stay even while cutting.

Step 4 of 20

Fold the clipped half in half again, matching the sides and bottom.

Step 5 of 20

Create Rounded Corners

• Using a bowl or platter, draw a rounded corner.
• I used a white crayon because it was what I had handy but you can use whatever pen or pencil you prefer.
• For the back corners draw the curve at the 3-inch mark.
• Cut using your rotary blade or scissors and re-clip layers together.
• Repeat the process for the front with the exception of drawing the curve at the 6-inch mark instead.

You want the front curve to be more dramatic than the back.

Step 6 of 20

After cutting the front curves, open up the folded fabric.

The next step will be to cut the center flap opening. Find the middle and make a slit going up about 18 inches.

At this point you should have 2 pieces, a liner, and an outer fabric, facing each other with 3 ” rounded edges in the back and 6″ rounded edges in the front and an 18″ slit cut up the center of the front all pinned or clip together!

Are you still with me? Great!

Step 7 of 20

Next is to add the piping or trim. This could be optional. If you don’t want to add any trim then you can skip this step and take your clipped fabric pieces straight to the sewing machine.

To add piping, remove it from the packaging and iron out all the folds.

When your piping or trim is ironed out, you will want to identify the front and back, as indicated by the stitching. You want the front of the piping to be facing the right side of the outer layer of fabric, so when you sew them together and press outward, the pretty side of the piping will be facing the same direction as your pretty outside fabric.

Step 8 of 20

Remove the clips or pins for the center fold and smooth out the fabrics. I like to start the piping in the middle of one side. Knowing that a single package isn’t enough, I try to not have a start or ending in the front. Using a pin, slightly curve the piping outward to begin.

Step 9 of 20

Clip the front side of the piping to the front side of the fabric, securing it all the way around as you go. Be sure to use lots of pins or clips, you want to keep that trim in place! For the front sharp corners, I like to slightly round the edges.

Step 10 of 20

If you are using piping like I am, use your zipper foot and get nice and close.

I still use stitch setting 01 with 3.0 stitch length. Sew all the way around, leaving a 3-inch gap somewhere in the middle, just big enough to squeeze your hand in.

If sewing without piping or trim, I like to do a 3/8″ seam allowance, which is the width of my sewing machine foot on stitch setting 01 on my brother sewing machine. Your sewing machine may vary but it has been helpful for me to remember the seam allowance width that way.

Step 11 of 20

Trim the excess fabric and turn the cover right side out. Don’t forget to press flat. Pin or clip the opening together so it stays in place.

Step 12 of 20

Next, continue using your zipper foot, change foot to right side and topstitch all the way around. I like to start just before the opening. The topstitching will close also close the hole as well as look pretty. Don’t forget to backstitch to secure your stitching! Take your time to make it tidy. I know at some points it feels like you’ve been sewing forever but it’s almost done and going to look so awesome!

Step 13 of 20

To make the straps, take the 9″ x 6″ rectangles and fold them right sides together, like a hotdog.

Using a 3/8″ seam allowance, 3.0 stitch length, and your regular sewing foot, stitch all the way around, leaving 2 inches open at the top. Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end!

Step 14 of 20

After both rectangles have been sewn right sides together, clip the corners and be sure to press your stitches. Ironing will help to ‘set’ the stitch so to speak.

Step 15 of 20

Using a chopstick or other tool, turn the straps right side out and press again. To close your opening, you can topstitch all the way around, or use a slip stitch to just close the hole.

Step 16 of 20

I find it easier to make the buttonholes and attach the buttons BEFORE attaching the straps to the cover.

On the side that you stitched closed, you will attach 1 or 2 buttons, depending on the size of the buttons you are using and your preference. On the opposite side, sew a buttonhole using your buttonhole presser foot and the appropriate buttonhole stitch. Don’t forget to put your button in the presser foot tray so your hole is the size you need. Today I am using stitch setting number 29 on my Brother CS-6000i sewing machine.

Step 17 of 20

Next, sew on the buttons using your button presser foot. Lower the feed dogs and use a zigzag stitch. It is stitch number 04 on my machine. Also, it is important to use a stitch length of 2.0 and a stitch width of 4.0. Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure your button. I like to count to 10 while sewing at a slow-moderate pace before backstitching again.

Step 18 of 20

Measure out the placement of your straps. I like to place mine 1 inch up from the top of the slit and 3 inches out to each side, but you should do what looks right for your car seat model. Place the strap button side down with the buttonhole facing the front. Pin in place.

Step 19 of 20

Reattach your regular presser foot and raise the feed dogs. Sew a straight stitch around a 2-inch square and then sew diagonally through the square. This will ensure that the strap stays nice and secure on the car seat cover.

Step 20 of 20

Attach to your Carseat and Enjoy!!

Carseat Canopy Covers make the perfect baby shower gift. Out of all the things an expecting mother might have on her ‘to buy’ list, this is surely something she missed. This is one homemade gift she will be grateful to have! Speaking from experience, I know the value of having a car seat canopy cover and love getting compliments on it everywhere we go!

Post Written: May 6th, 2019

Post Materially Updated: September 13, 2022

Want to sew something for baby that I literally make for all my new mama friends?!

Even after 3 babies this is my most favorite burp cloth. It is so luxurious and soft, it absolutely does not feel homemade. A Burp cloth you can feel comfortable wiping your sweet baby’s face with. Check out the Sewing Tutorial and Free Sewing Pattern here!

So now it’s your turn! If you try this, tag me at @goldengluegun

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