OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: McCall’s 5721
• Size: Single Seat (Double seat pattern is also provided)
• Materials: 4.25 yds cotton (two prints) and batting, elastic, nylon webbing, safety buckle
• Time to sew: 2 evenings plus a few minutes on the third day to snip thread

We typically use the cover in restaurant high chairs.  The size is better suited for shopping carts, but it’s great in restaurants because it provides full coverage (high chairs are sometimes dirty).  

The fabrics are 100% cotton prints from Joann’s nursery line.  Joann doesn’t always have the nicest fabrics, but when it comes to their Nursery line, I am a satisified customer.  The pic below gives you a good overview of the cover.  You can glimpse the interior pockets for toys/snacks (1 side, 1 at front).  There are also loops for hanging toys.   Note: he is not buckled in, the buckle is dangling free above the (attached) bag.  Normally, I buckle him in, but for these few quick photos, I left it undone.  He isn’t yet dexterous enough to climb out of a shopping cart anyway.

As for the pattern, it’s easy and straightforward.  The hardest part is lining up and smoothing the three layers, especially since I used a cheap batting.  But this isn’t a custom fitted ballgown.  I tried to make sure the main fabric was smooth & flat, and trimmed the other layers to fit, where necessary. The other thing to consider is that this a is a large, thick project and it’s quite bulky trying to manuever it around the machine, not unlike working a quilt. I was a little concerned about the buttonholes- as marked on the pattern, they are huge.  Luckily, the largest setting on my automatic buttonholer was sufficient for the 1″ wide straps, though my buttonholes are nowhere near as tall as the pattern ones.  Also, is it a pain threading elastic through the long narrow casing all around the outer edge.   Though, as you can see below, it does provide a nice covering over all the surfaces within his reach.

The pattern has you make continuous bias tape for the sealing all the edges, a smart method which I appreciate.  However, the length of binding was not quite enough to fold over and overlap on the bag (the last piece).  I didn’t think it warranted making more bias tape though.  My favorite feature is the attached tote bag; you can fold over and stuff the entire cover into the bag, after pulling out the slack in the waist belt from the back (to use as a strap).  My cover doesn’t fill the bag up as nicely as in the pattern photo, probably because I used a cheap batting, but it’s still functional.

This requires a good amount of yardage, plus the belting and buckle.  Once you get done purchasing everything it’s not a huge money saver over commercial versions.  But, most of the commercial ones don’t have an incorporated bag, plus I think my snazzy fabric combination makes is special.