for those that can sew...

kimberley wrote: i have a question... i have seen on ebay a lady selling car seat covers for an obnoxious amount of money. they are so cute.. pink and patterns and a really great idea. if i knew how to sew, i'd make one myself but sadly i am needle challenged lol.

anyone up for a challenge?

eta a pic of a boys camo one... this goes for about $80 with shipping

MommyToAshley replied: That sounds like a great idea... but I am needle challenged. Just ask DH, he has given up on the shirts and pants that need a button sewed on.

PrairieMom replied: rocky?

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: I would, but I don't even have enough time to sew the stuff piled on my table now. I bet they are really easy to make though!

sparkys2boys replied: Sorry, can't help but they are super cute!

Anthony275 replied: uh $80 for JUST the cover? thats ridiculous for something your kid is just going to sit on

My3LilMonkeys replied: Wow that's expensive! I can sew pretty well, but I can't create my own patterns at all. I'd have to take a seat cover apart to make it work LOL.

kimberley replied: Jade wants this one...

mckayleesmom replied: I tell you what Kimberly......On payday I will buy the pattern and try to make one for my kids....if all goes well I will try one for you....

mckayleesmom replied: My kids seats can use a makeover too.

kimberley replied: cool! i am curious to see if they are hard to make.

i really wish i could sew. i'd make a bunch of them myself. with 4 kids... i WISH i had a removable cover instead of scrubbing out upholstery with a hubby who gives cranky kids chocolate in the car . i think it's a great idea!

mckayleesmom replied:
If I can't....my husband can probably manage it......He sews more then me.

kimberley replied: can he teach mine?!?!

mom21kid2dogs replied: Something to consider . . .anything that was never tested and approved by the car seat manufacturer is considered an after market product. Because they are not tested they can interfere with your seat's performance in the case of an accident. Despite how adorable they are, they are not considered safe.

kimberley replied: they just go over the actual cover it comes with. i'm not sure how that would interfere but definitely something i will ask our police car safety about. thanks for the reminder.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Car seat shells are not a uniform size nor are the interior harnesses a uniform size or width. The after market covers are designed with a one size fits all mindset. If the openings pinch the belts or restrict them in any way, it could affect the the performance in a crash. I would definately check this out with a car seat tech before buying (or making) one.
I remember salivating over them myself. We had a couple Britax seats, so compared to their $60 a cover price tag, hers weren't too bad. Unfortunately, a tech board I used to frequent saved me the extra $20~bummer!!!

mckayleesmom replied:
I wouldn't think it would do anything to the regular function of the carseat....You just sew it to go over the regular stuff....

mckayleesmom replied: I think that if I make the slats...straight down..they will fit any seat and just go over the regular cover.....Then you can just pop it off to clean and not have to take the whole thing apart.

kimberley replied: actually, the ones on ebay or not one size fits all.. they are specific makes.. britax, evenflo, etc.

HuskerMom replied: I think they're way cute but I wouldn't spend $80 on them.

kimberley replied: i spoke to our provincial police car seat safety expert today and he said as long as it's a thin fabric (not like the upholstery it comes with) and just goes over the existing seat with the appropriate hole slots.. there is no reason it is a safety issue.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:


Actualy I can't sew anything other than a straight line... lol (with a machine)

When I have to sew seomthing, I usually just do hand stitching..takes longer..but whatever, i gots the time.

Kentuckychick replied: As another poster has mentioned, carseat covers like those pictured and sold on ebay are considered "after market" products. They were not manufactured by the makers of the seats and therefore have not been crash tested with the seats and likely do not meet the safety standards for such things as flammability. Also, if you do use one of these products most often the warranty on your carseat automatically becomes void. Cute as they are there is no way I would use one on a seat even if it does just slip over the existing cover. If your seat needs a replacement cover please contact the manufacturer

kimberley replied: my seat cover doesn't need to be replaced, i just thought these were cute and convenient to pull on and off to be washed. it's not just a local cop who said go ahead, it was one of the guys who actually does the inspections for the provincial (aka state for americans) police. my kids don't wear fire proof clothes in the car or use blankets that are fire proof so i don't see what the big deal is.

Calimama replied: They are cute but they don't seem worth $80 IMO.

kimberley replied: that's what i thought. i figured they'd be cheaper to make but i can't sew.

Calimama replied:
Me either.

Kentuckychick replied:
Sorry if that sounded rude or anything... I personally think that there are a lot of really cute covers out there and I'd love to even try to make them myself -- It's not that I think it makes a big deal that the covers aren't flame retardent, but it does to the manufacturer who is required by federal standards to make them that way. The reason I think it is a big deal to use them is because of all that, it voids the warranty on your seat.