How to Make a Changing Pad

One of my favorite things to sew is anything baby! The last few baby gifts I've made, I've taken pictures as I went, and now I want to share my how-I-did-that's on here...

You'll need...
1. About 1/3 yard of a patterned cotton fabric
2. A bath towel (or about 3/8 yard of terry cloth)
3. (4) 2" x 2" pieces of fusible interfacing
4. Fastener of choice, such as: (1) button, (2) snaps, (2) magnetic closures, etc.
5. Coordinating thread

Cut (1) 13" x 25" rectangle each of cotton fabric and towel.

Round off each corner (I used a plate and traced the curve onto the corner).

On the wrong side of the pattern fabric, mark where you want the fasteners to be, then iron on interfacing in those places.  Below are my fastener markings (or see the red text, where I will show where/how to fasten with a single button and strap, instead of snaps or magnets). Do not attach fasteners at this time!

Cut a strip of your patterned fabric 2" x 25".  Fold in half hot-dog style.  Press flat.  Fold edges into center fold.  Press flat.  Finding the center of your strap, fold both ends down to make a triangular point (remember those gum wrapper chains we made in elementary school? It's kind of like that... see the picture below).  Sew all the way down one open edge of the strap, across the triangular fold, then back up the other open edge.

Place pattern fabric and terry cloth right sides together (I chose the slightly fluffier, or more "loopy," side of the towel to be my "right side"). Place strap between fabric layers, with only about 1" of the ends hanging out. Leaving one short straight edge open for turning, and with terry cloth on top, sew fabrics together with a 1/4-1/2" seam.  Make sure to catch the strap in your seam, so that it doesn't move when turned right-side out.

Turn right-side out.

 

Iron flat, and sew a 1/4-1/2" top-stitch seam all the way around, turning under the open end as you go.

If doing the button/strap route, roll up your changing case (terry on the inside; wrapping the strap around the outside last), mark the inside of the "triangular fold." Sew a large button on the outside at that mark, and you're done!

Feeling through the fabric, find your four "interfaced" spots.  Using the appropriate tools, apply your snaps.  The decorative/outside pieces should be near the small edge of the changing pad on the side of the pattern fabric (the "male" part should be on the terry cloth side).  Place the coordinating "female" pieces on the marked spots in the middle of the changing pad (pattern side).

Magnetic closure "how-to"

Snap closure "how-to"

The magnetic closures were ugly on the outside, so I sewed buttons over the back side to cover them.  The "female" magnetic piece I placed inside the 2 layers, instead of all the way through.  The snaps I put on another pad went all the way through both layers, and holds up much better.

Roll, it up, and there you go!

Snap closure with "pearl" accent on outside of snap

Button with strap

Stay tuned, as I plan on adding How-To's for a nursing cover, decorative wipes case, and personalized burp cloths!

Linking up to:

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