Tutorial: Baby Changing Pad

My contribution to Celebrate the BOY month is a baby changing pad.  Perfect for those on the go diaper changes, or handy as a portable changing station around the house, this easy-to-clean pad is as practical as it is cute.

Baby Changing Pad Tutorial (for personal use only)

Materials Needed:

1/2 yard laminated fabric (or cotton fabric and iron on vinyl)

1/2 yard cotton fabric

1 yard fusible fleece interfacing

1 inch velcro

6 inches of 1-inch-wide belting

1 pack 1/2 inch double-fold bias tape

Coordinating thread and other common sewing supplies

1.  Using either pre-laminated fabric or a cotton print that you laminate yourself using iron-on vinyl, cut a piece to 12 x 23 inches.  I've used both types of fabrics with similar results, but I prefer the pre-laminated fabric.  The fabric below is called Moda Funky Monkey Laminate Red, but I bought it over a year ago and I don't know if it is still available.  There are a few cute boy-appropriate prints in the laminated section at Fabric.com.

2.  Round all four corners using a CD as a template (trace the edge with a pen and trim).  Set your laminated fabric aside for later use.

3.  Cut your cotton fabric to 12 x 23 inches.

4. Cut two pieces of fusible fleece interfacing to 12 x 23 inches and following the instructions on the package, fuse both layers to the cotton fabric cut in step 3.

5. Round the corners of your cotton/fusible fleece using the same method as step 2.

6.  Make the closure strap.  Cut a 6 inch long piece of 1 inch wide belting.  Fold over one end about 1/2 inch and cover with the scratchy side of your velcro piece.  Pin in place and zig-zag stitch around all sides of the velcro, securing it to the belting.  Fold over the other end of the belting about 1/2 inch and secure using a zig zag stitch.

7.  Attach the strap to the cotton/fusible fleece fabric only.  Measure 9 inches from the top and pin the strap in place.  The velcro end will remain loose.  Sew only the non-velcro end to the fabric.  Double stitch for durability.

8.  Sew the soft velcro piece to the cotton/fusible fleece fabric, 1/2 inch from the bottom using a zig-zag stitch.  See photo below for placement.

9. If you want to add any trim or decoration (like an applique) to your changing pad, now is the time to do it.  I kept things simple and just added a strip of ribbon through the middle of the changing pad.

10.  Grab your laminated fabric again.  Lay the cotton fabric and laminated fabric on top of each other, right sides facing OUT (there is no turning seams in this project).  Measure 7 3/4 inches from both ends and mark with pins (I recommend only going through the cotton layer, not the laminated layer - laminated fabric is not forgiving, and any holes you poke through it are permanent).

Sew a test on some scrap fabric.  Like I said above, laminated fabric is not forgiving, and the last thing you want to do is pick out stitches.

Sew through both layers along the pin lines.  These seams will be where the changing pad folds into thirds.

11.  Also sew around the outer edge of the changing pad, using a very small seam allowance.  Here's what you should have at this point:

12.  So close to being done!  Time to apply the bias tape. If you are not familiar with bias tape, read my instructions below.  If you are an old pro, feel free to skip over them.  :)

Open up the bias tape and line it up with the outer edge of your laminated fabric (you want to do the machine stitching through the laminate side).

For a clean joint, fold over the starting end of your bias tape.  With the bias tape laying like in the photo below, fold about a quarter inch toward you and pin in place.  Continue pinning the bias tape as shown all the way around the edge of the changing pad.  When you get back to where your bias tape started, overlap about a half inch and trim off any extra.

Sew the bias tape to the changing pad.  See the fold line on the bias tape right next to the pins?  You'll want to stitch right along that fold line.

Now that you have finished machine sewing around the entire changing pad, wrap the rest of the bias tape around to the other side of the pad (the cotton side), as shown below.

I prefer to hand stitch this side of the bias tape, because I think it looks tidy.  You can, however, top-stitch the bias tape in place (it will just show through on both sides of the changing pad).

And there you have it ... a custom diaper changing pad for your little man.  The good news is, it is super cute.  The bad news is, you'll be using it to change lots of stinky diapers.  What's a mama to do ...

Pair this bad boy with a wipes clutch, and you'll have a killer baby shower gift.

 

 

Enjoy!