A Load Of Craft: Tutorial: How To Make A Contoured Changing Pad Cover

I love my new cover but can I just complain about one thing really fast? In some spots my minky fabric looks like it's worn out and it's brand new! I noticed this as soon as I cut out my pattern and was getting ready to sew. UGH. I contemplated going back to Joann's with it but even if they would have given me new stuff I didn't want to wait for it. Plus I had already washed and cut it. And that dang minky dot fabric is expensive even with my coupon! ANYWAY now that I got that off my chest, on to my tutorial...

You need:

1 Yard Fabric (this is for one cover but you probably want to make two covers)

10" of 1/4" Elastic

Sewing Machine & Thread

Rotary Mat & Cutter or Scissors

You will cut three pieces; two sides and one big piece for the center. For the center I measured up the front (4.5"), from front to back of the top (18") and down the back (4.5") then added 3" to each side for the bottom. That totaled 33" and the width was 32". Factor in a 1/2" seam allowance to both sides of the width and you need a 33x33 square of fabric. Cut this out first.

Now for the sides. I used a gift bag to trace the side onto. You will add 3" to the bottom of the tracing so leave room.

Here's my sloppy outline with 3" added to the bottom (the "bottom" is on top in this picture):

NOTE: I forgot to add 1/2" seam allowance around the 3 edges (excluding the very bottom) but you definately should before cutting for a better fit :) Now cut your pattern piece out.

Now trace it onto your fabric two times and cut. These are your sides.

Now line up a center of the big square you cut earlier (each side measures the same so just pick one) with the center of one of your side pieces. I did this by folding them in half as pictured. Make sure the right sides are together and the points face the unfinished edge.

Now pin along the edge starting in the middle. As you go, pin the edge of the side piece as if it were straight. When you get to the corner of the side piece, bring your center piece to your side piece so you can keep pinning the edges together and it will look like this when you're done:

Repeat on the opposite side. After you've sewn what you just pinned with a 1/2" seam allowance, you can hem, serge or overcast stitch (like me) all the way around the edge.

Now you will place the cover on your changing pad and pull the bulk on the corners to see how much to cut out. You can mark it right at the point of the bottom of the pad (where my pen is pointing) or even pin the fabric in place but I just kept my finger there and eye-balled it.