Monday, May 16, 2011

A Bicycle Built for Two…

I have REALLY been wanting to go out for a bike ride in the beautiful weather we’ve been having. Only problem?
This:
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Yeah, that is what the seat of the infant rider looked like. Nasty. I think there was a creature living in the padding on the back. I didn’t take a picture to show you. Let’s just say, I was not about to put a baby in the thing. So I decided to make a new one. I couldn’t find any tutorials out there, so I made some step by steps. It was a super simple process, I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner.
Materials:
  • 1-2 yards of canvas or other sturdy material. I got a yard of 54” canvas from Walmart that worked just fine.
  • 1 yard of fusible fleece. It really doesn’t have to be fusible, but it’s what I had, and made the project even easier.
  • Thread
Process:
First, use your old nasty seat pad as a pattern. I traced it onto a double layer of fleece first, also marking the strap holes. In retrospect, you don’t need to mark the holes now, because they won’t show once its all turned. When you cut this out, allow for a seam allowance by cutting about a half inch outside of the line.
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Do the same thing to a double layer of fabric. It kinda looks like an airplane, don’t you think?
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Now iron your fleece pieces to your fabric pieces.
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Pin your two assembled pieces, right sides together, and stitch, leaving about a two inch opening so that you can turn it right side out.
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Don’t forget to notch your curves so it lays nice and flat. Here it is all turned right side out.
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Next, I marked lines where the folds are, and topstitched those. It just makes it fold easier and fit into the seat better.
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Now, mark and make your strap slits. I used my button hole foot for my machine.
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Last thing, mattress stitch your 2 inch hole shut!
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I also changed this:
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To this:
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And I included little loops, so I could attach a toy or cup, or whatever else. Knowing my daughter, she would throw anything she had out of the seat.
Unfortunately, we can’t go riding just yet. The infant helmet I thought I had, is nowhere to be found. Sigh…
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But she’ll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two!

1 comment:

  1. VERY clever Katie! Love the material, and the added loops. I haven't been able to get out of the house this last week, but your magazine IS coming!!! :[ xoxo

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