A Junie Tutorial: Seatbelt Sleeves
August 7th
Many of you know Junie Moon; she is that super positive, upbeat, incredibly kind sewer who posts amazing photos in her flickr account, but doesn’t yet blog. Well, she’s come up with a great summer sewing tutorial that must be shared. Thankfully, I’m the lucky duck who gets to spread the word.
Car Seatbelt Sleeve Tutorial, ala June:
The seatbelts in my car rub and irritate my neck. Since an old set I purchased wore out, I decided to make a new set myself instead of buying them. You don’t need much material for the seatbelt sleeves. I used leftover soft flannel from another project and bought car header liner at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics (in the home deco section near the vinyl fabric bolts). Here are the instructions and illustrations for you to make some for yourself. It really is easy.
The instructions are for one seatbelt sleeve. If you want to make 2 or more, then you’ll need to plan accordingly.
Step 1: Cut out fabric pieces as follows:
• Exterior fabric: cut 2 9½-inch squares
• Heading liner: cut 1 9½-inch square
• Velcro: cut 8½-inches of ¾-inch wide Velcro
Step 2: Layer fabric pieces and heading liner as follows—one piece exterior fabric right-side up (facing you), one piece exterior fabric wrong-side up, and the heading liner material (it doesn’t matter which way this is facing). Pin in place and be sure to catch all 3 layers.
Step 3: Leaving a 3-inch opening in the middle of one side of the fabric sandwich for turning right-side out later, sew all 4 sides with a ½” seam.
Step 4: Trim all 4 corners by cutting on the diagonal, being careful not to cut through stitches. Then trim the stitched seams on 3 sides (not opening side) to approximately 1/8”.
Next, move the seam of the exterior fabric on the 4th side over a bit and trim the header lining to 1/8” to cut down on bulk.
Step 5: Turn right-side out so that the heading liner is in the middle and both exterior fabrics are on the outside. Turn the 3-inch opening inside by ½” and pin in place.
Step 6: Stitch ¼” inch around all 4 sides (which closes the 3’-inch opening, too).
Step 7: On left side of seatbelt sleeve, pin the rough (male) part of the Velcro along the edge. Stitch the Velcro around all 4 sides.
Step 8: Turn project over so that the Velcro you just installed is on the right but facing down on your table. Measure over 2½” from the left edge of the side now facing you and mark down the left side of the sleeve.
Place the right edge of your soft fuzzy Velcro side (female side) along your 2½” mark and pin in place. Stitch the Velcro around all 4 sides.
Step 9: You are done and can install in your car by folding it around your seatbelt. Make more for all your passenger seatbelts, if you wish.
Car Seatbelt Sleeve Tutorial written and executed by June Scroggin, 2007
Photos © by Dub Scroggin, 2007
- Posted in
- Domestic Art, Tutorial
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Great tutorial! I definitely need to make some of those. I think the fourth picture (the first sewing machine one) is the wrong image. I was trying to figure out where you said to add the velcro before that step.
Thank you so much, Kelli, for posting my little tutorial. I greatly appreciate your generosity and hope that folks will find the tutorial helpful.
Erin, it was merely a photo error that Kelli has fixed. I sent all my materials to her in a rather haphazard fashion due to the large size of the photos (I didn’t want to blow out her email server).
tell her to get a blog & etsy shop NOW! her creations rock!!! tfs
I can’t believe that someone doesn’t enjoy a seatbelt cutting into their neck. Great tut. Much better than wrapping a t-shirt around it.
I was about to say, “Kelli, congratulations, it looks like your sprained finger is totally back to normal!” but those aren’t even your fingers.
June, that’s a great idea for making seatbelts cuddly.
That is a great idea!
Very nice floral print.
What a lovely pin cushion…
Great tut- thanks both June & Kelli.
It’s a really good idea. It’d be really nice for little kids in booster seats to have something like that over their strap.
Great joint effect in the tutorial.
I will definately be tagging this to come back to.
Love the photos. They are all so bright and clear.
Kelli, I love your blog. It amazes me how I “finally” stumble across peoples blogs.
I will be adding your to my bloglines for sure.
See you again soon.
fabulous tutorial kelli!! i need one of those! and i love your pincushion as well!
Too cute! Love the pin cushion too!!
I just made something similar for the seltbelts in the airplane. It took me forever and the finished product doesn’t look half as nice as yours.
Ah well. Next time they need replacing I am using June’s tutorial.
My daughters would love these… oh, so much I want to do, so little time to do it in! x
Great idea and great tutorial! Thanks.
Thank you Junie Moon and Kelli! My husband’s car straps totally irritate my neck; this is perfect. And thank you Miss Kelli for your kind gift which was waiting for me when I returned from vacation!
Kelli, Please let June know that this is a great tutorial. I think I now have an idea for the men on my christmas list. Thank you both.
Hmmm, I think we are the lucky ones! Thanks to both you and Junie for the great tutorial.
Oh that’s so clever! Thanks Kelli and Junie!
SOOOOO cute. I am amazed at how talented you are at EVERYTHING!!!
XOXO
i need one of those.
i am always moving the seatbelt away from my neck, and i am only realizing it from your writing about it.
thank you for the tutorial.
I thought I was the only person in the world who knew about headliner fabric! I now have another use for it besides laptop sleeves – thanks
Wonderful – this short stuff salutes you both – with thanks! Driving in the summer gets painful without winter jackets to protect my neck! Every notice how tall people just look at you with raised eyebrows when you explain the rub marks on your neck???
I’m actually much more interested in your darling pincushion! Where did you get that pattern?