How to make a baby carrier strap covers

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one pair)

• Main fabric (printed cotton or oxford) — about 50 × 40 cm (20 × 16 in)
• Backing fabric (double gauze or toweling — something absorbent) — the same amount
• Hook-and-loop — 2.5 cm (1 in) wide × 20 cm (8 in)
• Optional: 2 D-rings for hanging toys

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Baby” → “Baby carrier strap covers” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the length, strap width, wrap ease and corner radius. Presets cover standard and wide straps.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body including the corner radius.
2. Cut
   Cut two in the main fabric and two in the backing — four pieces for the pair.
3. Finish the edges
   Not needed. Shake toweling out after cutting to lose the loose fibers.

4. Sewing

4-1. Attach the hook-and-loop first

1. Sew it on now — after turning, the stitching would show on the outside.
2. Sew the hook (stiff) half to the wrong side of the main fabric at one end, and the loop (soft) half to the right side of the backing at the other end.
3. Wrap a piece around an actual strap first to check where the two ends meet.

4-2. Sew the layers together

1. Place main and backing right sides together and sew around, leaving an 8 cm (3 in) gap.
2. Clip the corner curves and trim the allowance to 5 mm.

4-3. Turn and topstitch

1. Turn through the gap, ease the corners out and press.
2. Topstitch 5 mm from the edge all the way around, closing the gap as you go.
3. Make the second cover the same way.

4-4. Add D-rings (optional)

1. Catch a small self-fabric loop with a D-ring in the seam to hang toys or a pacifier clip.
2. Add it before you topstitch, somewhere other than the turning gap.

✏️ Hook on the main fabric, loop on the backing — get that the wrong way round and the two halves never face each other when wrapped. Wrap a test piece around the real strap before you stitch anything down.

5. Tips & variations

• Toweling backing: this side takes the dribble. Toweling or gauze absorbs; printed cotton just spreads it.
• Add batting: one layer of thin batting makes them plumper and nicer to chew. Allow a little extra length for the thickness.
• Make two pairs: otherwise the carrier is out of action while they dry.