How to make a pet car seat cover

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one cover, standard car)

• Fabric (water-repellent nylon or canvas) — about 150 cm wide × 130 cm (59 × 51 in)
• Fabric for the ties — about 50 × 20 cm
• Sewing thread

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 “Pets” → “Pet car seat cover” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the seat width, the seat depth, the backrest height and the front drop. Presets cover a kei car (a Japanese mini car), a standard car and a minivan.
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. Measure the car
   Seat width, seat depth and backrest height. These vary a great deal between models.
2. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace the cutting line. It is large — the floor is easier.
3. Cut the pieces
   One body and four ties.
4. Transfer the notches
   Mark the four tie positions and the fold lines.

4. Sewing

4-1. Hem the edges

1. Turn all four sides under twice, 1 cm each time, and stitch.
2. It is large, so press as you go and work in sections.

4-2. Make the ties

1. Fold all four ties in four and topstitch.
2. Water-repellent fabric slips — clips help.

4-3. Attach the ties

1. Stitch a tie at each of the four corner notches.
2. Reinforce with a stitched square and its diagonals. These are pulled hard.

4-4. Fit it

1. Tie the top two to the headrests.
2. Pass the lower two under the seat and tie.
3. Pull out any slack.

✏️ Measure your own car. Even within a class, seat widths differ by more than 10 cm between models. The presets are a guide; a cover made to measured figures actually sits flat instead of shifting.

5. Tips & variations

• Water-repellent fabric: after a wet walk, the seat stays dry.
• Make it washable: untie it and it goes in the machine. Hair makes that essential.
• Match the pet mat: made in the same fabric, the car looks coordinated.