Sew a 3-in-1 Nursing Cover, Carseat Canopy and Stroller Shade

The more babies I have, the more I realize that less is more when it comes to baby gear. If I can use one item for a number of uses, I'm all over it. That's why I invented this 3-in-1 "super blankie" (as I used to call it when I sold it through Golly Gee Baby) a few years ago. It's a simple blanket with a clip-on, adjustable strap, but I use it for everything - especially when I have a newborn. Using it again now that I have Baby B, I'm realizing how much I love this thing and I thought I'd share with you how to make one too!

This 3-in-1 nursing cover, stroller shade and carseat canopy is essentially just a good-sized cotton flannel receiving blanket with a matching adjustable strap. The strap can be clipped anywhere on the blanket, and you can place it around your neck for use as a nursing cover, around a stroller handle to drape over a stroller, or hooked to the back of a bucket carseat to hang over its canopy.

Are you intrigued and want to make one for yourself and your new baby? These are also great gifts! Here's how.

Materials:

• 1 yard cotton flannel (I buy mine from Fabric.com)
• metal suspender clips (search for them on Etsy)
• metal tri-bar slider (I found these on Etsy too)

Instructions:

(I'm experimenting with illustrating the step-by-steps rather than using photos for them, so let me know if you think they're awesome or horrible. I love to doodle, and this is more time-effective with a new babe in the house!)

Prewash your fabric. This is very important so that your blanket and strap don't shrink after they're sewn.

Cut about 8 inches off of your fabric on the yard-long side so that you have one piece of fabric that's about 36"x36" for the blanket and one that's about 8"x36" for the strap.

Hem the blanket piece by folding all four edges over ¼", pressing, and then folding them over again about 1 ½" and pressing. I angle the corners in slightly when I fold them a second time (as shown above). Stitch about ⅛" from the inner edge to hem.

To make the strap, fold and press the long edges towards the center as shown above. They'll be folded in about 2" each. Then, fold the entire strap in half and press again; it will measure about 2" wide. Stitch all around the strap's perimeter.

Fold one end of the strap around the center rod of the metal slider and stitch it in place as shown.

Pull the other end of the strap through one of the suspender clips from the bottom to the top. (Disregard that vertical stitch line in the illustration - there's no stitching involved for this step!)

Then, pull the strap through the outer rods of the slider piece (and over the middle rod).

Fold the remaining end of the strap around the second suspender clip and stitch.

You now have an adjustable strap that matches your blanket and can be clipped anywhere!

I usually leave my strap on my blanket, and I hook it to the back of Baby B's carseat to use as a carseat canopy. Then, I have it ready when I'm nursing her to use as a cover anywhere I go. There's nothing extra that I have to pack in my purse, and I love that!

You could also make one neutral coloured strap and several blankets, and you'd have a few spares to use when one or two are in the wash.

Happy sewing for Baby, friends!