Many mothers try to give their child originality and uniqueness, and also save some money on children's accessories. This article tells how to sew a mattress for a stroller with your own hands and what is needed for this.
What you will need for the job
Basic materials and tools for sewing a mattress insert:
- Cotton material. It is hypoallergenic and easy to wash, and is pleasant to the body. Textile stores have a large selection of fabrics for children, as well as interesting designs for both boys and girls.
- Yarn to match the material.
- Fabric roller and tape measure.
- Sintepon.
- Textile marker.
- Sewing machine or overlock.
For girls, it is recommended to take pink fabric with different flowers, elephants or dolls, and for boys, blue with forest animals. In fact, it does not matter what color of fabric to choose. Since the child is still small, he will not be able to understand this. Here, the choice is up to mommy's taste.
What materials are needed?
Once you have collected all the tools for the job, you can start choosing the fabric for the mattress.
Attention! As a soft base, needlewomen can choose batting, foam rubber or synthetic fluff.
If the child is still a baby, it is advisable to use batting, as it is one of the purest and most natural materials. It is recommended to use cotton fabric for the mattress, as it allows air to pass through well, and the child will not be hot in it in summer and spring, or cold in winter. Cotton is quite easy to care for, it almost does not wrinkle and does not fade under the influence of the sun. It is also pleasant to the touch, does not crumble, and the threads from it do not shine.
How much fabric will be needed?
To calculate the material correctly, you need to measure the width of the stroller with a centimeter. Calico is usually larger than 1 meter (1.5 or 2 m).
Wide fabric is intended for sheets, so it is not recommended to buy it. A width of 1.5 meters is perfect for sewing a mattress for a stroller. With this width, one length of the mattress + 12 cm for folding and adding a zipper will be enough. If you need a 90 cm mattress, then you need to buy about 110 cm of material, since it may shrink a little after washing.
The length and width of the mattress, its appearance should exactly repeat the bottom of the stroller, otherwise the mattress will move and come off, which will quickly deform. It is always better to take material with a reserve, and from the leftovers you can make some kind of bag for baby bottles or wet wipes. For very small children, it is advisable to make additional pillows under the head, so that it is comfortable to be inside.
Which filler to choose?
The filling can be different, because the child will always lie on the mattress in clothes. There are several basic options:
- synthetic fluff;
- foam rubber;
- batting;
- coconut bark.
But in any case, you need to be very careful, because no one knows how the baby and his body will react to this or that filler. Some children do not tolerate synthetic padding, the skin immediately begins to turn red. Many seamstresses do not recommend using foam rubber as a filler. Because it will quickly crumple and lose its shape under the weight of the child. However, foam rubber will be the cheapest material and will help to save a lot of money.
Winter and summer version
For the winter version, it is better to take the coconut version, it retains heat for a long time, but at the same time has increased rigidity. Bark is usually added to orthopedic mattresses. For summer walks, batting or synthetic fluff is used, which easily allow air to pass through. In winter, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the child does not sweat from the product, otherwise there will be a high risk of getting sick. Winter models are usually difficult to wash in a machine, as they are thicker than products for warm seasons. Therefore, it is advisable to use dry cleaning services so as not to spoil the accessory.
Pattern and cutting of fabric
You can find mattress patterns on the Internet. Below is a detailed description of how to cut the fabric correctly and what rules to follow. Basically, the product is sewn from two parts. The length should be such that the child's legs fit on it completely and there is still room. There are more complex options, for example, mattresses with pillows around the perimeter or with additional options. But it is recommended to make the most ordinary one so that the child is free and comfortable. For small children, you can additionally sew on sides and fill them with padding polyester there so that the child can hold on softly. They can be equipped with Velcro to fix them on the stroller.
How to make a pattern
To draw a pattern, you need to take measurements of the stroller (measure the length and width of the bottom), you need to remember that the bottom has rounded corners. The pattern is drawn on thick or adhesive paper in sizes 1:1. It is advisable to take measurements several times to make sure that there is no large error.
Cutting out the pattern
After completing the drawing, you need to put it in the stroller and check the accuracy, and if necessary, adjust the pattern. Now you can prepare the material:
- First, the fabric is washed so that it shrinks a little, so it will be easier to work. Cotton shrinks by 7-10%. It is desirable that the fabric shrinks before starting work, otherwise the dimensions will change after the first wash of the finished mattress.
- The material needs to be ironed well, this will make it easier to cut out the pieces.
- Place the pattern on the material folded several times (along the grain line), leaving allowances of 4 cm on three sides, and 10 cm for the last one, in order to sew the zipper into it;
- Now you can cut out the mattress pieces.
It is recommended to work with a fabric roller or sharp scissors; if necessary, process the edges on an overlock machine to prevent the fabric from fraying.
Preparing fabric for quilting
The stitching can be done either manually or using a machine. The traditional option would be even lines, which in the future will turn into small squares. If the craftswoman wants to add originality to the stitching, then she can find patterns where there are different snowflakes or flowers on the outer part of the product.
Preparing the fabric for quilting begins with applying a pattern to the material. The mattress will be stitched along the quilting.
Attention! If you want to decorate the product with figures or a pattern, you need to make it on paper in advance. Then, after the pattern, the needlewoman will only need to apply the sketch to the material and simply trace it. Below is how to sew a mattress for a stroller.
How to sew correctly
You can sew a set for a stroller for a newborn with your own hands either by hand or using a sewing machine. The second option will make the seams stronger and more durable. Before you start stitching, you need to choose a model for the mattress:
- A regular mattress without a cover.
- Product with a clasp.
- Product with cover and edging.
Step-by-step execution of work:
- Place the two mattress pieces right sides together.
- Sew three sides.
- Turn the mattress inside out.
- Fill it tightly with synthetic padding.
- Sew the last part on the machine, making a hem.
If the mattress will have a cover, a fastener is sewn into it. To do this, you need to fold the two cut out elements and carefully sew in the zipper. Then the sides are also sewn, and the mattress is stuffed with padding polyester. If desired, you can sew a pocket for small items. Such products can be used not only in a stroller, but also in a cradle. The work is ready.
Washing such products is quite a complicated process. It is not recommended to use hot water or detergents containing chlorine and bleaches. They will make the threads shiny and the product fade. The optimal temperature for washing is 40–60 degrees, machine drying is prohibited, as it can cause the filler to crumple. There is no need to wring out the mattress, it only needs to be allowed to drain, and it will dry in the air itself. It is better to avoid direct sunlight, as the pattern on the cotton may lose its saturation.
Many seamstresses recommend using liquid-based baby washing powders, they do not clog the pores of the fabric and are easy to wash out. If the dirt is not very strong, you can remove it with a soft brush and soapy water. There is no need to iron the product, as it will smooth out during use. It is not recommended to wash children's clothes and accessories together with adult products. You need to store the mattresses in plastic film in a dark place, as the fabric will fade in the sun and may lose its properties from overdrying.
In conclusion, it should be noted that sewing a mattress for a stroller is quite simple. It consists of only two parts that need to be filled with filler and sewn together. If desired, you can decorate it with some beads. Here it is important to include all your imagination in the process of work. Manufacturing takes literally a few hours. To clearly understand how to sew a mattress with your own hands, you can watch several lessons with master classes on websites for mothers.
