Recently my 16 month-old son has started wanting to gnaw on the grocery cart handle when we go shopping. Maybe he’s teething AGAIN or maybe he just gets a kick out of my reaction when I freak out. I’m far from being a germaphobe but especially during cold season, I know how gross those things can be. SO, I let’s create a solution!
I’ve seen the grocery cart seat covers that cover pretty much every surface that the child would come in contact, but they’re so bulky and seam like it would be more hassle to get it situated before putting the child in the cart. I’d prefer just a simple handle cover that I could easily fit in my purse (or bag, as my husband calls it these days). The funny thing is, my little sister had a brief appearance in a commercial for something similar to this called a Buggy Huggy sometime around 1994. I’m not sure it ever actually aired, but the idea has been out there for some time.
As I considered how to go about making one of my own, I decided to add a little feature for me… POCKETS! Therefore, cutting back on time digging for coupons to make sure I get the right product to go along with them, my cell phone which is where I save my grocery list, Camden’s pacifier if/when he starts getting antsy toward the end of our trip, etc. I was surprised how quickly I was able to complete the project.
I’m definitely still a beginner when it comes to sewing, having just learned to work a sewing machine a month or two ago. I would consider this an easy project that anyone could do without any frustrations.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 1 yard of fabric
- 20″ of velcro (I used 1″ width)
- 22″ x 3″ of batting (optional)
1) Cut TWO pieces of fabric 22″ x 11″.
2) Cut ONE piece of fabric 22″ x 6″ for the pockets.
3) Sew a 1/2″ hem along one of the long edges of the 22″ x 6″ piece of fabric. This will be the top edge of your pockets.
4) Lay this piece (22″ x 6″ fabric) on top of one of the 22″ x 11″ pieces lining up the bottom edges with the hemmed edge going along the center of the larger piece. Be sure the right sides of both pieces of fabric are showing as shown below.
5) Pin along the two sides and bottom edges. Then sew together. This will be your pocket(s).
6) Now lay the two 22″ x 11″ pieces right sides together and then the 22″ x 3″ strip of batting (if you choose) along the top about 1.5″ from top as shown below.
I included the batting to create a little cushion around the handle.
7) Pin along the outer edges then sew a 1/4″ seem. Leave about 4″ open for turning right-side out.
8) Pull everything through the opening making it right-side out. Then stitch the opening closed.
9) Now, line up one side of the velcro along the top of the pocket side. Pin and sew around the edges to attach it like so.
10) Pin the other side of the velcro on the back side about 5″ from the top. Sew around the edges to attach. Be careful that the top of the pocket, which will be underneath when sewing this piece of velcro, does not get sewn shut. The velcro piece will look like this.
11) Now decide how many pockets you’d like to have and how wide you’d like them to be. I chose to have 3 pockets, but 4 would work well too. Now pin where you’d like to divide each pocket and sew a straight line from the bottom to the top of the pocket.
Congratulations! Your finished product will look something like this. Can’t wait to try mine out! 
Such a good idea. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and along with it my MIL gave me a kit to make a shopping cart seat cover. Of course I said thank you and started thinking of ways to repurpose the fabric because those covers are sooo bulky. Then again, my 9mo has been chewing on everything in sight for as long as she’s been able to reach it, and that includes table edges, the arm of the couch, and of course, the shopping cart handle. While our family motto at the moment is “We’re not just raising a child, we’re building an immune system,” I do get some funny looks from people who see her gnawing on the cart. Maybe this will be a managable(!) solution. Thanks Lindsey!