I'm guessing the lack of a jacket and the sleeveless, collarless shirts this Summer led to The Peanut's new habit of pushing her seat belt off her neck and onto her arm. She never exactly complained about the seat belt rubbing or irritating her neck, but I had a hunch. After a week of trying to correct her from the front seat, I decided to fix it at my sewing machine. I used materials I already had on hand: snaps, bias tape, soft (pretty) flannel, fluffy fleece, and durable duck-cloth canvas. I like the canvas as a backing -- the side against the seat belt -- so I don't need to worry about catches or tears as the seat belt cover slides up and down. The fleece and flannel are both equally soft; doubled up they add the Cozy to the cover. I chose the flannel for its pattern (I only have fleece solids on hand), but two pieces of fleece (or three pieces of flannel) would also work.
Seat belts are typically two-inches wide. As you insert the snaps, be aware your final Cozy Cover should fold just a smidgen wider -- you want it to hug the seat belt so it stays in place without distorting the seat belt's flat-ness, ability to lie flat (lay flat?), ability to be flat. This five-inch long belt cover is perfect for my six-year-old. For a tween or older, I would add an inch or so to the length and maybe a third, center snap.
Eagle eyes will notice (by the color coding on the needle) that I didn't even bother to change out my needle to accommodate the duck-cloth weight -- and I've got at least one skipped stitch to show for it. If you plan on making a few of these in one sitting (one for each seat belt in your car? a few more for your other car? maybe grandma could use also one?), go ahead and put a proper heavy-duty needle on your machine and avoid any grief.
Ready to make one yourself? Dive into your scraps and follow the picture tutorial below for step-by-step directions how to sew a Seat Belt Cozy Cover sized just for kids.
Ren Murphy writes for The Inspired Wren.
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