Sweet Nothings Crochet: ELEPHANT CAR SEAT COVER

ELEPHANT CAR SEAT COVER

A custom order / request for a baby car seat cover had me smiling from ear to ear as I’ve been wanting to make one of these forever.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely 100% Laura knitting cotton yarn with a 4 mm crochet hook

Size : The car seat is about 17.5” x 27.5”.

Skill level : Intermediate

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

dc : Double crochet rep : Repeat

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space

fsc : Foundation single crochet

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches. Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

How to do a picot stitch : A quick look at this self-explanatory link on a “how-to” for picot edgings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GGlzZZl3I8

Instructions

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement. This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

I found a free pattern online which was pretty similar to what I’ve done here, so just thought I’d share that link with you too.

The pattern is called Basic Car Seat Tent and is available free on ravelry.com

So as usual, before we start, a quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today. So we start at one end of the car seat cover and work our way in a rectangle up to the top. We will then do a nice edging for this in a contrast colour and then add in the two straps that will hold the cover up to the handle of the

It looks like this is going to be a fairly simple project, so let’s get to it.

Our pattern repeat is 2.

Start with fdc in multiples of 2 till you have a fdc chain that is the width of your car seat.

Row 1 : hdc in the 1^st dc ;

*ch 1, sk next dc , hdc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till end ; dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Row 2 : hdc in the 1^st hdc ;

*ch 1, sk next hdc , hdc in the next hdc* ;

rep *to* till end ; dc in the last 2 dc. Turn.

Row 3 : Rep Row 2 once more.

Row 4 : sc in the 1^st hdc ; dc in the next hdc ;

*sc in the next ch-1 sp ; dc in the next hdc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 5 : sk 1^st dc ;

*(sc + 1 dc in the next sc) ;
sk next dc , rep (to) in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 6 : Rep Row 5 once.

Row 7 : hdc in the 1^st st ;

*ch 1, sk next st, hdc in the next st* ;

rep *to* till last 2 sts ;
hdc in the last 2 sts. Turn.

And that’s our little pattern for you.

Rep Rows 2 – 7 till you have a project length as desired, ending with a Row 3.

Last Row : dc in the 1^st 2 sts ;

*dc in the next ch-1 sp ; dc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Do not fasten off, but turn your work 90˚ and work on one side of your work to do a neaten and square this off. So first we’ll do one row of sc’s from this end all the way down to the starting fdc row.

I basially did 1 sc in each vertical line of the dc, and an sc in the sp between 2 sts all the way down. When you reach the fdc row, turn and work one row of dc all the way back up to the last row.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

IF you are changing colours. Please read below before cutting your yarn off

Repeat this on the other side of your blanket as well to get a neat dc row on all four sides of your work.

Now you can finish off right here, as this looks so lovely as it is, or join me in the next set of borders.

I’ve decided to use a white yarn for the border, so I’ve re-attached yarn at one corner of my work.

Border :

Our pattern repeat is 5.

Round 1 : (Using white) : dc in the 1^st dc ;

*dc in each dc till end, 3 dc in that last corner dc ;
2 dc in the vertical bar of the next dc on turning* ;

rep *to* 3 times ;
dc in each dc till end and join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Count your sts and ensure you have the pattern repeat of 5.

Now in each corner, place a marker in the centre dc of that 3-dc set.

Round 2 : ch 1, 5 dc in the 1^st ch-4 sp ;

*ch 1, sc in the next sc ;
ch 1, 5 dc in the next ch-4 sp* ;

rep *to* all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Last Round : ch 1, fpdc in the 1^st dc ; (ch 1, fpdc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times ;

*ch 1, sc in the next sc ;
rep (to) 5 times* ;

rep *to* all around.
Join with a s-st to the 1^st st.

Fasten the sides of your project and weave in ends.

And that’s done.. yet another project brilliantly executed !

Car seat straps : I folded the car seat in half and marked the centre line. Then approximating the place where we’d hold this blanket up, I placed two markers (one each for the car straps). For the car strap, I started with a fdc row for the length I wanted for this strap, and then worked an hdc in each st all the way back. So depending on how wide you want this strap, you work rows back and forth.

I then made an elephant that I attached in between both the straps, to finally complete the total elephant car seat cover.

I just love this whole creation, and am thrilled to say that the person for whom this is intended loves the finished pics as well.. so yaay J

Little Elephant motif : http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2014/10/e-is-for-elephant-crochet-elephant.html

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