Car seat covers can be expensive, but did you know you can make your car seat covers out of towels? This DIY project can save money and give your car a custom look. Here are the steps to make car seat covers out of towels:
These are the steps that we are going to discuss:
- Measure and cut the towel
- Sew the Towel Pieces Together
- Add Elastic for an Easy Fit
- Sew the Hem on the Seams
- Sew the Elastic to the Hem
- Stitch the Elastic to the Hem
- Attach the Elastic to the Seat
- Attach the towel to the car seat
- Craft the headrest cover
- Finish the side and bottom of the seat cover
- Add a zipper for the cover
- Finish details for the cover
Materials:
These are the materials that we are going to use in the process:
- Towels (2-3 large towels per seat)
- Elastic (1 inch wide)
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Pins
How to Make Car Seat Covers Out of Towels
Step 1: Measure and Cut the Towel
The first step is to measure the size of the car seat you want to cover.
Take the measuring tape and measure the width and length of the seat. Once you have the measurements, you can cut the towel to fit the seat size.
Cut 2-3 large towels per seat to ensure you have enough fabric to cover the entire seat.
Step 2: Sew the Towel corners Together
After measuring the towels to the seat size, you need to sew the corners together. Take one towel and place it on top of the other towel, right sides facing each other.
Pin the towels together along the edges where you want to join them. After that, give a round to thread around the towel. This will help you to keep your towel in place.
Repeat this process until all the towels are sewn together to form the seat cover.
Step 3: Add Elastic for an Easy Fit
Add elastic to the hem to ensure the car seat cover stays in place.
Measure the circumference of the seat and add a few inches to that measurement to allow for stretching. Cut the elastic to that length.
Take the seat cover and fold over the hem about 1 inch. Place the elastic on top of the hem and pin it in place. Use a zigzag stitch to sew the elastic to the hem.
Step 4: Sew the Hem on the Seams
After you have attached the elastic to the hem, you need to sew the hem on the seams.
Fold the hem over again and pin it in place. Use a straight stitch on the sewing machine to sew the hem on the seams.
Make sure to sew slowly and carefully not to stretch the elastic.
Step 5: Stitch the Elastic to the Hem
It would help if you stitched it to ensure the elastic is securely attached to the hem.
Use a zigzag stitch to stitch the elastic to the hem. Make sure to sew on the inside of the hem so the stitching is not visible on the outside.
Step 6: Attach the Elastic to the Seat
Now that the elastic is attached to the hem, you can attach it to the seat. Place the seat cover on the car seat and stretch the elastic around the seat.
Pin the elastic in a place where it meets the hem. Use a zigzag stitch to sew the elastic to the seat cover. This will ensure that the seat cover stays in place while driving.
Step 7: Attach the Towel to the Car Seat
To attach the towel to the car seat, you need to use the existing attachments on the car seat. Remove the headrests and feed the seat belts through the holes in the towel.
Reattach the headrests and adjust the seat belts to be in the correct position. The towel should now be securely attached to the car seat.
Step 8: Craft the Headrest Cover
To complete the custom look, you can make a headrest cover from the leftover towels. Measure the size of the headrest and cut a towel to fit the size.
Fold the towel in half and sew the edges together. Turn the cover right side out and place it on the headrest.
Step 9: Finish the Side and Bottom of the Seat Cover
To finish the side and bottom of the seat cover, you can fold the edges over about 1 inch and sew them in place with a straight stitch.
This will give the seat cover a finished look and prevent the edges from fraying.
Step 10: Add a Zipper for the Cover
Add a zipper to the back of the cover to make the seat cover removable for washing. Measure the length of the seat cover and cut a strip of fabric to fit the length of the cover.
Sew the zipper onto the fabric strip and then sew the fabric strip onto the back of the seat cover.
Step 11: Finish Details for the Cover
You can sew on some decorative elements to add details to the seat cover. Add patches, embroidery, or other embellishments to the cover to make it unique.
Be sure to sew these elements securely so they do not come off while driving.
My Opinion
Making car seat covers from towels is an easy and cost-effective DIY project. With just a few materials and sewing skills, you can create custom seat covers that will protect your car seats and give your car a personalized touch.
Whether you want to update your car’s interior or protect your seats from wear and tear, making car seat covers out of towels is a fun and practical.
I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.
