I am so glad I have space for a changing table. It saves your back and your body. I do my fair share of diaper changing with 3 kids in diapers. I realized lately how much I use the changing table and that is what inspired this post. I got online and looked around but ended up like always making it "custom" to fit my needs. I got so carried away sewing that I forgot to take pictures of each step all along the way but for now I will post the pictures of the finished product. If you are insterested you can read my comments below the pictures for a few more details of how to make them yourself. I also have a modified idea for the diaper bag changing pad so stay tuned for that..
The finished product, first the pink fleece, the brown minky, and then the cream towel.
After going a little overboard (I made 6 in total) I realized a few things and made my own pattern and modifications. I like each material for a different purpose. My changing pad is about 32 L x 17 W x 6 H.
First, I think you can use just about any material. I used minky, towels, soft fuzzy cotton/polyester, polar fleece,and 100% cotton. The minky was softest fabric but the hardest to sew as it was slightly stretchy and a little thicker. I did get a few puckers on the corners but luckily it is pretty forgiving and you don’t notice too much. The towel seams also got a little thick to sew but with a serger it would be no problem. The light thinner fleece was probably the easiest to sew on.
Second, I realized you can make these really quick or just quick. I am talking less than hour from start to finish either method. The really quick way is if you have serger and don’t care what it looks like on the underside,just serger all the edges with no casing and not having a boxy look on the ends. The quick way involves doing a casing and cutting out the boyx ends part. This is what takes the longest amount of time but even then it is not too bad. I have seen where you can do the top one-third of the cover with different material and that looks cute but I didn’t bother going that route.
Third, I would recommend using a slightly wider ( ½-3/4 inch) elastic over what most patterns suggest (3/8 inch). It thicker and that just seems to make it a little stronger. I would also suggest using more than 36 inches or 38 inches that is suggest. I used closer to like 58 or 60 inches of elastic. The cover still fits snug on the changing pad but lessens the risk of the elastic snapping and also easier to fit on the changing pad. Yes, I am speaking from experience. I would measure your elasic on your changing pad before to see how tight or loose you want it.
Fourth, I am frugal and cheap. I used a little less material than what most patterns call for, mostly just so I could put 2 covers on a 60 inch wide piece of fabric. Using less fabric just leaves less covering the backside of the pad; which who sees the backside anyway. (See the picture below)
Basically, you have to decide casing or no casing and boxy ends or no boxy ends. Boxy meaning too have a different look around the contoured curve of the pad. This requires a little more sewing and cutting but still doable. See pictures.
The basics of what you need : THIS IS NOT A FULL TUTORIAL. I don't have time for that.
A rectangle piece of material 32 W x 34 L. This will give you room for the casing.
AND for the boxy look another rectangle piece of fabric 17 inches L x 7 inches W
OR
Fabric 30 W x 32 L doing the no-casing method.
AND
2 yards of elastic anywhere from 1/2 inch up to 1 inch
2 yards of elastic anywhere from 1/2 inch up to 1 inch
Sewing Machine or Serger
This what I mean by not having a lot of coverage/overlap underneath the pad. It still stays on and saves on fabric so I think it is a win win.
The serger method just sewing the elastic to fabric with no-casing. Sorry a little hard to see becuase I used white thread.
This is the boxy look by adding that additional 17 x 7 piece of fabric to the end.
This is how the boxy look shows when on cover pad. Could have done slightly less elastic for tighter fit.
The non-boxy look and less sewing method.
Slightly thicker seams but this was done on serger so not too bad.
The end product before applying. Slightly less elastic tighter fit, no casing not boxy
