A Little Chic for their Little "Cheeks"

Love, love, love small projects! This one, a changing pad, should come together quickly, and we won't explore the whys and wherefores of this having taken me several months. Let's just say it fell out of the rotation before deadlines became pressing. 

I saw something similar to this online and another version or two in a magazine. Enough to inspire my version, which uses different dimensions and a easily color-customized friendship braid center panel design, as well as a soft washable vinyl for the flip side. My daughter came up with the idea of a frog closure. [Thank you, Laura!] The materials I used for mine (beyond the basics of thread and machine) were:

• "Baby Dry" washable vinyl  (at least 22 inches) I found mine at Hancock Fabrics and the bolt was quite wide (maybe 60 inches or more). You may choose to bind the pad with this. If so, you won't need but 1.5 inch wide strips for your binding. For the pad itself, you'll need 21" x 30" rectangle.
• Fleece or batting for the between layer.
• Fabric pieced slightly over-sized to attach to vinyl, after quilting to batting layer of choice.
• A machine needle designed for use with artificial leather; I used SCHMETZ Microtex (Sharp) 80/12. (Change to this needle when sewing on or over the vinyl.)
• "Frog" closure (could use button with loop, or velcro).

1. Cut the vinyl to be 30" x 21". Mark 25" up on either side, and using the mid-point of the top, draw to that for the angle to cut for the "pointy" end. You will be sewing a folding guide line five inches in on either side AFTER you have attached and trimmed the pieced top to the vinyl. (This is the business side of the diaper pad; baby's playground, as it were.)

2. Okay. This is not so much
a tutorial, as a picture progression of how to fold it. But basically to get it to this point you quilt a top that will be 2 or 3 inches larger than your vinyl base. Matching their centers you line it up,wrong sides together, and join the edges using a zigzag stitch, trimming away the excess. Sew the folding guideline five inches in from either side, through all thicknesses. Try out your folding guides to get a nice crease going.

Then add a binding, either cloth or vinyl. I attached a 1.5" binding strip on the vinyl side, using a scant 1/4" seam, then pulled it around to the front to machine top stitch on the edge of the fold.

3. This is the "pretty" side. Yes? It is also the side that will be picking up any random germs from mall changing tables, etc. Which is why you really want to be sure to get WASHABLE materials!

4. As you fold, and fold, and fold, you should be able to get a clutch-like configuration. Ready for momma to strut through any eatery with stylish confidence. Okay, okay. Wet, wriggling, fussy baby accompanying...;o)

Photo collage added July 2014

5. Step FINAL in the assembly is to add a closure. I like the "frog" closure pictured above. Found mine at Hobby Lobby for $2.99, but was able to catch the 50% off day and grabbed up two for the price of one. (Yea!) You could opt for a button & loop, or figure out a velcro approach to the fastening finish. God has blessed my life with some young moms who have been cheerful recipients (or will soon be, as the case may be) of their custom color versions of the "Chic Cheeks" - since 2013.