How to Make a Baby Carrier.

This is a basic pattern that fits most people.

This are the Items you will need.
Your Fabric:
2-1/2 - 3 yard for your straps and interior baby carrier.
1/2 yard contrasting cotton fabric for exterior.
1/2 yard fabric for a pocket. You can chose a printed fabric for the pocket. This is optional.
If you are a average size person purchase 2 1/12 yards. This will have top straps that are roughly 65" long.
If you are a larger person then you need 3 yrs of fabric the top straps will be longer roughly 90" long.
1 yard cotton flannel or other soft fabric for the interior.

You'll Also Need:
Color coordinating thread
A Washable Fabric Marker
A Yard Stick Or Measuring Tape ( I prefer both)
Elastic
A Safety pin
Straight pins
Sewing Machine

When your ready to cut and sew your baby carrier make sure you WASH & DRY your Fabric before sewing because your fabric will Shrink!

So after your done washing and drying iron your fabric.

1. Lay your fabric longest way,flat no fold.
Cut 1 waist strap from straps fabric.
77" long
9 " wide

2. Cut 2 shoulder straps from your strap fabric.
Measurements will be:
1.60"-90" long:depending on your fabric.
2.Width will be your choice 8"-10"
For better comfort you should go with the 10"

3. Now For Your Main Panel:
Fold your fabric long ways.
Place your fold on the bottom.
If you want a lighter weight baby carrier cut 1 main panel from your exterior fabric.
If you want a heavier baby carrier cut 2 from your main panel exterior fabric.

Measure,
24" x 8 '

Now with your flannel or other soft fabric: use the main panel measurements as above and cut another matching panel.
This will be the inside of your baby carrier.

If you want a pocket measure, & cut:
11" W x 15" L

With your main panel pieces folded in half measure:

1/2" from the unfolded side,mark all the way down.

4" from the top down because you will have a flap there & 1/2 " from the sides. Mark with your fabric marker.
Mark all sides of your folded fabric too.

Now mark 5 inches below and 1/2 " from sides your first dot.
Mark all sides of fabric.

Now measure 11" down and 1/2" from sides below the last dot and make another dot there.

Measure 4" below your last dot and mark there.
Mark all sides of fabric.

Ok. So your markings should look like something like the picture above.

Sewing your 3 Straps:
Repeat for each strap:
1.Fold 1 shoulder strap fabric in half lengthwise right sides inside. Pic #1

2.Sew along the long edge of your shoulder strap,it will look like a tube when your finished..

3.Lay your shoulder strap seam side up. Press your seam open.

When your done pressing your strap will look like #2 pictured.

4. Make sure your pressed seam is going down the middle and sew along 1 top edge and turn strap inside out and press again. Pic.# 2

5.Turn inside out.
Repeat for second shoulder strap.

Sewing the waist strap:
1.Fold the waist strap fabric in half lengthwise right sides inside.
2.Sew along the long edge of your strap,it will look like a tube when your finished.
3.Lay your waist strap seam side up. Press your seam open.
When your done pressing your strap will look like #2 pictured.
4.Turn your waist strap inside out..
5.Lay your strap with the seam going down the middle of the fabric & press.
6.Tuck your end edges inside 1/4 inch and sew. Pict #3

::

The elastic.
Measure your elastic at least 2" wider than the pocket. Cut
Lay you elastic along top edge of the wrong side of your pocket fabric.
Fold your fabric a little wider than your your elastic.
Measure and pin fabric. Don't pin the elastic remove it.
Sew along the bottom edge only.

Take a safety pin & pin through 1 edge of the elastic. Close pin.

Insert safety pin with elastic and thread them through the opening you just sewed till the pin comes out the end on the left..

Hold your elastic & pin it to the fabric along the left edge. You want it inside the edge of the pocket .
Remove safety pin.

Sew along that edge 1/4 "

Now stretch your elastic, not too much your fabric will bunch up too much. You want a nice looking pocket.
Pin the elastic to the fabric on the other side.

Now sew your elastic where you pinned it with matching thread.
Now cut elastic so it doesn't show.

Fold 1/4 along four main edges and press with an iron.

Sew along your 3 edges with matching thread.

1.With 1 of your exterior main panels facing right side up,lay your pocket with the elastic on top,6 inches from the bottom of your main panel.
2.Center your pocket. Make sure you measure so your pocket is straight.
3.Pin to your fabric.
4. Sew the 3 edges of the pocket 3/8 inch.

Lay out your flannel main panel.
Place your interior fabric right side up.
Lay your exterior fabric with the pocket side facing down.
Pin all your pieces in place.

Here is how I made sure my pieces were layed out the right way before I sewed it.
I pinned all my panels together except for the bottom. Then I very carefully turned my pieces the right side out.When your pieces are turned out the right way your pocket should be on one side and your flannel should be in the other side.
Ok now that you checked to see if it was right turn it back inside out and pin the bottom.

1.Sew around your edges 1/2", leaving your four spaces open.
Just before your dots make sure you back stitch several times. See Pic.
Sew your bottom edge 2X's.

Fold your fabric in where your opened edges are and then iron them.

Now you need to trim along your top seam back to 1/4 ".

Turn your piece right side out by pulling through 1 of the larger holes on the side.
It's a little tricky but you can do it.

O k! How does it look? Great! Now iron your panels

Lay your main panel with your exterior fabric or pocket facing you.
Insert your shoulder strap at least 1" inside the hole on the top right with your seam going down the middle facing down so you don't see it.
Angle your straps.
Pin.
Repeat for the other shoulder strap.

Now here is a trick I used to make sure your straps match: after you are done pinning both your straps in: fold your fabric in half so the straps are on top of each other. Are they matching? If not re-adjust your straps to match then re-pin.

Waist strap.
Insert 1 waist strap seam side down into the opening on the bottom left at least 1".
Pin.
Repeat for other side.

Sew along all edges at least 1/4".
This will close all your openings and secure your straps.
Make sure you back stich over your straps at least 2 times.

Ok! Now you are finished. Admire your work and be proud. You made it!

Don't forget to wash and iron it also.