Tutorial: This Mama’s Fab Travel Chair

This fabric “high chair” is perfect for away from home dining.

It’s no 5-point harness, but it helps secure them in the chair.

This one was made from an old thrifted, quilted ottoman cover

Gather materials: Quilted fabric for outer*, cotton broadcloth or similar for lining, Velcro.

*Batting combined with broadcloth can also be used.

For this one, I used a thrifted bedspread and bed sheet.Step 1 – Make pattern pieces.

All measurements include 3/8″ seam allowance.

Step 2 – Add markings 2 1/4″ apart at center of each piece as shown in picture.

These markings will help you place the connector piece.

Step 3 – Using a single layer of lining and a single layer of quilted fabric, cut each piece out together.

Curve the corners of velcro pieces so there are no sharp points.

Step 4 – With right sides together, sew connector pieces together along long edges. (3/8″ seam allowance)

Step 5 – With right sides together, sew seat pieces together, starting at connector mark and ending at next mark, leaving open 2 1/4″.

Step 6 – With right sides together, sew strap pieces together, starting at connector mark and ending at next mark, leaving open 2 1/4″.

Step 7 – Turn all pieces right side out and press.

Step 8 – Top stitch connector piece 1/4″ from edge along sewn edges.

Step 9 – Insert connector piece into opening in seat and into opening in strap. Pin into place.

Step 10 – 1/4″ Top stitch around entire edge of seat and strap, making sure to catch connector piece.

Step 11 – Hand stitch lip edge of strap and seat at connector for a more finished look. or use 1/8″ top stitch to secure lip.

Step 12 – Sew Velcro onto ends of waist strap, centering on strap & placing it 1 1/4″ away from short edge.

Scratchy side goes on outside of strap.

Soft side goes on inside of strap.

Sew all along the edge.

You’re done!

Weave through chair back.

Insert hungry kid!

In these days of 5-point harnesses, I must remind you this travel chair should always be used with parent supervision. It does not 100% secure child to chair. Never leave child unattended.

{ 8 trackbacks }

Tutorial: This Mama’s Fab Travel Chair | This Mama Makes Stuff: November 17, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Making Stuff: Portable Fabric High Chair | This Mama Makes Stuff: July 5, 2011 at 8:17 am
Belle Bébés - DIY Travel Sanity: July 7, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Otroške povezave « Tinka's Stuff: December 1, 2011 at 2:01 am
Portable High Chair « Celia Makes Stuff: May 27, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Travel High Chair | SewLuxeSew: August 4, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Hold It! « So Much Noise: November 1, 2012 at 12:53 pm
free EBook Sitzhilfe “pirate grid” « moniCulture: November 26, 2012 at 11:44 pm

{ 65 comments… read them below or add one }

← Previous Comments

Shana August 6, 2012 at 9:15 pm: This is fabulous! I just made one for daughter- thank you for your clear instructions!! I’m just beginning with my hand-me-down machine and this was easy enough for me to understand (most tutorials aren’t!).
A tip for other people, though, is to definitely use quilted material! I used 2 layers of pretty fabric with batting between.. pain.in.the.butt! It worked out in the end but it was horrible to deal with, I almost gave up! So definitely follow the wonderful instructions and use the quilted material to begin with- not batting! Thanks again!

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Nicole August 13, 2012 at 4:29 pm: Just made this. Like right now. In like 2 hours and with materials I have on hand. Perfect. I’m giving it to one of my bridesmaids for her 13 month old daughter (who happens to be the flower girl) to use at our off-site wedding (in an old barn in a park and the venue doesn’t provide a high-chair). I love it because it will have an immediate use and I know it will be used camping, at the cottage, and visiting Grandma and Grandpa (and other kid-less friends).
Super-easy tutorial!
Thanks!

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Cyndi August 19, 2012 at 12:58 pm: This is a GREAT idea. Making 2 – one for each granddaughter – Twins!!!! This will be so much easier that toting those chairs around. Thanks for the great directions. : )

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Bobby August 20, 2012 at 5:25 am: This is by far one of the best ideas that I have seen!! Thank you for giving such awesome detail on how to make it! I am going to be making a couple for me and a few as gifts for my friends!! Thank you again!!!

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Amy August 29, 2012 at 8:34 pm: Hey, I have a question. What are your little knobby things in the picture where you’re cutting out the fabric with the pattern? I assume they’re magnets or something, but where did you buy them or did you make them? Thanks!!

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deb Reply:
September 7th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
They are fabric weights for cutting, no pins needed on pattern.

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Becky September 24, 2012 at 6:26 am: I am going to make one of these for my son and make the straps longer. I want to be able to secure him in the high chairs at restaurants. He can get out of the lap belt and onto the table. I will let you know if it doesn’t work Thanks for the great tutorial!

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Stacey October 14, 2012 at 2:59 am: I have a probably silly few questions. So the pieces are sewn inside out? Like fabric-fabric-batting? And then is seems like its sewn all the way around to the strap opening? But how is the fabric turned right side out? I’m not a sewer but I really want to make this and need some help. Thanks!

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kris November 18, 2012 at 7:34 pm: How would you measure for fabric batting?I am sewing with regular fabric and adding the batting.thanks!

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Katie Reply:
February 13th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
I measured 1/2″ wider and longer to the fabric, and again 1/2″ wider and longer than that for batting (although I would do more than that if unsure to give yourself wiggle room). Once I quilted the batting to the fabric I trimmed to size.

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http://cancionesparahijos.newsvine.com January 7, 2013 at 1:10 am: Hola, esto es de utilidad. Aunque debo reconocer que algún otro artículos de otro día no me resultó tan interesante, el
de esta vez me ha gustado realmente.
A seguir así!

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v romero January 25, 2013 at 6:03 am: Hi, love your design…? do you have the exact measurnment for fabric needed?
Thanks for your reply
V. R.

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Molly February 12, 2013 at 5:23 pm: Thank you so much for posting this tutorial! I saw a product like this in a store and went searching on the internet for a pattern. This pattern is so easy and so great and so not something that I would have been able to come up with myself. I was able to make it for my 11 month old daughter between the time that dinner went in the over and the time that it was served.

To respond to a few of the questions, I used regular batting and fabric. I just cut the 3 together and then stacked them lining (right side up), batting, outer fabric (wrong side up). If you sew them like that and flip the right sides of the fabric are out and the batting is on the inside. Love it!

Thanks again!

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Taren March 1, 2013 at 2:28 pm: All I have is cotton, fleece and oilcloth ATM. Is there anything I could do with that? Or would it be unsafe?

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Gemma March 3, 2013 at 10:45 am: I love your design, thank you for sharing it. I made a travel high chair for my son. You could see the result in my blog
http://trossetsvida.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/diy-trona-de-viaje.html

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Candace May 6, 2013 at 12:32 pm: Thank you so much for posting this tutorial! I made one yesterday with some quilting cotton and batting in 2 hours. Your directions are very clear and easy to follow. Folds to fit perfectly in my diaper bag and we actually used it today at a coffee shop while visiting with friends. My 17 month old daughter was very excited about having her snack in a big girl chair with the grown ups

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Embroidered patches May 13, 2013 at 6:57 pm: Wow lucky baby! That is really nice custom stuff you design and make.

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