Safari Car Seat Cover With Removable Straps...

Here's my newest project that is now completed -- "Safari Car Seat Cover with Removable Straps" for Baby Jack.  While working on this project, I decided on removable straps.  In the past, I have made car seat covers with the straps attached to the cover on one end of it -- however, it seems to pull the yarn out of place after a short time.  So, I thought I would give a try at removable straps to:  1.  hopefully, prevent distortion of the cover; and 2.  it can be used as a blanket.  I just love versatility.

I was dreading designing the animal appliqués but it turned out to be pretty fun.  I think they look pretty good.  So, below, you will find lots of pics and the FREE pattern to use, if you so desire.

Safari Car Seat Cover with Removable Straps

Safari Car Seat Cover with Removable Straps

Size:  30" x 40"

Difficulty Level:  Intermediate

Materials:

--5.5mm hook

--3.0mm hook

--(4) 1 1/4" buttons

--#4 worsted weight yarn; 1 skein of:  brown, mid green, desert glaze, white, aqua (I used "I Love This Yarn" from Hobby Lobby); brown was the only skein that I used all of; I opted to use Brown Tweed for my strap colors just because I had a partial skein on hand and the flecks of color matched the colors I used

--small amount of gray, red, black, light brown, yellow and dark orange for animal appliques  

--very tiny amount of polyfil to stuff lion's mouth/nose 

Abbreviations:

--Ch:  chain

--Sl st:  slip stitch

--St:  stitch

--HDC:  half double crochet

--HHDC:  Herringbone half double crochet

--SC:  single crochet

--DC:  double crochet

--MR:  magic ring

--FO:  fasten off

Special Stitch:  I did the brown portion of the cover in the HHDC stitch and SC stitch.  I wanted a tight, neat stitch appearance and this certainly fulfilled what I was wanting.  If you are not comfortable with the HHDC stitch then you can use HDC.  I love the texture and look of the HHDC.

To make the HHDC stitch:  yarn over, insert hook into next stitch or chain, yarn over, draw through loop and first loop on hook; yarn over and pull remaining two loops on hook through.

Directions:

1.  With 5.5 mm hook and Brown yarn, Ch74.  HHDC into 2nd Ch and across.  Ch1 and turn.  (73)

2-50.  HHDC and SC in first st, skip next st.  Repeat across until the last st.  Into the last st, 1 HHDC.  Ch1 and turn.  At the end of Row 50, FO and weave ends.  (73 = 37 HHDC & 36 SC)

Your piece will measure approximately 16 1/2" x 21".

Now, you will be working around the perimeter: 

1. With 5.5mm hook and Mid Green yarn, join yarn in any stitch and Ch1.  Into the same stitch as the Ch1, DC and then DC around the entire blanket with 3DC into each corner.  Sl st to join and Ch1.

2.  DC around with 3 DC in each corner.  Before completing the last st, FO Mid Green yarn and join with Desert Glaze yarn, sl st to join and Ch1.  

3-5.  DC around with 3 DC in each corner.  At the end of each round, sl st to join and Ch1.  Before completing the last st, FO Desert Glaze and join White yarn and Ch1. 

6-8.  White White yarn, SC in each st around with 3 SC in each corner.  Sl st to join and Ch1 at the end of each round.  At the end of Round 8, FO and weave ends.

 Now, the following will be worked in rows on the short ends and not the perimeter:

9-13.  Working on the short end, you will make 5 Rows of DC.  At the end of each row, Ch1 and turn.  At the end of the 5th row, FO and weave ends.

14-18.  You will be working on the opposite short end.  Repeat as you did for rows 9-13.  Do not fasten off.

Now, you will be back to working around the perimeter:

19.  Continue with White yarn and work HDC st around the entire blanket.  Before completing the last st, FO White yarn and join Aqua yarn; then sl st to join and Ch1.

20-22.  In Aqua yarn, 1 HDC in each st around with 3 HDC st in each corner.  Sl st to join and Ch1.

23.  This Round can be a little tricky.  Mine worked out correctly but just know you may have to make a few changes by adding an extra chain or HDC stitch.  This round is completed by the following:  HDC in next st, Ch3, skip 3, around with 2 HDC, Ch1, 2 HDC in each corner.  Sl st to join and Ch1.

24.  HDC into each HDC of previous round.  Into the Ch3 space, you will make a cluster (HDC, Ch1, HDC).  Into each corner, 2 HDC, Ch1, 2 HDC.  Sl st to join and Ch1.

25.  SC into the HDC of the previous round.  Into the Ch1 space of the cluster of the previous round, you will complete 3 HDC stitches.  Into the corners, 2 HDC, Ch2, 2 HDC.  Sl st to join.  FO and weave ends.

Removable Straps (make 2):

1.  With Brown Tweed yarn and 5.5 mm hook, Ch6.  HHDC into 2nd st and across.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

2.  Make first buttonhole:  HHDC into first st, Ch3, skip 3, HHDC into the last st. Ch1 and turn.  (2 HHDC & 3 Ch)

3.  HHDC into first st, 3 HHDC into the Ch3 space and HHDC in the last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

4-19.  HHDC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

20.  Make second buttonhole:  HHDC into first st, Ch3, skip 3, HHDC into the last st. Ch1 and turn.  (2 HHDC & 3 Ch)  

21.  HHDC into first st, 3 HHDC into the Ch3 space and HHDC in the last st.  Ch1.  (5)

22.  SC evenly down the side, across the base, up the next side and across the last row.  Sl st to join.  FO and weave ends.  

Button Placement:

I measured 14" down from the top and 12" inward from each side to place the top 2 buttons.  I then measured 4" down from each top button to place the bottom 2 buttons.  (see pic)

That's it!!!!  Yay!!!  Now, on to the animal appliques.

Elephant:

Face:

1.  With 5.5mm hook and gray yarn, 8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (8)

2.  2 HDC into each st around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (16)

3.  2 HDC in first st, then 1 HDC in next st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  (24)

4.  2 HDC in first st, then 1 HDC in next 2 st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join and Ch1.  FO.  Leave a long tail for attaching.  (32)

Eyes (make 2):

1.  With 5.5mm hook and black yarn, 4 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO.  I embroidered white yarn into the center of the black (see pic).

Tusk:

1.  Ch15.  SC into 2nd ch and across until the last ch.  Into the last ch, 6 SC.  FO, leave a tail long enough to attach to the face.

I embroidered with black and red yarn to make the mouth and tongue (see pic).

Ears (make 2):

1.  With contrast yarn (I used Aqua), and 5.5mm hook, 8 HDC into MR.  Pull to tighten but do not join.  Ch1 and turn.

2.  2 HDC into the first st, 1 HDC into the next 6 st and then 2 HDC in the last st.  Before completing the last st, join gray yarn; Ch1 and turn.   

3.  In gray, 2 SC in the first st, 1 SC in the next 8 st and 2 SC in the last st.  FO.  Leave a long tail to attach the ears to each side of the face.  

Lion:

Face:

1.  With Desert Glaze and 5.5 mm hook, 8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (8)

2.  2 HDC into each st around.  Sl st to join.  Ch1.  (16)

3.  2 HDC into first st and then 1 HDC into next st.  Repeat around.  Sl st to join.  FO.  (24)

4.  Join into any st with a darker shade of orange and Ch1.  SC into the same st as the Ch1.  *Ch3 and sl st into the next st.  SC into the next st.*  Repeat around.  Sl st to join and FO.  

Eyes (make 2):

1.  With 3.0 mm hook and black yarn, 4 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO.  I embroidered white yarn off center of the black (see pic).

Mouth/Nose:

1.  With 5.5 mm hook and Desert Glaze yarn, 8 HDC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO.  Leave a tail long enough to attach.  With Brown yarn, embroider nose.  (see pic on placement; before you finish attaching to the face, stuff with a very small amount of polyfil to make it puff up) 

Ears (make 2):

1.  With 3.0mm hook and Desert Glaze yarn, Ch2.  SC into 2nd ch from hook.  Ch1 and turn.  (1)

2.  2 SC into st.  Ch1 and turn.  (2)

3.  2 SC into first st and 1 SC into 2nd st.  FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.  (3) (see pic for ear placement)

Giraffe:

Face/Body:

1.  With 5.5 mm hook and yellow yarn, Ch4.  SC into 2nd ch and across.  Ch1 and turn.  (3)

2.  2 SC into first st, SC in next and 2 SC in the last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

3.  1 SC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

4.  2 SC into first st, SC in next 3 st and 2 SC in the last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)

5.  1 SC in each st across.  Ch15.

6.  SC into the 2nd ch from the hook and the next 13 ch, then continue to SC in each st of row 5.  (21)

7-9.  1 SC in each st across.  Ch1 and turn.  (21)

10.  Sl st around perimeter of giraffe.  Sl st to join and FO, leaving a tail long enough for attaching.

Eyes (make 2):

1.  With 3.0 mm hook and black yarn, 4 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO.  Embroider white yarn into the center of the eye.  

Mouth:

I used black yarn and embroidered mouth.  (see pic)

Ears (make 2):  

1.  With 5.5 mm hook, ch6.  HDC in 2nd ch from hook, and HDC into next 2 ch, then slip stitch into each of the last 2 Chs.  FO, leaving a long enough tail to attach.  

Spots:

Large (2):

1.  With 3.0 mm hook and brown yarn, 5 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.

Small (2):

1.  With 3.0 mm hook and brown yarn, 3 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.

Monkey:

Face:

1.  With dark brown yarn and 5.5 mm hook, Ch4.  SC into 2nd ch and remaining.  Ch1.  Turn.  (3)

2.  2 SC into first st, 1 SC in next, 2 SC in the last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

3.  SC across.  Ch1 and turn.  (5)

4.  2 SC into first st, 1 SC in next 3 st, 2 SC in the last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)

5.  SC across.  FO with dark brown and join light brown.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)

6-9.  With light brown, SC across.  Ch1 and turn.  (7)

10.  2 SC into first st, 1 SC in next 5 st, and 2 SC in last st.  Ch1 and turn.  (9)

11.  SC across.  Ch1 and turn.  (9)

12.  With this round, you will use the light brown to SC evenly around the light brown perimeter, and then join the dark brown to SC evenly around the perimeter of the dark brown section.  Sl st to join and FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.  

Ears (make 2):

1.  With 3.0 mm hook and dark brown, 6 SC into MR.  Sl st to join with light brown.  Ch1.  (6)

2.  In light brown, 2 SC in each st around.  FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.  (12)

Eyes (make 2):

1.  With 3.0 mm hook and white yarn, 4 SC into MR.  Sl st to join and FO, leaving a tail long enough to attach.  With black yarn, I embroidered into the center of each eye.  (see pic)

Mouth:

I used red yarn to embroider mouth.  (see pic)

Animal Applique Placement:

I placed each animal in the corners of the Brown and Mid Green rows.  (see pic)

Legal:

This is fairly simply to me so I just make it short and sweet and easy to understand --

--don't claim as your own

--don't use my pics as your own

--link back to my blog as designer of pattern 

My Social Media Info:

• Pinterest, Instagram, Ravelry:  rilla2u (hashtag me on Instagram #rilla2u if you choose to make any of my designs)

• Email:  rilla2u@gmail.com

• Facebook:  /rillaedwards

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• Blog:  rilla2u.blogspot.com

Happy Crocheting!!!