Embroidered Baby Changing Pad & Carrying Case

First, prepare the fabric for the changing pad. Cut two pieces of the light-weight canvas 6 inches wide by 25 inches high.

These pieces will be embroidered and make up the front side panels.

We will embroider three designs on each side panel.

To find the center point, measure and mark (using an air-erase pen or other marking tool) each side of the panel (measure each side and divide by two to find the mid-point).

Draw lines to connect the two marks - where the lines meet is the center point of the panel. These lines will also be used as guidelines for hooping.

Starting at the center line, draw a mark 6 inches down on each side of the panel.

Draw a line connecting the points and mark the center point of the line by measuring and dividing by two.

Starting again at the first line, draw a mark 6 inches up on each side of the panel.

Draw a line connecting the points and mark the center.

Then, draw a line down the middle of the fabric to connect the center points of each of the three lines. These lines will be used for hooping.

Repeat these steps to mark the other side panel.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software.

Trim around the designs to make them easy to place. Poke a hole in the center of the templates and align them with the center points on the fabric. There should be at least 1 inch of space from the edges of the design and the sides of the fabric.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with a bit of temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric.

Embroider the design.

When the first design is finished, unhoop the fabric.

Then, re-hoop the same piece of fabric and stabilizer for the second design.

Load the second design and align the needle over the center point.

Embroider the design.

Repeat this process for the third design and the three designs for the second side panel.

After the designs are sewn out, unhoop the fabric and carefully trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the embroidery.

Leave about 1/4 inch of excess stabilizer around the design

Cut a piece of flannel fabric 15 inches wide by 25 inches high (This will be the center front panel of the changing pad).

Now it is time to assemble the changing pad!

Lay the flannel piece with the right side up. Then, align the embroidered side panels on each side of the flannel piece with the embroidered sides facing down and pin in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the outer side edges.

Flip the assembled piece over so the wrong side of the fabric faces up.

Press the newly sew seams in place with an iron.

Cut a piece of canvas 25 inches wide by 25 inches long for the back panel of the pad.

Also, cut a 25 inch by 25 inch piece of batting.

Lay the back panel flat, right side up. Then, align the front panel on top of the back panel with the right side (embroidered side) facing down. Finally, align the batting on top of the front panel.

Pin in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam around the side and top edges.

Do not sew the bottom edge - this will remain open for turning.

Turn the pad right side out so that the batting is on the inside (Between the front and back pieces when turned).

Then, press the side seams.

Turn the bottom edges in 1/2 inch and press in place.

Tuck the bottom edge of the batting in between the folded edges and pin all pieces in place.

Now it's time to quilt the layers of the pad together.

We will be sewing with nylon monofilament thread in the needle.

First, sewing through all the layers of the pad, sew along the existing seams between the side panels and the center panel. This is sometimes referred to as "stitching in the ditch."

Then, sew approximately 1 inch above the top designs and 1 inch below the bottom designs.

Also, sew in between each design. Be sure to sew from the inside out, starting at the inner seam between the side and center panels and work your way to the outer edges (This will keep the batting even as you sew).

To quilt the center panel, measure and mark the center point of the top and bottom edges. Draw a line connecting the top and bottom points and mark the center point of the line by measuring and dividing by two.

Sew along this line from the top to the bottom of the panel.

To quilt the center panel, measure and mark the center point of the top and bottom edges. Draw a line connecting the top and bottom points and mark the center point of the line by measuring and dividing by two.

Sew along this line from the top to the bottom of the panel.

Sew along each of the lines drawn.

The pad is now complete!

Now we will create the carrying case!

Cut 1 piece of canvas and 1 piece of flannel 16 inches wide by 15 inches high.

The canvas is the outer shell of the back/flap. The flannel is the inner lining of the back/flap.

Next, it's time to mark and cut the fabric to create the triangular flap.

Align the two pieces of fabric together and pin in place (Right now, it does not matter which sides are together).

Turn the fabric so the 15 inch side is vertical and the 16 inch side is horizontal.

Starting at the bottom corners, measure up 10 inches on both sides and make a mark. 

Mark the center of the top edge by measuring and dividing by two (This should be the 8 inch mark).

Draw lines to connect the top and side marks. 

Following the lines that were just drawn, cut through both layers of fabric.

Remove the pins and separate the layers of fabric

Lay the canvas (outer shell) piece right side up with the pointed end facing down. Text will be added to this front flap of the case.

Using the Kids Alphabet letters, merge text together using embroidery software (We used letters to form the text "When I Grow Up").

Create a paper template of the new text design and place in the center of the triangular flap.

Draw a line across the width of the large canvas section (where the triangular flap meets the large section of the canvas). Mark the center of this line by measuring and dividing by two. Draw a vertical line connecting this center mark and the point on the flap piece. Find the center point of the vertical line. Poke a hole in the center of the template and align the design with the center of the vertical line.

Our design was placed about 2 1/2 inches from the point on the flap piece to the center of the design. Make sure there is about one inch of space between the design and the outer edges of the fabric. After the template has been positioned, mark the horizontal axis points on the fabric.

Remove the template and draw lines to connect the axis points.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with adhesive and smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric.

Embroider the design.

When the design is finished, trim away the excess stabilizer.

Now it's time to assemble the carrying case!

Lay the embroidered outer shell fabric right side up. Align the flannel fabric on top (wrong side up) so the right sides are together and pin in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and flap edges only - leave the bottom edge of the case open for turning. Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams. 

Turn the bottom edges in 1/2 inch and press in place.

Top stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the entire outer edge of the fabric.

For the front panel of the carrying case, cut one piece of canvas and one piece of flannel 16 inches wide by 7 inches high.

The canvas fabric is the inside lining of the panel and the flannel is the outside lining. Align the pieces together with the right sides together.

Pin in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch along the top, bottom, and one of the short sides - leave one short side open for turning.

Turn the fabric right side out, press the seams, and turn the open side edges in 1/2 inch and press in place.

Then, top stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the entire outer edge.

For the wrist strap, cut a piece of canvas 4 inches wide by 16 inches long.

Fold in the long edges of the fabric so they meet in the middle with the wrong sides facing each other. Press in place.

Then, fold the fabric again with the long edges aligned together and press in place.

Sew a seam along both sides of the long edges on each side of the strap.

Lay the back/flap section with the flannel lining side facing up. Then, align the front section on the bottom edge of the back/flap section with the flannel side facing up.

To add the strap, fold it into a loop with the ends aligned together. Insert the ends of the loop in between the two sections at the upper right corner of the front section.

Pin all in place.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the sides and bottom edges of the front section following the existing top stitch seam.

Now we will add the snaps.

Measure and mark 3/4 inches up from the point on the flap.

Using a snap tool, place the button part of the snap on top of the mark.

Measure and mark the center of the bottom edge of the case by measuring and dividing by two.

Then, measure and mark 2 1/2 inches up from the mark that was just made.

Using a snap tool, add the inner side of the snap right on the mark. Add the snap to the front layer only - do not add it through the back layer.

The carrying case is now complete!

To fold the pad correctly, first fold it in half so that the embroidered designs are facing each other.

Then, fold it once from the bottom to the top.

. . .and then again bottom to top.

Slip the pad inside the case, snap it up, and away you go!