The Baby Shopper

As some of you know I recently published my first sewing pattern.  I figured if I was going to take the time to redesign something that I didn't have the pattern to, I might as well create a pattern for it as I go.

This is what I call the Baby Shopper.  My mother used a similar  thing when we were little. She let me have hers when N was born. I liked it, but wanted mo make some improvements and make it more functional.  The one she had used Velcro and had long straps that I ended up just wrapping around then tying around N's waist.  I shortened the waist straps and added nylon webbing and d-rings. I wanted it to be easily adjustable to whatever shopping cart I was using.

This is the one I use with baby N.  I loved Michael Miller's Forrest Life print.  I originally wanted the print in another color, but my local quilt shop didn't have it in stock. So I went with the orchid color and ended up liking it better. I used a avocado colored duck canvas on the undersides.  You might recognize it from the diaper bag I made in a previous blog. I like the weight of the canvas.  It makes it feel more durable and not just like a pillow. If you look closely, I used gross grain ribbon, not nylon webbing on this one.  I am not totally sold on the ribbon.  It tends to slip a little.  It works, but when N was dependent on it to keep her upright, it would slowly slip out and she would be sideways.  If the ribbon was less silky it might work better.  

I have been selling the pattern on etsy.com and craftsy.com
Originally I was planning on just selling patterns in my Etsy shop, but as I was just setting up my shop, I started getting requests for custom made Baby Shoppers.  I was new to Etsy and didn't realize that many of the patrons don't sew. So now I sell both the pattern and ready made ones.

Before too much longer, I will no longer have a model.

As you can see from the above pictures, It also works well as a portable high chair.