DIY Travel Seat Belt Pillow For Kids - Tutorial!

I'm so excited to share my first sewing tutorial with you! I have been selling these on Ebay for a while and I can't believe how popular they are! They take just under an hour when you first start, but you get faster as you go! I saw some very tiny versions of this on Amazon. Not gonna cut it for us, so I made my own!

Here's what you will need to make your own travel seat belt pillow:

• 2 pieces of fleece cut to 26"x6" each...choose your favorite patterns or solids! My Walmart had clearance!
• 66" of coordinating ribbon, preferably around 3/8" thick to be able to tie them
• Ruler, pins, scissors, lighter
• Premium Polyfill, or your choice of other filler material
• Sewing machine with coordinating thread, optional needle and thread for hand stitching

First, cut your ribbon into (6) pieces, 11" long and use the lighter to gently and quickly melt the edges of the ribbon so they don't fray. (I did that prior to the above photo)

Now, fold one of the pieces of fleece in half (right side up) to find the middle point of the pillow and place the first ribbons. (I use the solid piece as it is easier to see what I am doing!) Place the ribbon right-side up at a right angle to the long side of the fleece. Put the edge just overlapping the fleece slightly as the fabric may move slightly when sewing. The long part of the ribbon should be laying toward the middle of the fabric. Place the second ribbon at the middle point directly across from it in the same way. 

Now, measure approximately 2-3 inches in from either side of the ends of the fleece to see where the last 4 ribbons will go and attach them the same way.  Now, make sure that all of the ends of the ribbon are moved in a horizontal fashion so that the long ends don't get caught  when you are sewing the pieces together.

After your ribbons are out of the way, gently line up your second piece of fleece with right-side down on top of the ribboned one. (So, right sides are together.) Pin all the way around except for the middle 3/4 of one side as this is where you will turn it inside out. I make sure to pin the second fleece on either side of the ribbon to ensure that the ribbon doesn't slide side to side during sewing.  On one short end, I use 2 pins to mark where to start and stop my stitching...or else I would sew it shut without thinking!

Sorry, my photo with the flower fabric disappeared!

Now, stitch all the way from one double pin to the other and don't forget to back stitch! I use about 1/4 seam allowance.  Don't worry if you get a little crooked...you will never notice because of the stuffing! :)

Cut the threads and turn right-side out! Hopefully you didn't catch the long sides of the ribbons like I did the first time!  Now, just stuff with your polyfill! Remember that it is difficult to move the fill around after you've sewn it shut. Make sure your fill is smooth by using smaller "clumps" and spreading them evenly with your fingers.

After your pillow is full, turn the open ends under the 1/4 inch and pin shut. You can hand stitch them or maybe you can manage to use your machine - I've finally mastered the machine!

Now, sit back and enjoy your new creation - the kids LOVE them!!!

Are you making this pillow for a surprise? Check out how the Frugal DIY Mom is helping others plan surprise travel including Disney surprise, blind booking and other surprise vacations!