Changing Table Pads need cute covers and they are so quick to make!
We used a nice thick pad when our son was small (until about 6 months). When he became more active, I felt better about using the standard thin pad because the railing around the changing table would help keep him from falling off. You could modify either method for just about any changing pad.
For the thick pad:
Mine is 32 x 15 x 3.5 inches. Basically, I just made a fitted sheet for it. I used anti-pill fleece because it is SUPER soft and will not fray. I know minky is very popular right now but I also hear it is a pain to cut and work with and I wanted something fast.
Needs: 3/4 yard fleece and 40" of 1/4" elastic
For any size: determine the thickness of your pad multiply by 2 and add 5". This is the amount you want to add to the length & width of your fabric. My pad was 3.5" thick so I added 12" (3.5x2+5) to the length and width of my pad resulting in a 27" x 44" rectangle of fleece. Cut your fleece to size.
Line up the four corners of the fleece and cut out a 6" square. (6" is half of the 12" we added.)
Unfold your fleece and taking one missing corner at a time, pin the the 2 sides right sides together. This will form the corner. Sew a half inch seam. No need for French seams, fleece won't fray!
Once all 4 corners are done, fold down a half inch of fleece all the way around the cover and pin in place. Be sure to fold toward the underside. I did not use an iron, I was focused on speed and don't think it made a difference. This will form a case for the elastic. If you want to be very nice or aren't using fleece, you can fold under 1/4", iron, fold under 1/2", iron and pin.
Sew your hem in place leaving an inch gap on one of the short sides. You want to leave an opening to later insert the elastic.
Now for the elastic. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and push it through the gap you left in the hem. Work it all the way through the cover. If you are using a different size pad, determine the perimeter of your rectangle (length+width)x2. Your elastic should be about half or less of this amount.
Once the elastic is worked through, overlap the ends by about an inch and sew them firmly together.
Work the elastic fully into the casing. Sew closed the open gap. And done!
We are getting ready for Baby Angell #2.
For the thin pad:
Mine is 32x18 inches. I simply made an envelope closure for it. Once again I used fleece so that I didn't have to worry about fraying and because it is soft and fast.
Needs: 1/2 yard each of 2 colors of fleece
Cut each color into 17" x 40" fleece. Pin the the 2 pieces right sides together along one long side. Sew a half inch seam. You can iron open the seam if desired.
Turn the fabric right side up onto your work space. Measure 18" (width of pad) in the middle of each long side. This is the amount that you want to stay on the table. Fold in each side to overlap this 18" (the same way many pillow shams are made). If this sounds confusing, lay the fabric right side up and place your pad in the middle of it. Fold the extra fabric from the sides over the pad.
Remove the pad. Pin the edges together. You want this to fit snuggly and not be wider than the width of the pad. Fleece stretches so tighter is better.
I made each of these in about half an hour. They are fast and soft. I like to have 2 covers on hand so that one can be in play while the other is, inevitably, in the wash. Once LM is fully potty trained, we'll set up the thick changing pad for the new baby. Exciting!
Time: ~30 minutes each
Cost: ~$5 each
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