Car Seatbelt Sleeve Tutorial

The seatbelts in my car rub and irritate my neck. Since an old set I purchased wore out, I decided to make a new set myself instead of buying them. You don’t need much material for the seatbelt sleeves. I used leftover soft flannel from another project and bought car header liner at Jo-Ann’s Fabrics (in the home deco section near the vinyl fabric bolts). Here are the instructions and illustrations for you to make some for yourself. It really is easy.

The instructions are for one seatbelt sleeve. If you want to make 2 or more, then you’ll need to plan accordingly.

Step 1: Cut out fabric pieces as follows:

Exterior fabric: cut 2 9½-inch squares Heading liner: cut 1 9½-inch square Velcro: cut 8½-inches of ¾-inch wide Velcro

Step 2: Layer fabric pieces and heading liner as follows—one piece exterior fabric right-side up (facing you), one piece exterior fabric wrong-side up, and the heading liner material (it doesn’t matter which way this is facing). Pin in place and be sure to catch all 3 layers.

Step 3: Leaving a 3-inch opening in the middle of one side of the fabric sandwich for turning right-side out later, sew all 4 sides with a ½” seam.

Step 4: Trim all 4 corners by cutting on the diagonal, being careful not to cut through stitches. Then trim the stitched seams on 3 sides (not opening side) to approximately 1/8”.

Next, move the seam of the exterior fabric on the 4th side over a bit and trim the header lining to 1/8” to cut down on bulk.

Step 5: Turn right-side out so that the heading liner is in the middle and both exterior fabrics are on the outside. Turn the 3-inch opening inside by ½” and pin in place.

Step 6: Stitch ¼” inch around all 4 sides (which closes the 3’-inch opening, too).

Step 7: On left side of seatbelt sleeve, pin the rough (male) part of the Velcro along the edge. Stitch the Velcro around all 4 sides.

Step 8: Turn project over so that the Velcro you just installed is on the right but facing down on your table. Measure over 2½” from the left edge of the side now facing you and mark down the left side of the sleeve.

Place the right edge of your soft fuzzy Velcro side (female side) along your 2½” mark and pin in place. Stitch the Velcro around all 4 sides.

Step 9: You are done and can install this on your seatbelt in your car by folding it around your seatbelt. Make more for all your passenger seatbelts, if you wish.

Car Seatbelt Sleeve Tutorial written and executed by June Scroggin, 2007

Photos © by Dub Scroggin, 2007