My bike will go on...

after it had a major overhaul at the bike shop... But I had two kiddies with very cold bums and a mouldy screen which were shouting for renovation. And, being inspired by Kitsch Kitchen, I decided to get some table covering (yes, the cheap plastic stuff your granny used to fold over the dining table to make sure your jam would not stain her preciously rubbed and waxed hard wood...), and foam and get to work. Here the picture of the seat before Amy's Treatment:

Even though I should have been doing real work, this just had to be done. I got the seat and screen in and made some sketches on brown paper, indicating where the velcro had to go on the seat cushion.

I cut the foam to size and checked whether it fitted. It did! Now it was time to bring Hannah to bed (which took some considerable time, as she has a new high bed, wants loads of stories and songs, and then wants to mattress on the floor because it's still too scary), get some Dutch courage (i.e. wine), haul the sewing machine out of the cupboard under the stairs and REALLY get to work. Scissors out!
While my hands were still steady, I cut the plastic for the seats. The whole cover had flowers, dots and stripes, and I decided on stripes for the seat. He is a boy after all, don't want it to look too girly.
And colourful dots for the screen. Not quite in the middle, but I didn't want it to look too polished... ;) (oh go on, blame it on the wine... haha)
Time to start sewing! First I sewed on the velcro on the back bit of the cushion. I've sewn enough diapers to know that otherwise it goes through both layers, and because there is foam in the middle, IMPOSSIBLE! See, I am good at planning ahead! (A sip of wine to congratulate myself) Then right sides together and off you go. Not too fast, because the fabric rips really easily... Check whether you're using a needle which is thin enough and don't put the holes to close together, it will pull the fabric. If you can adjust the tension, loosen it a bit. Leave the bottom open, otherwise you can't turn the fabric (duh, sip of wine).
Now comes a tricky bit: turning the fabric right side out. Take your time. Make sure you nip the corners a bit, so the fabric doesn't pull too much and starts ripping. Fill up your wine if you need some more to steady your hands. I just used 3 cm velcro, the hard side with hooks, cut up into squares. If you want to do it really fancy, make circles, but come on, after a full glass of wine?

Sew up the bottom neatly and gloat!


Time for the screen (and another sip): put the two bits of fabric on top of each other and sew them together, keeping the top open. Same thing, nip the corners and turn out.
Zigzag the top closed and now comes the fun bit. Cut the old screen and pull out the wire. Sew a tunnel at the top of the screen, slip the wire in and close up the sides. I went round the whole screen again, to make sure that it didn't flap. Plus it looks a lot neater!
Slot the screen back in, screw the sides and hey presto: done! I think I deserve some crisps to go with that wine...