The Fabric Ninja Protector

Sometimes, I need to admit that I can't do everything myself.

I can lay tile, I can keep bees, I can cook, but I can't create a pattern for something that I've never seen.

Thankfully patterns can be procured by PDF :)

Armed with my trusty $50 laser printer, I set out to create a slipcover for my friend's Kinderpack. We had had a friendly "Kindervention" online and convinced her that she was becoming a KP hoarder. As a result she sold her Dinomite, with the promise of a Dino slipcover. This occurred at about the same time that the lovely Alice from FabricNinja.com approached me about reviewing her pattern for this blog (which has become very KP centered lately).  I'm not going to lie. I HATED writing book reviews in high school, and managed to talk my way out of the dreaded ATL classes at Michigan State (Go Green!); having a blog is really an odd outcome for someone with my aversion to writing.

Anywho. Alice offered me the pattern to review, I needed a standard size slipcover pattern, she's also an MSU grad, so how could I say no?

So, without further ado, I bring you my review of The Fabric Ninja's Ninja Protector.

This pattern is available for $7, payable by PayPal, and arrives to you by email. It is in PDF form, and is 18 pages long. It's ok, nature nerds and tree huggers*, you don't have to print it all! You need to print at least 5 pages, which are where the actual patterns are located. The remaining 13 pages are very detailed instructions on how to print the pattern, how to cut your fabric, and how to assemble your carrier. For those of you who have never used a PDF pattern, it's very important that you follow the printing instructions. If you don't, your standard slipcover becomes a doll carrier slipcover.

The pattern prints out on 5 pages, and contains 3 pieces: the headrest, the sides and the center. The headrest is printed on one page, the sides are made up of two pieces, as is the center. Make sure you have some of your own limited edition, one of a kind tape so that you can hook the pieces together prior to cutting out your fabric. There are convenient little crosshairs that you line up, and voila, two pieces become one.

This pattern requires about 1/2 a yard of fabric for each side of the slipcover. There are layouts included in the instructions for maximizing your fabric. If you are mixing fabrics on each side, you can use a fat quarter. Alice has included a very detailed supply list which gives different options for closing the headrest pocket and attaching the cover to your carrier.

Stitching the cover is easy, the pieces line up well. I had a moment of sheer panic at the size of cover, as I've never seen a standard KP and was CERTAIN that it wasn't going to fit. It looked so tiny! Toddler KP's must be massive compared to the standards. Included in the instructions are ideas on finishing the seams. Since we are getting ready to renovate and move, my serger is packed up. I used the handy dandy finishing stitch on my machine instead. I also took the suggestion to pink the inside of the headrest seam to finish and notch in one step. (BRIILLIANT!)

The size of the pieces seriously concerned me. Here are the pieces compared to my homemade toddler cover pattern.

Once the pieces were all assembled, I topstitched everything. I don't know what it is about topstitching, but I like it. I decided not to put in the optional elastic along the hem, and did a plain hem instead.  On the headrest, I put in the snaps to close the pocket, and then got creative and did something a little different on the snaps to connect the carrier to the cover. It seemed like a good theory, but in practice, it made the cover pull oddly. That's why you don't ad lib. If you undo the snap, it stops pulling and lays nice. Live and learn.

Once I gave everything a good pressing, I shipped it 1200 miles to a waiting carrier. This is the result:

Honestly, I am thrilled with the results. This cover looks better than I could have possibly imagined.  Other than the wonky snaps, it's PERFECT!

Here's a quick summary:

Pro's:

VERY affordable

• At $7, this is a steal. It's well worth paying the equivalent of a McDonald's breakfast to avoid the headache of fitting a pattern. Trust me. Totally. Worth it.

Easy to Print

• I love the instant gratification of PDF patterns, and I don't need to carefully refold it. I can toss it and print another one. But I won't, because that would kill trees ;)

Detailed Directions

• The instructions are easy to follow and explain everything that you need to do from how to print the pattern to how to top stitch your strap openings.

Customizable Options

• When you order your pattern, you can choose from 1 cm (what I chose) or 1/2 inch seam allowances.
• The different options for the headrest closure are listed.

Fits B-E-A-Utifly

• Just look at the pictures!

Con's:

Too Detailed

• If you sew a lot, you might get bogged down in the instructions as they are really detailed.

Snap Issue

• This isn't really the pattern's fault. Since Kinderpacks are handmade, there is a little variation in the headrest snap placement. This is no problem if you are making it for your own KP. If you are sending it to the other side of the country, be aware that the snaps might be off a little and it might pull funny.

Short Hem

• I think the hem allowance could be a little bigger to better accommodate the elastic if you choose to use it.

Too Many Closure Options

• I'll admit that I got a little lost while I was trying to decipher what type of snap I needed to use and where to put it. There were too many choices and I got lost.

The Bottom Line:

This pattern rocks. If you want to make your own slipcover, buy it. Do it. Why are you waiting? Having made my own pattern for my toddler KP, I know that it can be really difficult to get something that fits really well. Save yourself the aggravation and get the pattern. Alice also has a curved drool pad pattern available for a buck that is a heck of a lot easier to sew than my overly complicated version.

The pattern is available at FabricNinja.com, or Facebook.com/thefabricninja

*I'm personally a tree hugger, but many of my friends prefer to be called nature nerds.

Disclaimer: I got the pattern for free for evaluation purposes.