Make a play or picnic mat 4

When the weather was forecast for lovely sun all week I decided I would have to upgrade from the makeshift washing basket play pen for some outdoor play time.

Here's what you'll need:

4ft x 3ft PUL fabric (this is a waterproof breathable fabric - you could use something else but I liked the idea of not worrying if the ground was a little damp still).

3ft 11inch x 2ft 11inch wadding (I used 7oz thickness)

Enough cotton patchwork pieces to cover the area. Remember to add your seam allowances so the smaller you cut your fabric pieces, the more seams you will be putting in. Allow an extra 1/2 inch per seam (1/4 inch seam allowance on each piece you are joining will be lost) and 1/2 inch for joining both ends. So for example 1 strip downwards might have 5 rectangles - thats 3ft width plus 4 seams to join them at 1/2 inch each (= 2 inches) plus an extra half inch to join it to the PUL at each end so you would need the fabric to be 3ft 2 1/2 inches. If you are novice I recommend adding at least an extra half inch as it is easier to trim it down to straighten up the edges than to find you have one strip shorter at the end!

I used strips about 6 inches wide with a variety of lengths to give it a more random look and a border of 3 inch birds to give a focal point at the bottom.

Optional - As this is intended to come out only when it's garden weather, I wanted it to be able to roll up like this:

To do this you will also need 2 fabrics strips 2 inch x 1ft and some poppers. I used KAM poppers.

How to make it:

Once you've cut out all your patchwork pieces, you want to start assembling them in strips. To do that, place the 2 ends you plan on joining pattern side together and sew a basic running stitch. Join all in a row the same way so it should look like this:

Iron it out and flatten your seams open so they sit flat like this:

Once you have sewn all your strips, you want to join them together. Do this exactly the same way - pin patterned sides together and sew a basic running stitch to create a hem. Once you have done this, you should have made up the front of the mat. Pressing the hems out should look something like this from the back:

Then, lay it down on top of the PUL fabric so that the sides that you want on the outside are on the inside.

Pin all round the edges then it's time to make the straps if you want the mat to roll up out the way.

Fold the 2 long fabric strips in half with pattern inside. Leaving the ends open, sew right down the length of the fabric so you have a tube. Use a chop stick or similar to help turn it right side out.

Repeat for the second strap. Sew closed one end of both straps. I used a ladder stitch to make a hidden seam. Iron it flat if you want more of a flat strap look. You are going to sew it in to the hem so pin the straps towards the top and bottom on 1 side of the mat with the rough edge pointing outwards and the strap loose on the inside. Sew hems with a running stitch on 3 sides of the mat including the side with the straps attached. To make them more secure I sewed it, back stitched over then sewed again so the straps were held in place with 3 rows of stitching.

Before you turn it right side out, check your wadding sits comfortably. If you have lost a little more than expected in your seam allowances then the wadding will bunch up inside making a bumpy mat, so just trim the wadding down. If your wadding seems too loose, you can always do an extra set of stitching along the offending loose seam edge to make it fit more snug. Then, roll your wadding into a cylinder as tight as you can and sew the 4th side of the mat leaving a gap in the centre big enough that when you turn it right side out you can now pass your wadding roll inside and spread it out flat.

Now all you need to do is add your poppers. I like to wind the strap around the mat so I can be sure I'm putting the popper on the right way around.

When using the mat, I just tie the strap in a little bow. Now all you need to do is wait for the warm weather!

 

We hope you enjoy our tutorials and love hearing what you think so please leave us a comment or send me an email to linda@sewingbeefabrics.co.uk

Happy Sewing!