Baby Play Mat
A sewing tutorial for making a baby play mat with detachable hanging toys and a special pillow to support the baby’s head.
Video class
This video is for members
Join Lulu Ferris to watch the complete class and sew along at your own pace.
What you’ll make
Sew a reversible, padded baby play mat measuring 115 cm in diameter. Each face can feature its own fabric and quilting design.
Soft fabric shapes attach around the edge with snaps or hook-and-loop tape, so they can be removed. Some may contain an optional bell.
The project also includes a shaped, stuffed pillow with a flatter center section.
What you’ll learn in this class
- Cut matching circles from large fabric squares.
- Layer, baste, and quilt both mat faces.
- Trim the batting before final assembly.
- Finish padded shapes with dense zigzag stitching.
- Secure detachable loops and install snaps.
- Sew and turn a bulky circular seam.
- Make the pillow and close openings by hand.
Fabric, batting, and equipment
The mat uses two fabric faces with batting for padding. A walking foot helps feed the quilted layers evenly, especially when the batting is thick.
Fabric and batting scraps can become the detachable shapes. Bias tape forms their loops, while pillow stuffing fills the separate shaped pillow.
Make it your own
Follow motifs in a printed fabric, sew decorative ovals, or choose another quilting design for the two mat faces.
Adapt the removable shapes to the fabric print, vary their number, and choose snaps or hook-and-loop tape. Bells are optional.
If thick batting is difficult for your machine, the class discusses using thinner batting and adding stuffing before closing the mat.
Finished size
The finished mat measures 115 cm in diameter.
The PDF includes the pillow pattern and project information. The video covers the mat, detachable shapes, quilting, and pillow.
Pattern & materials
Patterns are included with membership
Active members can download every available PDF and materials list.
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