Food-Catching High Chair Mat
Learn how to sew a practical, waterproof, easy-to-clean food-catching mat for an IKEA high chair. Includes a pattern and step-by-step tutorial.
Project preview
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 waterproof food-catching mat shaped to surround an IKEA high chair. Its wide wings help collect dropped food in the center, where the mess can be emptied more easily.
The mat anchors with elastic and snaps. At the front, hooked suction cups pass through reinforced eyelets and attach to the tray or a nearby table to extend the catching area.
What you’ll learn in this class
- Sew lightweight waterproof fabric without excessive marking.
- Attach reinforcement pieces at the shaped openings.
- Install snaps that close around the chair legs.
- Cover an elastic strap for the backrest.
- Bind the shaped perimeter and secure the elastic within it.
- Install eyelets for the hooked suction cups.
Fabric and notions
Use a waterproof, wipe-clean fabric. The class demonstrates a lightweight option that folds compactly and notes that heavier oilcloth can also work, although it adds bulk.
The project also uses bias tape, elastic, snaps, two hooked suction cups, and eyelets. Reinforced buttonholes can replace the eyelets if needed.
Make it your own
The pattern is based on an IKEA high chair but can be adapted to similar chairs. Check the backrest width and leg area first; a wider backrest may require longer elastic.
Hook-and-loop tape can replace the side snaps. You can also combine bias-tape colors or make a matching IKEA high-chair cushion cover.
Chair compatibility
The pattern is drafted for the IKEA high chair shown in class. For another model, test it against the backrest, legs, and tray before fixing the elastic, snaps, or suction cups.
The video class includes A4 and A0 pattern files plus an information file with material and pattern notes.
Pattern & materials
Patterns are included with membership
Active members can download every available PDF and materials list.
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