Playmat Tutorial

It took a while (writing a tutorial is more difficult and especially takes a lot more time than I thought), but here it is: the play mat tutorial!

What you need:
 - 20 panels of fabric size 15x15cm (6x6 inches) in colors and patterns that you like
- 1 piece of fabric size 80x95 cm (28x34 inches) for the back side
- 2 strips of fabric (same color as back side) size 10x80cm (4x28 inches)
- 2 strips of fabric (same color as back side) size 10x95cm (4x34 inches)
For the above four: this is without seams, so you have to cut some extra for seams
- 2 layers of fiber fill size 60x75cm (24x30 inches)
- 2 layers of fiber fill size 80x95cm (28x34 inches)

Step by step instructions:

* Draw fifteen 15x15 cm (6x6 inches) panels on cotton fabric in colors and designs you like. Cut the panels with extra on all sides for seams.  

 *Arrange your panels on the flour in a color pattern you like. At the picture below the rows are already pinned.

* Pin the panels in rows, as in the picture below. Lay good side on good side of the fabric, pin along the drawn lines) and sew.  Fold open, until you have four panels in a row.

* Now sew the rows together (again good side of fabric on good side, pin along the lines and sew). 

* All panels sewn together form the biggest part of the front side. It measures 60x75cm (24x30 inches) and looks like this: 

* Cut two strips of 10x80cm (4x28 inches) and two strips of 10x95cm (4x34 inches), plus extra for seams. At both ends of the strips measure 10cm (4 inches) and draw a line from the corner to the measured point. Cut away the triangles. Your strips should now look like the ones in the picture below.

In this picture below you see black lines between the panels. It's bias band, just for decoration (it fits in my theme of liquorice allsorts), but isn't necessary at all.

* Pin the short sides of the strips on the edges of the panels (good side on good side). Sew exactly unto the corners. Unfold. At the picture below I first sewed the longer strips.

* Then sew the shorter of the strips. Pin the corners (good side on good side, pin and sew). Your front side is now finished and should look like this:

* For the back side of the play mat cut a piece of fabric of 80x95cm (28x34 inches). Pin onto the front side (again good side on good side) along the two longer edges and ONE shorter edge (just one, because otherwise you can't fill the play mat). 

Then turn you play mat inside out. The good sides of the fabric are on the outside now.

Your play mat now should look like this. The lower side (where you see the arrow) is still open.

* Cut two layers of fiber fill of 80x95cm (28x34 inches) and fill the play mat with it (fiber fill should be flat and without bumps, of course). 

Pin the inner sides of the black edges through all layers (fabric as well as fiber fill) and sew the layers together along the three edges (the red lines in the picture below; I didn't draw the red lines very neat, 'cause I'm not that good with the brush tool in Photoshop, but you get the idea). So you sew along the seam you made before when you sewed strips and panels.

* Now cut two layers of fiber fill of 60x75cm (24x30 inches) and fill the part in the middle of the play mat with it. Again the fiber fill should be flat and without bumps. 

Close the bottom edge along the seam, as you did in the previous step (the red line in the picture below). The part in the middle is closed now.

* Fold the fabric of the remaining edge towards the inside of the play mat. Pin and close the play mat by sewing together.

Your playmat is finished!!

Other examples of this playmat: