operation crafty: naptime mat

so the sewing adventure that I mentioned yesterday?  well, it's all done!

I made Keira a bedroll or naptime mat for her to take to school with her.  I had a potential pattern in my head, but knowing that I would probably need something a little more tried and true, I googled "kids sleeping bag sewing pattern" and was lead to this.  While this was pretty much what I was looking for, I wanted the pillow to be removable for washing and didn't necessarily want a carrying strap for it.  Luckily, I found this variation of the same tutorial, so I used a combination of the two.

I had the owl material from a previous spending spree, and thought I had enough (2 yards) for both the top and bottom of the mat.  After studying the directions a bit more, I realized I didn't and was going to buy more.  I really wanted this project to be about using up what materials I already had, and remembered that I still had a big piece of a red bedsheet left from a previous project...voila!

The blue fleece blanket is one that we already had, so I cut it (with some extra width) down to size.  The bias tape I had made a while ago, when I first learned how to make it and was gung-ho about doing so.  I wasn't sure I would have enough to edge the entire mat, so I used some red tape for the pillow portion.

For the pillow part of the mat, I sewed an envelope closure (rather than permanently sewing the pillow in) so that I could remove the pillow insert for washing.  I used scraps of the red sheet to make the insert itself and stuffed it with some bamboo stuffing I already had.

the mat itself is 3 layers of batting I had left from my last quilt sandwiched between two pieces of cotton.  It's probably not as thick and cushy as it could be, but Keira will be sleeping on a cot, which her mat will be on top of.  I'm sure it will be enough for her needs.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and am so thankful for the internet as a resource.  My mom told me I should buy a pattern for it, but I was determined to figure it out on my own...and without spending any extra moola too.

I think it might be safe to say that my creative mojo is coming back!!

Comments

[lila ko, paw paw]

superb job. am very proud of you. i love the owl material, so appropriate for sleepy time. keira looks like she adores the nap time mat. hope she can tell people that he mama made it.

[Ryan]

dang..this thing is legit! i like it