Oh man, let me tell you about this little project I took on recently. It all started when my kid needed a nap mat for daycare. You know, the kind with the pillow and blanket all attached? Well, I looked around online, and let me tell you, they were either super expensive or just plain ugly.
So, being the crafty person I am, I thought, “I can totally make this!” Famous last words, right? I started by digging through my fabric stash. I found some adorable cotton prints I’d been hoarding and some soft fleece I’d bought on sale a while back. I decided one print was a good one.
Next, I measured out the dimensions I needed. I figured a good size would be something my little one could use for a while, so I went with a rectangle about 55 inches long and 29 inches wide. Then I cut out two pieces of the cotton fabric and one piece of the fleece to match.
- First, I sewed the cotton pieces together, right sides facing each other, leaving one short end open.
- Then, I turned it right side out and stuffed it with some leftover batting I had. It wasn’t super thick, just enough for a little padding.
- After that, I sewed the opening closed. Boom! Nap mat base done.
For the attached pillow, I just cut a smaller rectangle of the cotton fabric, sewed it into a little pillowcase, and stuffed it with poly-fill. I attached it to one end of the mat by sewing it right on. Easy peasy!
The blanket was even simpler. I just took that piece of fleece I cut earlier and hemmed the edges so it wouldn’t fray. Then I attached it to the mat along one of the long sides. That way, it’s always there, ready to be pulled over for a cozy nap.
The whole thing was actually pretty straightforward. It took me a couple of afternoons, mostly because I kept getting distracted by, you know, life. But I managed to finish it just in time for the first day of daycare. I even added a little carrying strap by sewing some fabric loops to the corners and tying on a piece of ribbon.
Washing is easy too, I just toss the whole thing into the washing machine, and when it is an old machine, I use the delicate mode. It is not a big deal.
And you know what? My kid loves it! It’s so much cuter than anything I could have bought, and it’s held up really well. Plus, I get the satisfaction of knowing I made it myself. Win-win!
If you’re thinking about making your own nap mat, I say go for it! It’s a fun little project, and you can totally customize it to your kid’s favorite colors or characters. Just be prepared to spend a bit of time on it, and maybe have a seam ripper handy, just in case. You never know when you might need to redo a seam or two. Trust me, I learned that the hard way!
Anyway, that’s my nap mat story. Hope it inspires someone out there to get crafty!
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