Baby Activity Mat

I want one of these for my daughter. I don't want to pay $25.00 (the cheapest I've seen) for a toy she will never look at again as soon as she can crawl. (Three months tops)

"Hmmm... could I make that?"

My plan was to go buy a hula-hoop, but my husband informed me that he had an eight foot section of  pex-pipe leftover from our bathroom remodel. I am kind of bummed, because I was really, REALLY looking forward to finding out what, exactly goes inside a hula-hoop to make that rattling noise, but that will be a discovery for another day. 

This turned out so cute, and was very simple, and I LOVE it!

You will need:

A Hula-hoop (or about 8 feet of pex-pipe. I used 1/2 inch diameter)

about a yard of fabric for your play mat  

coordinating material for your pole covers (I used scraps, it worked out to about 1/4 yard total)

A craft spotter (you know, a buddy to hold the poles in the air while you're trying to fit them under your sewing machine foot. Weight-lifter have spotters, sometimes crafters need them too.)

Batting (choose whatever loft you like. Hopefully like me, you'll have some scrap batting laying around that you can use.) 

A sewing machine

an extensive vocabulary of {swear words}. Haha, just kidding! There are kids in the room! (Just say them in your head)

First, cut the strips for your pole covers. My poles were 48" and 1/2" diameter, so I cut strips 3" wide and pieced them together to make a strip 125" long (you'll want extra!). 

Press your super long strip in half, right sides together and stitch it down the long end.

Now you have a long tube of inside-out fabric. Turn it right side out. 

Here's a trick that will save you at least a half an hour and maybe 15-20 curses.

Cut a piece of yarn or twine (not thread, it will break) about 30" long. Thread one end through a large yarn needle and tie it TIGHT. Tie a knot in the other end of the twine.

Push the needle down the tube until the end of the twine is flush with the end of the tube. Pull the twine to the edge of the fabric tube, and stitch into place. Now stitch it again. You do not want that stitch coming undone halfway through turning this tube inside out!

Now push the knot down into the tube, and pull the needle through to the end of the tube. Pull on the twine to work the fabric through the tube until it is all right side out. 

Phew! That was the hardest part. I promise!

Now run your pipes down the fabric tube, and stitch each tube closed flush against the plastic pipe, with at least 4 inches of fabric overlapping either side of the pipe. 

They should look like this

You'll have a bit of fabric tube leftover, keep it! We'll use it later!

Cut your fabric into two 27 x 27 squares. 

Cut your batting about 26 x 26. I used 2 pieces of high loft batting, but I have hard floors in most of my house. If you have nice snuggly carpet, you should be fine with one layer.

Lay your batting out flat

Place your fabric squares on top of the batting, right sides together, like this. Make sure you center the batting. Now pin it. I know. I hate pinning, too, but if you don't I {cannot} be responsible for all the bad things that will happen!

Sew a straight stitch around 3 sides of you fabric square, leaving a 1" gap (guessing is okay!) on each side, on the left of each corner. 

Now turn it right side out like a sock. Your batting should be sandwiched between your fabrics, which are now facing right sides out. 

Fold the edges in and pin, and sew, leaving the same 1" gap on the left corner. 

Now get your craft spotter. Tell them not to be scared! 

I'm sorry that there are no pictures of this last step, but my spotter and I were too busy maneuvering crazy bendy pipe to take pictures. 

Take one of your fabric covered poles and stuff the 4" overlap of fabric into one of the corner gaps you left when sewing. Pin it. Do it! 

Now sew it in place. I used a straight stitch, but went over it 3 times to make sure it was nice and strong. 

Get your other pole, and stick its fabric overlap into the next gap. Pin and sew. 

Okay, here's the funky part. Are you ready? Don't be scared! You either, spotter! 

Bend your pole until it lines up with the opposite corner. Have your craft spotter hold the bend in place while you stuff in the fabric overlap and pin it in place. Don't let go, spotter! Manuever it under your sewing foot and QUICKLY sew it into place. Quick! Before your spotter lets go and the pin flies out into your face!

Repeat for the other pole. Give your spotter a high five! The hard part is over!

Your play mat should look more or less like this.

It will very easily fall over. Take a chunk of the leftover fabric tube, about 8-10" long, and sew both ends shut to make a lovely tie. 

Tie the tubes together like this,

And you are done!

If you don't have toys to hang from this, make some with your fabric scraps, and attach them to your poles with grosgrain ribbon... or something. 

And look how much my daughter likes it... 

AmberLou

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