Play Mat and Soft Toys

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Play Mat
• 1/4 yd Flannel each of two prints - outer border (A)
• 1/6 yd Flannel solid - narrow strip (B)
• 2/3 yd Flannel each of two prints - large ring (C)
• 1/6 yd Flannel solid - center wedges (D)
• 9"x 9" Flannel print - center octagon applique (E)
• 1 1/4 yd Flannel patchwork print - backing
• Cotton batting 40"x 40"
• Thread to match center wedges flannel (D)
• Toys
• 1/6 yd Pellon® fleece
• 1/8 yd HeatnBond® Lite
• 1/6 yd or scraps of assorted flannel colors for the flower and ladybug
• 6" Black rat tail cord for ladybug antenna
• 3/8" and 5/8" pieces of grosgrain ribbon for loop toy
• Polyester stuffing
• Backing patchwork with wording for toys with ribbon loops
• All projects
• Rotary cutter, ruler and mat
• Basic sewing supplies
• Sewing machine with 1/4" foot and walking foot
• Iron and pressing surface

DIRECTIONS:

Note: Seam allowance 1/4" for all play mat patchwork seams.
Note: This is an advanced project for experienced sewers.

For the Play Mat:
Enlarge the pattern to the sizes indicated on the directions.
Cut two strips 3 3/4"x WOF of each of the outer border fabrics (A). Cut the strips into eight 20" strips, four of one print and four of the other.
Cut four strips 1 1/4"x WOF of the narrow strip fabric (B). Cut the strips into eight 20" strips.
Cut two strips 9 1/2"x WOF of each of the large ring fabrics (C). Cut the strips into eight 20" strips, four of one print and four of the other.
Cut eight rectangles 5"x 5" of the center wedges fabric (D).

Decide which (A) print goes with which (C) print and pair them up. There will be two sets of four pairs.
With an accurate or even scant 1/4" seam, sew the narrow strip (B) to one side of each of the border fabric (A). Press with the seam allowances of one pair toward the outside and the seam allowance of the other pair toward the center.

Sew the center ring fabrics (C) to the narrow strip of the sewn pieces from the previous step. Press seam allowances in the direction the first seam is going.
Place one sewn piece on the work surface face up and place the pattern on top matching the lines on the pattern with the seams on the sewn piece. Cut roughly 1" away from the pattern on each side to cut off the excess fabric. Repeat with all eight sewn pieces. Note: After the last piece (D) is sewn on, the pattern will be placed on the sewn piece and cut to the exact size.

Sew the center wedge square (D) on to the (C) piece and press seam allowances as before.
Place the pattern on top of each sewn piece, lining up the seams with the lines on the pattern. Cut out following the pattern.

Place the sewn wedge-shaped pieces in a circle to form an octagon as shown in the picture. Sew the side seams together of the first two wedges to form a 1/4 pie shape then two pie shapes to form a half pie then sew the two halves together to form the full octagon.
Note: Because the seam allowances go in opposite directions, it is easy to get the seam lines matched up when sewing the wedges together. Press.

Cut out the center octagon applique shape and pin it securely to the center wedges. Sew a small zigzag stitch around to hold it in place. Go back and sew over the zigzag with a satin stitch to form a nice finished edge on the applique. Place the backing on the work surface, then the batting layer, next sewn play mat top. Pin in a few places to hold the layers together, then using the sewn octagon as a pattern, cut the batting and backing. Layer the batting, top faceup and backing facedown, then pin. Sew around the edges using a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving an opening for turning. Turn the play mat inside out and press. Sew the opening closed.
With the walking foot on the machine quilt as desired.

For the ladybug:
Fold the dark flannel in half making two layers. Cut out the patterns and place them on the dark flannel. Draw around the pattern pieces, allowing space between the two patterns. Cut the pieces out leaving 1/4" seam allowance all around, except where it is marked to cut along the line. Sew one small circle (head) to one large circle (body) along the straight line with 1/4" seam allowance. Leave the other body and head unsewn for now.

To make the wings fold the wing fabric in half to make a double layer and draw around the outer circle of the wing pattern on one of the layers. Then draw two solid lines in the center. Cut out the circle leaving 1/4" seam allowance all around. Cut one layer of the fleece in the same manner. With the two fabric layers together and the fleece lined up underneath, sew along the drawn line around the circle, except where it needs to be left open. Sew along the solid lines in the center. Cut apart along the dash line. Turn the wings inside out and press.

Following the pattern, draw six dots on the paper side of the HeatnBond®. Iron the HeatnBond® to the back of the dot fabric and cut out along the lines. Iron the dots on the wings and sew a satin stitch around the dots.

Place the open end of the wings at the straight opening of the large ladybug body fabric and overlap the wings over the body as pictured. Baste the wings in place at the opening. Place the head circle straight line facedown on the body straight line with the basted wings between. Sew together. With right sides facing, sew the two body/head pieces together leaving an opening on the body side for turning. Be sure to tuck the wings toward the center of the body so they don't get caught in the seam. Turn the ladybug inside out and stuff the body to give some shape, but not too much. Sew the opening closed.
Tie a knot at each end of the rat tail cord then sew the center of the cord to the top of the ladybug head for antenna.

For the flower:
Following the center circle on the flower pattern, trace the circle on HeatnBond® twice. Fuse the HeatnBond® to the back of the white center fabric, cut out the two circles and put them aside. Cut out the flower pattern and use it to draw around on the back side of the pink flannel. Fold the pink flannel so there are two layers of flannel and add one layer of fleece behind the pink, then pin all three layers in place. Sew on the drawn line, leaving the opening where marked on the pattern. Cut out the flower with a scant 1/4" seam allowance all around. Clip close to the inside corners without cutting the stitches. Cut a small opening in the center of the flower and turn it inside out.
Cut the stem fabric 2"x 6". Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and sew across one narrow end as a curve and sew the long side with 1/4" seam allowance. Turn inside out and stuff firmly.

Push the open end of the stem in the flower at the marked opening. Place one white circle over the opening, cut for turning on the flower and fuse in place. The circle will cover and fuse over the cut opening and the open end of the stem showing through the cut opening. Place the other white circle on the other side of the flower, lining up the circles as closely as possible. Fuse in place. Sew a small zigzag around the white circle from the front then sew over it again with a satin stitch.

For the loop toys:
From the scraps of the patchwork play mat backing, cut out some of the sayings and designs in the shape and size desired. Cut another the same size. Fold 2" to 3" ribbon pieces in half and pin along the edge of one of the fabric pieces. The raw edges of the ribbon line up with the raw edges of the fabric and the loop of the ribbon is toward the center of the fabric. Baste the ribbons in place. Pin the right sides of the fabric pieces together and sew around the edges with 1/4" seam allowance, leaving an opening for turning. Stuff the toy lightly and sew the opening closed.