Rainbow Playmat

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Cotton Canvas (see first step below for amount)
• Disappearing Ink Pen
• Polyfil, 12 oz bag
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Iron

DIRECTIONS:

1. The amount of fabric will depend on how many prints you use. We included 6 different fabrics total. The backing fabric will be 1 yard. The largest two arcs will need 3/4 yard, and the smaller 4 arcs will each need 1/2 yard.
2. Draft your pattern on a large piece of paper. Gift wrap with a grid is a great option for this. You will draft half of the rainbow. Begin by cutting a rectangle out of the paper that is 12 1/2" wide, and 18 1/2" tall. Place the paper in front of you and draw an arc from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. Cut out arc; this is the backing pattern.
3. Fold the backing cotton canvas in half and place the backing stencil on the canvas so that the straight side of the stencil is in line with the folded edge of the fabric.
4. Use the disappearing ink pen to draw on the canvas an arc that is 1/2" away from the edge of the stencil. This extra 1/2" is to accommodate your seam allowance. Cut the arc out and set aside.
5. For the front rainbow, trace the backing pattern on a separate piece of paper. You want to make arcs that are 3" wide. Measuring 3" down from the arc, draw a dotted line, following the shape of the arc and maintaining a distance of 3". Connect the dotted line to make a smooth rainbow arc. Cut out and repeat the process to make 4 more arcs that are 3" thick. The arc that remains will be your sixth arc. Mark the tops and bottoms of your arcs for your reference.
6. Fold the cotton canvas for the first arc in half and place the first arc stencil on the canvas so that the top of the arc is lined up with the fold.
7. Use the disappearing ink pen to draw on the canvas an arc that is 1/2" away from the edge of the stencil. This extra 1/2" is to accommodate your seam allowance. Cut the arc out and set aside. Repeat for all remaining pieces.
8. Take the largest arc and place it rightside-up in front of you. Take the second largest arc and place it upside down above the other arc, the tops of the two arcs touching. Scoot the top arc down so that the tops of the two arcs are overlapping. Place a pin centered along the bottom line of the larger arc. Double check that you're pinning along the correct side of the arc by flipping the smaller arc down and seeing that it lays under the larger arc. Once sure of the arced line you're pinning, iron the next two inches of the canvas, pull the malleable canvas into the curve and pin. Continue ironing every two inches and pinning, until you've completed the curve.
9. Make a mark 1/2" from the bottom on each side -- this mark indicates where to stop sewing. You will want 1/2" of open canvas along the bottom of each arc so that at the end, when the rainbow and backing are sewn and stuffed, you will be able to turn the bottom in 1/4", press, and handsew across the bottom.
10. Sew arc with a 1/2" seam allowance.
11. When all of the arcs are sewn together, use your scissors to cut a triangle into the seam allowance about every 1/2" or so along the curves. This will help the seam to lay flat. Make sure not to cut through your seam.
12. Place the front piece and backing right sides together.
13. Make a mark 1/2" from the bottom on the left and right side of the rainbow -- this mark indicates where to stop sewing. You will want 1/2" of open canvas along the bottom of the rainbow so that at the end, when the rainbow and backing are sewn and stuffed, you will be able to turn the bottom in 1/4", press, and hand sew across the bottom.
14. Sew along the top edge, starting and stopping at the marks 1/2" from the bottom. Use your scissors again to cut a triangle into the seam allowance about every 1/2" or so along the curves.
15. Flip mat right side out, iron flat, and pin along the surface to secure in place. Next, you will quilt each arc seam, sewing the front to the back.
16. Use disappearing ink pen to mark 1/2" from the bottom for each arc. Beginning with the bottom arc, sew the top to the backing along the bottom arc seam, starting and stopping 1/2" from the bottom. Repeat for each arc.
17. When finished, use something long and skinny like the handle of a wooden spoon or a long paint brush and push a little stuffing into the arcs. Avoid overstuffing.
18. When the playmat is stuffed, fold the bottom edge inside and press with iron.
19. Pin in place and handsew together.