Australian Homespun — October 2017

Q Rotary cutter, ruler

and mat

Q General sewing supplies

Stitches used:

Chain stitch, French

knot, running stitch,

straight stitch

Finished size:

46 x 61cm (18 x 24in) open;

23cm (9in) square closed

(excluding handles)

Note: Read all the instructions

before starting the project.

Requirements are based on

fabric 107cm (42in) wide.

Seams of^1 ⁄ 4 in are used to

assemble the play mat. The

appliqué method is hand-

stitched raw-edge felt.

Adapt the instructions to a

diff erent appliqué technique

if you make the project from

other fabrics. Instructions

are given for using the

printed Pattern Sheet in

the magazine, but you

can also download the

digital patterns from

http://www.homespun.net.au

and print them out.

Preparation and cutting

1

Trace the appliqué shapes from

the Pattern Sheet onto tracing

paper or lightweight interfacing, label

them and cut them out on the lines.

Pin the appliqué patterns to the

chosen colours of felt and cut them

out close to the edges of the shapes.

Centre the road shape on the black

felt rectangle and cut it out as one

piece. Keep the felt shapes and

templates pinned together until

you’re ready to stitch them in place

so they are easily identifi ed.

2

From the black print fabric, cut:

• Two rectangles, 10^1 ⁄ 2 x 11in
  (garage pockets).

3

From the print fabric, cut:

• One rectangle, 19 x 25in
  (backing).

4

From the black fabric, cut:

• Three strips, 2^1 ⁄ 2 in across the
  width of the fabric (binding).

5

Trim the grey felt rectangle to

measure 18 x 24in if needed. Mark

the halfway points on the two long

edges with a chalk pencil or white

gel pen to indicate where the elastic

loop and button will be sewn for

the closure. Measure 2in either

side of these two centre points

and mark them as well. These are

the handle positions.

Garage pockets

6

Fold the pocket rectangles in half,

right sides together, with the two

11in edges matching. Sew down one

short edge, leaving the other two

sides open. Trim the corner, turn the

rectangle right side out and press it

fl at. Topstitch across the folded edge.

7

Referring to Diagram 1, machine

baste the unstitched short edges

together^1 ⁄ 8 in from the raw edges.

Then change to the longest stitch

length and sew two rows of

gathering stitch along the long

open edge,^1 ⁄ 8 in and^3 ⁄ 8 in from the

raw edges, leaving long threads

at both ends.

NICOLE’S

APPLIQUÉ TIPS

• I’ve used running stitch to
  appliqué the felt pieces. For
  a more detailed look, you
  could use blanket stitch.


• I used glue to hold the
  appliqué shapes in place, as
  I found it easier than using
  pins. Only use a small amount
  and avoid applying glue to
  areas you’ll be stitching, as
  it will be harder to push the
  needle through it.


• When positioning the
  appliqué shapes, keep in mind
  where the fold lines will be.
  You want to avoid having too
  much bulk in any one spot
  when you fold up the mat.

Garage pockets

Diagram 1

add Velcro dots

(see Step 11)

Sew vertical lines to divide the pocket into three (see Step 10)

Homespun 69

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