Toddler nap mat with blanket

I have a toddler who won’t sleep anywhere but his crib, so I must have had somebody else’s kid in mind when I decided to make a nap mat. It’s the perfect size for a little one — 24″x42″. It has a built in pillow and a little blanket, and the whole thing rolls right up for easy transport.

Supplies

(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)

Aquarium Azure

Minky Cuddle Dimple - Baby Blue

Small pillow form

Swivel clasp (2)

Approx. 1" D-ring (2)

1" thick foam, 24"x42"
I had 1-1/3 yards of Minky and 1-3/4 yards of fish fabric, 1″ thick foam (mine was 24″ wide, which was nice because it meant less cutting) and a small 12″x16″ pillow form.

The pattern

As I developed this project, I took some inspiration from this other mat I had made from a Sew4Home project. I wanted it to be small and have a built-in pillow, and also be soft. I also wanted to have a blanket (which is optional), and for it to roll up and be easy to grab and carry. 

 

Cut the following pieces:

Foam: 24″x42″

One each of Minky and outer fabric: 26″x44″

Straps (from outer fabric):
Pillow strap (will cut in 2 after sewing): 1 piece 4″x7″
Swivel hook strap (will cut in 2 after sewing): 1 piece 4″x13″
D-ring strap: 2 pieces 4″x10.5″
Handle: 1 piece 4″x18″

NOTE: Most of the ends of the various straps don’t need to be finished (turned under) because the raw edges will be hidden. Therefore, you could make one long strap to save time and cut it into the pillow straps, swivel hook straps and handle. Make one long strap 4″x50″ (to give you a few inches of leeway) and cut it up. Then make the D-ring straps separately with the ends turned under.

Pillowcase front (from Minky): size of your pillow form plus 1/2″ seam allowance. So if your pillow is 12″x16″, cut main pillowcase piece 13″x17″.
Pillowcase back (from Minky): Cut two pieces (for my example of a 12″x16″ pillow) 13″x11″.

Blanket – You’ll have plenty of Minky left over after cutting your big mat piece. Cut your pillow from the bottom of the side you cut your mat piece from and save the other side for your blanket.


The process

Place your two back pillowcase pieces right-side up side by side. You want to hem the long sides that are facing each other. 

If you have a serger, serge those edges (above left), then fold under to wrong side and stitch (above right).

If you don’t have a serger, you can just turn under twice and sew.

Make your pillow straps using our Non-Turn Strap tutorial (these will secure the pillow to the mat)(this method will be used for all straps in this tutorial). You’ll sew the one long strap and then cut it in half. You don’t need to turn under the ends. The raw edges will be hidden later.
Place your straps evenly from either end of your pillowcase front piece, along the top of the pillow. I placed the outer edges of my straps about 3″ from either side. Place the straps as shown and baste in place.
Above, left: With right-sides together, place one of your pillowcase back pieces on the pillowcase front, with the hemmed edge toward the middle. 

Above, right: Place the other pillowcase back piece on top of that, also with the hemmed edge toward the center. Pin in place. This is forming an envelope-style case.

Sew all the way around with a 1/2″ seam allowance. I chose to serge mine afterwards because Minky is messy. 

Turn your pillowcase right-side out. I checked the fit by inserting my pillow form, but I then removed it to make finishing the project easier.

Place the other end of your pillow straps along the top edge of your big Minky piece, with the right-side of the Minky up. Center it (I think mine were about 8″ from either edge). Baste in place.
On the bottom of your outer fabric, mark 4″ from either side for strap placement.
Make your swivel hook straps (use the same method as above) by making one long strap (no need to turn under the ends — they can be raw edges) and cutting it in half. Place each strap through a swivel hook and sew along the bottom and again near the hook. See photos above. 

Baste these to the bottom of the outer mat piece, where you marked above. The raw edges of the straps will align with the raw edge of the fabric, and the swivel latches will face UP. Sorry. I don’t have a picture of this, but it’s the same concept as the straps in the pillowcase photo above.

For the D-ring straps, sew two straps with the edges turned under (so there are no raw edges, as there is no way to hide them in the seams for this one). Wrap one edge of each around a D-ring and sew to secure. 

Also make your handle strap. Raw ends are fine on this one (not pictured).

Measure 16.5″ up from the bottom and 4″ in from each side for D-ring strap placement. Please note that the fabric is oriented differently in the two photos above, so keep that in mind when figuring out how to place your straps. 

The two D-ring straps will run parallel to the edges. The handle strap will run between them and the raw ends will be hidden under the D-ring straps.

My fabric is directional, so please refer to the photos to see how my straps are arranged. The D-rings are pointing toward the top of the mat.

Sew all the way around the mat with a 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving a large hole at the bottom. I started just to the inside of the swivel hook strap and went around and ended just inside the other swivel hook strap.
Turn right-side out and poke out corners. Then stuff the foam inside. Turn seam allowance of hole in and pin. Then top-stitch closed.
If you want to make a blanket, simply take some leftover Minky and serge around the edges.

Other views

(Click for bigger views)