Featured fabric: Studio E Fabrics Huggable and Loveable by Sandra Magsamen

Pattern design by: Lindsay Conner

Sewn by: Lindsay Conner

Do you ever see those sweet fabric project panels and wonder if you could create something ELSE from it? Why, yes, you can! Today, I’m going to show you how I used an adorable playmat panel from the Huggable and Loveable collection by Sandra Magsamen to make a decorative mobile for a baby’s nursery! The colorful vehicles are playful and all have a sweet animal in the driver’s seat. Let’s get started:

Skills Learned: Machine sewing, hand sewing

Skill Level: Beginner

Finished Size:

30” long x 12” wide (76.20cm x 30.48cm)

Fabric Requirements:

Huggable and Loveable #14 Playmat 36” panel

Materials:

Sewing machine

Hand-sewing needle and thread

Scissors

Beads and pom poms

Embroidery hoop

Fiber fill

Thick thread or bracelet string

Clear tape

Gather materials
1. For this project, you will need a 12” diameter embroidery hoop, a variety of beads and large pom poms, fiber fill stuffing, clear tape, and thick thread or bracelet string.

2. Spread out the fabric project panel and choose five vehicles to cut out, keeping in mind that you’ll need to cut a front and back for each one.

3. Cut around each of the vehicles with sharp fabric scissors, using the beige border as a cutting guide.

4. Place a matching vehicle front and back together, with right sides facing. Sew ¼” from the edge all around the perimeter, leaving a 1” hole in the bottom for turning.

5. If you had to sew around any sharp turns, you can use scissors to carefully clip the corner, to make look more crips when you turn it right side out.

6. Turn the fabric shape right side out through the turning gap. Insert a handful of fiber fill stuffing inside the shape until it is full.

7. With your hand-sewing needle and thread, make a stitch into one end of the opening. Loop it several times to tie a knot, then use a slip stitch to close the opening. To do this, you essentially slip the needle through the folded edges of the fabric, catching just a few threads from each side to hold the seam together. Tie a knot at the other end and cut off the end of the thread.

8. Repeat step 7 for the rest of the vehicles. I sewed five, but you could make more or less. You can also use solid fabric to sew clouds or star shapes!

9. Take a 30” long strand of thick thread or bracelet string. Use your needle to tie a secure knot through the top of a vehicle. Next, insert it through a large wooden bead. Finally, insert the needle through 2 or 3 large pom-poms, each a few inches apart.

10. Repeat step 9 until you have completed all of your strands. There should be quite a bit of string left on the top of each one, which will come in handy for hanging.

11. Hold up one strand to the inner loop of the embroidery hoop so about 12” to 14” is hanging below. Wrap the extra string around the hoop once, then use a tiny piece of clear tape to secure it in place. Repeat with the other strands.

12. Add the outer layer of the embroidery hoop to secure the taped strands. Bring the extra strands toward the top and gather them in the center. Use a large bead to string them together, and tie a knot so you have at least 6” of the strands still loose beyond the knot.

13. Take the remaining loose strands and braid them together into a thicker string (you may need to pair them off unequally into groups of 2-2-1). Then, take these braided strands and tie them into a loop for hanging.

That’s its! You’ve made a sweet and fun baby mobile from a fabric playmat panel. This baby mobile makes a thoughtful gift for an expectant parent—and when the baby grows up, the pieces can be removed and used for imaginative play!

Fabric Details:

To view the complete Studio E Fabrics Huggable and Loveable by Sandra Magsamen, click here.

Learn more about Lindsay here.