Hi Jenny! I am in the process of making the nap mat and I have all my pieces ready to sew. I am sooo excited! I do have one quick question… What is the measurement for the shoulder strap material. I may just be overlooking it – but I don’t see a measurement for how long to cut each piece to go over the 25 inches of elastic. Thanks a million for this tute and for any help you can give me. Adrienne
Use a 1/2″ seam allowance and cut two pieces 34″ x 3.5″ You can make the 34″ more or less, depending on how much “scrunch” you want. Just make sure it is at least 30″.
Hi Jenny! Just found your blog last week and love it! How on earth do you have time to do so much with 2 small kids?!! Anyway, the fabric that my daughter chose for the mat itself is Angelina Ballerina from Hancock Fabrics. Does the mat have to be exactly 22 x 52? The fabric isn’t quite 44″ wide. Thanks Jeni
jenny, loved your tutorial video…just wondering though, which do you think is best to use for refinishing furniture….spray or just paint? Thanks a bunch..
Hey Connie You know, I really like both ways. Spray paint is so much faster if you can find the color you want and I usually can. I didn’t want to drag the table and corner piece outside though, so that’s why I decided to paint them!
Jenny, Thank you so much for the nap mat tutorial. My son is starting preschool next week and needs one. I followed your pattern, and it turned out perfectly. It’s just what I wanted. Your directions were clear and easy to follow. I hope you’ll post some more “kid/baby essentials” tutorials. I love making things for my boys. Thank you again.
Thanks so much for sharing your nap mat tutorial!! Have been searching for one that won’t break the bank and that my daughter will love. Now I can be sure that she will love it and her “bones won’t hurt her by laying on her towel” at rest in kindergarden!!
Thank you so much once again!!
I’m so glad you posted your nap mat tutorial. It came out great & I had fun making it. Next time I’ll try to buy material on sale though… I spent waaaay more than I probably should have on it- could have bought one for 1/3 what I paid in materials- not including the 9 hours it took to make it. But I’ll definitely make another for my other son when he starts preschool!
I just wanted to thank you so much for the nap mat instructions. We made one in January for my 3 year old who was starting a new daycare and now my 1 year old needs one next week so it looks like we will be making another one this weekend.
So excited that I found your nap mat tutorial…inquiring minds want to know the deal with the pillow that’s sewn into the mat….do I just stuff it sew it and wash the whole thing when it’s time. I was wodering how that fiberfill holds up in the dryer. My son is going to love the choo choo train frabric! Thanks a bunch.
Exactly. Stuff and sew it shut. If you’d prefer, you can make a separate pillow and slide it in. You wouldn’t sew the nap mat shut on the pillow side, you would simply extend the velcro the full length of the nap mat. That way you could remove your separate pillow before washing. I haven’t had any problems washing the fiberfill that I sewed shut but sew it the way it makes you happy
Hey Jenny – Just one question. Instead of foam, would you be able to use the regular nap mats you find at the store? Are they the same size, do you even know? Thanks!
Hi, made the nap mat today. I love it so cute and just what I wanted. I made to small changes I thought I’d share. My son’s daycare uses cots so he didn’t really need the foam. I used quilt batting instead and sewed up completly and tacked the batting in for ease of washing so it wouldn’t bunch. I also used a pillow form instead of the fiber fill and left the side of the pillow open with the velcro to take that out for washing. I used fleece for the blanket part. Thanks so much!
Hi, Jenny! I have been meaning to ask you if you could post or email me a tutorial for Kate’s Super Magic Cape. My little girl (whom I was newly pregnant with the last time I saw you and Brad) is about to turn three and I think she would love something like that. It looks like a good beginner project, as well. Thanks!
Hey Jenny!
Was wondering if you had a pattern or some input on making a breast feeding cover (kinda like a thin blanket to cover up when bf a baby). Son #2 will be arriving shortly and thinking of things I need/want.
I saw one at Target for $20 bucks, but figured it would be easy to make. Any suggestions?
Hi Jeni – That is fabric at the bottom of the yellow/green one. I don’t remember exactly how much elastic I bought but 3/4 yd should be plenty for a toddler.
I loved the ironing board cover when I saw it last week. Now I’m dreaming about it, so I think that means I need to make it in order to get a good night’s sleep again! In reading the directions, I was with you until the very end. I’m confused with the buttonhole and threading the ribbon through. It seems that if the buttonhole is sewn, that would cut off the availability to the casingl to run the ribbon through. How do you get the ribbon through the buttonhole and into the casing? It’s probably an easy answer, but my old brain is just not catching on to it. Thanks for your help.
Hi Cindy. you sew the buttonhole on the 3″ section that is NOT closed (the opening to thread casing). After you make the buttonhole on that open 3″ section, you fold it down and stitch.
Here are the steps that describe what to do. Let me know if it’s not clear!
11. On the center back of quilt top (directly above 3″ opening), sew a buttonhole parallel to stitched line. Slice open with an X-acto knife.
12. Thread ribbon through button hole and entire ironing board channel. Hand stitch 3″ opening closed, leaving only enough room for threaded ribbon. Place quilted cover on ironing board. Pull ribbon snugly and tie in a bow!
Thank you for your explanation! I guess I needed the little extra information about making the buttonhole and THEN folding it down and stitching it. In my feeble mind, I was folding it down first and then making a buttonhole which I knew wouldn’t work. duh!
I love the dresses you made your daughters, who, by the way are just precious! Is that a commercial pattern or do you make up the patterns? I love reading your comments about your little angels because your love of them and love of being a mom come through so beautifully. Your excitement is contagious! I always leave your site motivated to sew for my two darling grand-daughters!
Can you tell what type of fabric works best for the NapMat. I bought a really soft chenile for the blanket portion am struggling finding fabric I like for the mat portion.
I have a question about the nap mat. The foam is 20 x 40 and it looks like the fabric is sewn to be 20 x 40 too. Do you need to leave an allowance for the thickness of the foam? Thanks. I can’t wait to make this for my niece.
Hi Jenny…just wanted to add my thanks for the nap mat tutorial. I made one this weekend for my daughter and at first I was nervous if I’d be able to do it but it turned out great! PS – I love the velcro for access to the mat. That was a great idea!
Hello, Jenny! I feel terrible bothering you because I know you’re busy but, I have had a terrible time trying to download the nap mat tutorial. I keep getting an error message. Any advice? Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Hello, I tried as you suggested and downloaded the current version of adobe reader but I was still unable to access the nap mat tutorial. I would certainly appreciate you taking the time to email it to me. Thank you so much for your time and effort both in sharing your patterns and for assisting me with this! I look forward to making the nap mat and using some of your other patterns!
hi there, just found your site through so you think youre crafty, I actually came here looking for a tutorial for the rag rug, or toothbrush rug as you called it. do you have one?
I absolutely LOVE this!! It is exactly what I was looking for… but I have one question!! If I wanted to use a nap mat instead of the batting, and the mat measures 19″ x 45″, how much fabric would I have to buy, and what would be the sizes of fabric I would need to cut to fit it? Okay, so that was more than one question!!! But, please help!!! Thank you so much!
Hi Jenny. I have looked in the past for a nap mat pattern using foam and was so excited to find your awesome tutorial! My daughter starts Kindergarten in 1 week and I knew I wanted her to have her own special nap mat! She picked out “Care Bears” and we had so much fun shopping for all the supplies at Hancocks.. usually she is bummed out about going there! hehe. Thank you.. this nap mat is perfect in everyway! She especially loves the softness of the Minky Dots and said it will give her sweet dreams!
Hi Jenny~
Just stumbled upon your site. YOURE AWESOME! LOVE THE NAP MAT. I was looking into making a nap mat for my daughter who starts school next year, yes next year. I like to plan ahead on things like this . THANK U SOO MUCH FOR THE TUTORIAL. I love your site. You have such cool, fun things to make. Nothing says special like something made. My daughter will love this and she will feel a little bit of home while using this mat at school. THANKX AGAIN!
I love you nap mat.. So cute and creative. I am just starting to sew again after a very long hiatus. I want to make your nap mat but I have a few questions. When it comes to the fabric, do I need 1 2/3 for both the front and back together or for each piece? I know it is a silly question but I would apperciate some clarification. Thanks a bunch!
I’m Jennifer & I’m in the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild. I googled “nap mat tutorial” & yours was the first one that popped up. Small world! I’m going to Joann this morning to buy supplies. I can’t wait to try it for my son!
I was looking for a nap map pattern and found your site, however, I can’t get the tutorial to open. I keep getting a message that the file is damaged. Could you e-mail me the info? Thanks!
Hi Jenny! I am in the process of making the nap mat and I have all my pieces ready to sew. I am sooo excited! I do have one quick question… What is the measurement for the shoulder strap material. I may just be overlooking it – but I don’t see a measurement for how long to cut each piece to go over the 25 inches of elastic. Thanks a million for this tute and for any help you can give me.
Adrienne
Use a 1/2″ seam allowance and cut two pieces 34″ x 3.5″
You can make the 34″ more or less, depending on how much “scrunch” you want. Just make sure it is at least 30″.
Hi Jenny! Just found your blog last week and love it! How on earth do you have time to do so much with 2 small kids?!! Anyway, the fabric that my daughter chose for the mat itself is Angelina Ballerina from Hancock Fabrics. Does the mat have to be exactly 22 x 52? The fabric isn’t quite 44″ wide. Thanks
Jeni
Hey Jeni! I looove that fabric
No, you’ll be fine. You just may have to cut the foam a bit smaller. No big deal!
jenny, loved your tutorial video…just wondering though, which do you think is best to use for refinishing furniture….spray or just paint? Thanks a bunch..
Hey Connie
You know, I really like both ways. Spray paint is so much faster if you can find the color you want and I usually can. I didn’t want to drag the table and corner piece outside though, so that’s why I decided to paint them!
Jenny, Thank you so much for the nap mat tutorial. My son is starting preschool next week and needs one. I followed your pattern, and it turned out perfectly. It’s just what I wanted. Your directions were clear and easy to follow. I hope you’ll post some more “kid/baby essentials” tutorials. I love making things for my boys. Thank you again.
Thanks so much for sharing your nap mat tutorial!! Have been searching for one that won’t break the bank and that my daughter will love. Now I can be sure that she will love it and her “bones won’t hurt her by laying on her towel” at rest in kindergarden!!
Thank you so much once again!!
I’m so glad you posted your nap mat tutorial. It came out great & I had fun making it. Next time I’ll try to buy material on sale though… I spent waaaay more than I probably should have on it- could have bought one for 1/3 what I paid in materials- not including the 9 hours it took to make it. But I’ll definitely make another for my other son when he starts preschool!
I can’t get the instruction to download for the nap mat. Seems to be getting stuck
Hey there! I just tried it and the PDF downloads fine from my end. If it doesn’t work, let me know and I will email it to you.
I just wanted to thank you so much for the nap mat instructions. We made one in January for my 3 year old who was starting a new daycare and now my 1 year old needs one next week so it looks like we will be making another one this weekend.
So excited that I found your nap mat tutorial…inquiring minds want to know the deal with the pillow that’s sewn into the mat….do I just stuff it sew it and wash the whole thing when it’s time. I was wodering how that fiberfill holds up in the dryer. My son is going to love the choo choo train frabric! Thanks a bunch.
Tresa,
Exactly. Stuff and sew it shut. If you’d prefer, you can make a separate pillow and slide it in. You wouldn’t sew the nap mat shut on the pillow side, you would simply extend the velcro the full length of the nap mat. That way you could remove your separate pillow before washing. I haven’t had any problems washing the fiberfill that I sewed shut but sew it the way it makes you happy
Hey Jenny – Just one question. Instead of foam, would you be able to use the regular nap mats you find at the store? Are they the same size, do you even know? Thanks!
Hi, made the nap mat today. I love it so cute and just what I wanted. I made to small changes I thought I’d share. My son’s daycare uses cots so he didn’t really need the foam. I used quilt batting instead and sewed up completly and tacked the batting in for ease of washing so it wouldn’t bunch. I also used a pillow form instead of the fiber fill and left the side of the pillow open with the velcro to take that out for washing. I used fleece for the blanket part. Thanks so much!
Hi, Jenny! I have been meaning to ask you if you could post or email me a tutorial for Kate’s Super Magic Cape. My little girl (whom I was newly pregnant with the last time I saw you and Brad) is about to turn three and I think she would love something like that. It looks like a good beginner project, as well. Thanks!
Hey Amber! The super magic cape was an Ottobre Magazine pattern. If I see any tutorials similar, I’ll send them to you.
Hey Jenny!
Was wondering if you had a pattern or some input on making a breast feeding cover (kinda like a thin blanket to cover up when bf a baby). Son #2 will be arriving shortly and thinking of things I need/want.
I saw one at Target for $20 bucks, but figured it would be easy to make. Any suggestions?
Hey Wendy, here’s a great tutorial to try: http://madebythemamamonster.blogspot.com/2008/04/nursing-cover-tutorial.html
Hi~Just wanted to let you know I made the nap mat and posted pictures on my blog if you’d like to take a look!
Thanks much!
Rebecca
http://pinkpearlstudio.blogspot.com/2010/03/robot-nap-mat-tutorial.html
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Thanks for the love!!!
The nap mats turned out great and are beyond cute. The foam makes them comfortable enough to actually sleep on. Thanks so much!
Do you remember how much elastic you bought for the botique towel? Also, on the yellowish/green towel is that fabric at the bottom? Thanks!
Hi Jeni – That is fabric at the bottom of the yellow/green one. I don’t remember exactly how much elastic I bought but 3/4 yd should be plenty for a toddler.
I loved the ironing board cover when I saw it last week. Now I’m dreaming about it, so I think that means I need to make it in order to get a good night’s sleep again! In reading the directions, I was with you until the very end. I’m confused with the buttonhole and threading the ribbon through. It seems that if the buttonhole is sewn, that would cut off the availability to the casingl to run the ribbon through. How do you get the ribbon through the buttonhole and into the casing? It’s probably an easy answer, but my old brain is just not catching on to it. Thanks for your help.
Hi Cindy. you sew the buttonhole on the 3″ section that is NOT closed (the opening to thread casing). After you make the buttonhole on that open 3″ section, you fold it down and stitch.
Here are the steps that describe what to do. Let me know if it’s not clear!
11. On the center back of quilt top (directly above 3″ opening), sew a buttonhole parallel to stitched line. Slice open with an X-acto knife.
12. Thread ribbon through button hole and entire ironing board channel. Hand stitch 3″ opening closed, leaving only enough room for threaded ribbon. Place quilted cover on ironing board. Pull ribbon snugly and tie in a bow!
Thank you for your explanation! I guess I needed the little extra information about making the buttonhole and THEN folding it down and stitching it. In my feeble mind, I was folding it down first and then making a buttonhole which I knew wouldn’t work. duh!
I love the dresses you made your daughters, who, by the way are just precious! Is that a commercial pattern or do you make up the patterns? I love reading your comments about your little angels because your love of them and love of being a mom come through so beautifully. Your excitement is contagious! I always leave your site motivated to sew for my two darling grand-daughters!
Hi Jenny,
Can you tell what type of fabric works best for the NapMat. I bought a really soft chenile for the blanket portion am struggling finding fabric I like for the mat portion.
Thanks!
Hi there. I think 100% quilter’s cotton works best. Try looking at fabritopia.com for fun fabrics!
Loved the nap mat tutorial! I finished mine for my daughter yesterday and felt so proud I did it. Thanks!
I am having trouble bringing up the tutorial for the napmat cover HELP!! LOL
I have a question about the nap mat. The foam is 20 x 40 and it looks like the fabric is sewn to be 20 x 40 too. Do you need to leave an allowance for the thickness of the foam? Thanks. I can’t wait to make this for my niece.
Hi Jenny, I am making the ironing board cover and the 10″ square is too large to cut squares from the jelly roll “tubes” help!
Hey Julia! Check out this video
It will show you how to arrange your squares when you cut: http://blog.missouriquiltco.com/2009/09/like-totally-tubular/comment-page-1/
Let me know if you need any help after that.
Hi Jenny…just wanted to add my thanks for the nap mat tutorial. I made one this weekend for my daughter and at first I was nervous if I’d be able to do it but it turned out great! PS – I love the velcro for access to the mat. That was a great idea!
Hello, Jenny! I feel terrible bothering you because I know you’re busy but, I have had a terrible time trying to download the nap mat tutorial. I keep getting an error message. Any advice? Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Hello, I tried as you suggested and downloaded the current version of adobe reader but I was still unable to access the nap mat tutorial. I would certainly appreciate you taking the time to email it to me. Thank you so much for your time and effort both in sharing your patterns and for assisting me with this! I look forward to making the nap mat and using some of your other patterns!
hi there, just found your site through so you think youre crafty, I actually came here looking for a tutorial for the rag rug, or toothbrush rug as you called it. do you have one?
I absolutely LOVE this!! It is exactly what I was looking for… but I have one question!! If I wanted to use a nap mat instead of the batting, and the mat measures 19″ x 45″, how much fabric would I have to buy, and what would be the sizes of fabric I would need to cut to fit it? Okay, so that was more than one question!!! But, please help!!! Thank you so much!
Hi Jenny. I have looked in the past for a nap mat pattern using foam and was so excited to find your awesome tutorial! My daughter starts Kindergarten in 1 week and I knew I wanted her to have her own special nap mat! She picked out “Care Bears” and we had so much fun shopping for all the supplies at Hancocks.. usually she is bummed out about going there! hehe. Thank you.. this nap mat is perfect in everyway! She especially loves the softness of the Minky Dots and said it will give her sweet dreams!
Hi Jenny~
. THANK U SOO MUCH FOR THE TUTORIAL. I love your site. You have such cool, fun things to make. Nothing says special like something made. My daughter will love this and she will feel a little bit of home while using this mat at school. THANKX AGAIN!
Just stumbled upon your site. YOURE AWESOME! LOVE THE NAP MAT. I was looking into making a nap mat for my daughter who starts school next year, yes next year. I like to plan ahead on things like this
Hi Jenny,
I love you nap mat.. So cute and creative. I am just starting to sew again after a very long hiatus. I want to make your nap mat but I have a few questions. When it comes to the fabric, do I need 1 2/3 for both the front and back together or for each piece? I know it is a silly question but I would apperciate some clarification. Thanks a bunch!
I think it would be AWESOME if you could make a tutorial video of the nap mat!
Hi Jenny!
I’m Jennifer & I’m in the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild. I googled “nap mat tutorial” & yours was the first one that popped up. Small world! I’m going to Joann this morning to buy supplies. I can’t wait to try it for my son!
Thanks!
Jen
I was looking for a nap map pattern and found your site, however, I can’t get the tutorial to open. I keep getting a message that the file is damaged. Could you e-mail me the info? Thanks!
Never mind about e-mailing it. I got in via another link. Can’t wait to try it!