Are you looking for a simple activity to keep your children entertained while traveling? Or even just something to easily throw into your diaper bag? Well this is the tutorial for the chalkboard mats that I made from my niece and nephew for their birthday.
Cut 1 piece of chalk cloth measuring 8″ by 10″ or whatever size you would like.
Cut 1 piece of fabric of your choice measuring 8″ by 14″ or whatever size you would like.
The extra fabric measured for this piece is what will make the pocket to hold the chalk. If you don’t want a pocket cut this fabric the same size as the chalk cloth. If you would like it bigger or smaller, adjust this extra length.
Note: The pocket will lay over the chalkboard cloth. So if you made you cut this piece 16″ instead of 14″ it will overlap the chalkboard cloth an extra 2″ from the pattern.
Pin the fabric ride sides together. This means sandwich the fabric so the patterned side and the chalkboard side face each other. Line up the edges and pin.
Sew around the edges marked in ride above. You want to leave a pocket to turn it right side out after sewing together.
Now, turn your mat right side out and push out the corners. Because your fabric will fray, we need to fold in the edges of the pocket. So fold in the edges slightly, press with an iron (DO NOT IRON ON THE CHALK CLOTH!).
Pin down the edges if necessary and sew along the folded over fabric.
Now fold up the pocket and pin down. Sew all around the chalkboard mat to keep the pocket in place and to give it a nice finished look.
Before you can start drawing on the mat take a piece of chalk and colour over the entire mat. Then wipe off with a wet cloth, dry it off, and repeat 1 more time.
Now you are ready to let your child draw and doodle away!
You can throw this mat into the washing machine, but not the dryer.
Have fun with it and I would love to see what you come up with!
And see how easy they fold up into your diaper bag?
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