Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here
Pretend Play

Homemade Farm Play Mat

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

I recently posted a picture on facebook of the girls playing with this farm play mat that we made for them a couple of years ago for Christmas. A lot of people wanted to see more and asked if I had written a post about it. This was long before I started my blog so unfortunately I hadn’t. So, I thought I’d take a few pictures for anyone who was interested to see more. The girls love this and play with it quite often still. And it’s extra special because it was made with love by us! The homemade Christmas we did was great, and I loved giving the girls special things that were made especially for them. Now I’m starting to think about what I could make them this year! I had better get started.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Here is the whole play mat. My husband actually designed it! I had a lot of other things to make so I enlisted his help in designing this one. It was really very simple. I would definitely not call myself a sewer, and am more of a make-it-up-as-I-go-along type. All we did was go to Spotlight and find lots of different kinds of materials that could be used for different things. The background is thick felt. You can see it has been well loved and has started pilling, which I expected to happen. That’s ok, I think it just makes it look more like grass.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Once we had cut out all the pieces, we stuck them on with fabric glue to hold them in place and then I stitched around them.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Vegie patch.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Field of flowers.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Lake/dam with a rainbow bridge and buttons for little stepping stones (and more textures).

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

We used embroidery thread to sew on some little dots to look like grains for the chickens to peck at.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Paddock for the cows.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

Some mud for the pigs to roll in.

Homemade Farm Play Mat | Happiness is here

The wooden animals we have can be found here.

When everything had been sewn on, I added another piece of felt to the back and stitched all the way around! And that’s all there was to it.

Tell me, what have you made for you kids for Christmas? I’d love some more ideas for this year!

Comments

Tracey
October 15, 2014 at 5:03 pm

Love your farm mat! For my sons first birthday his nana made him a fabric car track mat that has pockets to ‘park’ the cars. It all folds up nicely so we take it with us when we go out. I’m thinking I might make a magnetic fishing set out of felt for Christmas (that is approaching way to quickly!!!!)



mumma_ox
October 15, 2014 at 8:33 pm

Your mat is lovely 🙂

We made a knitted mat and animals together with a timber barn last Christmas. I loved the process of making something for my children – so much more satisfying than buying things.

The previous year, I made my daughter a doll. I am thinking of making another doll this year for my youngest (birthday)

We have a timber play kitchen in our mind for Christmas this year. Should be fun 🙂



Maree
October 15, 2014 at 8:44 pm

Thank you for posting these photos. I have added this play mat to my list of things to make for Christmas this year. I am also going to try and design a zoo version.



October 16, 2014 at 1:41 pm

You are simply TOOOO much. That is so precious! I am waiting for grandchildren (eventually) for whom I could copy some of your fantastic ideas. If I’m not totally demented by that time. Were you this artistic as a kid?



October 19, 2014 at 1:28 pm

I had very good intentions to make a similar play mat for my kids years ago. I bought some different fabrics but mine have been content to play with the loose squares as they can keep changing things around each time. Your mat is lovely though, makes me think I should go ahead and make one for them to play with.



October 25, 2014 at 6:17 am

You’re so creative! I love home made gifts!



January 6, 2015 at 5:24 pm

Beautiful and useful. I love home made gifts!



July 16, 2015 at 8:26 am

Love your play mat. I used it as inspiration to make one of my own and am thinking of making them for 2 of my little nephews 🙂 thanks for sharing



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