Football Field Quilted Playmat

crafty football blog hopMany weeks ago I responded to Diane’s tweet about looking for contributors a football blog hop.  Each of the bloggers were to create something in their respective medium with their favorite NFL team.  Considering we host 15-20 people every Sunday for football, this is right up my alley.

We are a house divided between the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants.

Giant's 2012 practice camp in Albany.
Giant’s 2012 practice camp in Albany.

I have been sitting on this sheet with all of the football teams on it that I really wanted to use for a project.  This is perfect.  vintage sheet with nfl teams

After some creative roadblocks I was still very unsure about using the sheet.  Then while visiting our friends in NYC an idea came to me as I sat at their kitchen table.  A football field playmat for P.  Here is the layout I whipped up before we devoured a few pizzas at dinner.  If you follow me on Instagram I promise I did more than eat during the trip.

football field playmat mockupRight when we got home I started grabbing fabrics and playing around with ideas.  In the end light and dark green won out to mimic a football field a bit more.

I wish the pictures were better, but all of sewing and photos had to be done at night after P had gone to bed.  Here is what the finished product will look like.

quilted football playmatSupplies needed:

  • 1 yard of both light and dark green solid fabric
  • 1/2 yard of white fabric
  • thread
  • batting at least 45″ X 64″ (mine is from a 45″ wide roll)
  • backing fabric at least 52″ x 62″

To get started cut your green fabrics into 4″ strips by the width of the fabric.  You will need 6 52″ strips of both color greens.

strips of fabric strips of fabric

Cut your white fabric into 1.5″ strips by the width of the fabric.  You will need 11 52″ strips for the yard lines.

Sew the strips together of the same color greens so you have one continuous LONG strip of green.  Repeat for white.  You should be covered in strips of fabric.

Trim one edge of your batting to make sure you have a straight edge on a 45″ end.  Line up the first green strip to the top of the batting on the trimmed edge and sew with 1/4″ seam.  Press the green strip down onto the batting, then lay a white strip (correct side to correct side) on top and pin through the batting.  This method will secure the strips to the batting and prevent your strips from becoming wonky.  A modified quilt as you go method.

Press open and repeat with your next green color.  I started with the lighter green in my quilt.  Repeat the process until you have 12 strips and 11 white strips in an alternating pattern.

Add any decoration you want.  I added the Giants helmet and logo to one “endzone” and Colts to the other.  In center field are P’s initials since it’s his mat.

team logosinitials

Trim the completed top and batting to desired size.  Lay on backing fabric, secure with safety pin.  Quilt on the inside of the green strips 1/4″ on both seams.  Quilt down the middle of the white strips.  I used coordinating thread colors to the colors selected.  Trim and bind quilt in your favorite method.  I did machine binding with a zig zag stitch.  I wanted something the durability as it’s already getting used in my house.

quilted football playmat
unsure which team to go for

edgeIt’s been a hit.  P has been playing, rolling, spitting up and CRAWLING all over it.  It was the first time I saw him crawl.  I may have teared up.

quilted football playmat
He does like the Colts too.

Check back for the updated version with an extra center field logo this weekend.