PlaceMat and LapTray in One ~ An easy sewing DIY tutorial ~ Must have for Summer – use as a lap tray or a place mat and is fully washable.

I am in a sewing mood these last couple of days and started with this easy PlaceMat and LapTray.

Now, I do not know much about sewing. But I can (usually!) get the sewing machine to do what I want.

For all of you out there, who actually know what you are doing, my apologies for wrong terminology or methods I use. At least you will have an idea of what I did.

First I cut the above pieces 2.5cm ( one inch ) larger than my board size all around. See lower down what I have used.

Which I then multiplied the width by two – to get one long rectangular shape which gets folded over.

Board sizes : 25cm (10 inches) X 35cm (14 inches)
Fabric/Batting and Linen cut to : 30cm (12 inches) X 40cm (16 inches)

1.) Outside Fabric
2.) Thin Batting
3.) Lining – I used thin linen as the standard lining might not be strong enough here

1.) Outside Fabric
2.) Thin Batting
3.) Lining
4.) x 2 = Bias binding for the Cutlery Divider (no 5)
5.) Cutlery Divider -I folded and ironed a strip of 12.5cm (5 inches)
6.) Napkin Pocket – folded and ironed flat
7.) x 2 = Bias Binding for the Ties (20cm / 8 inches)

Sewed the Bias binding to seal the top and bottom of the Cutlery Divider. Cut and tucked in the end pieces.

I sewed the Cutlery Divider onto the Top Fabric – see the X’s – I sewed each line a couple of times to make it stronger.

Sewed the Napkin Pocket onto the Top Fabric with an opening on the top to slip in the napkin. I also stitched the Bias binding for the Ties while I was busy with the smaller pieces – the Ties get sewed onto the Mat/Tray later.

One can see it is Winter in SA – my hands are all blue!

Above is the Order of the Layers – this is how I sewed everything together (see below).

The white circles show where I have pinned all three layers together all around (to make sure all is flat and there are no bubbles forming).

I started off by stitching the 3 layers together by the width (in the center) which will now form the “top” piece of the Mat/Tray.

To make it easier I cut a small piece of batting away on the side which must be open for the board to slide in.

Above you can see I simply folded the lining over the batting and the top layer just folded – then sewed it close (front and back side).

After that was done I folded the Top Fabric towards each other – the lining will now be on the outside. Leaving a small border (approx 5mm). I sewed the other length side and the “bottom” closed.

I did this twice to make it stronger – turned the, now wrong side, in – making sure to push out the corners neatly.

I used a standard size Clip Board (which is slightly larger than A4) – removed the Clip and the board was ready (these boards are extremely sturdy).

The rounded corners would also prevent tears when inserting into the Mat/Tray as this is a tight fit (also my reason for not using the very thin lining).

Slide the board into the finished Mat/Tray (I had already hand sewed the Ties at the ends).

Close it up …

and you have a handy

I thought a melamine picnic tray would look great here (seeing as one usually use a Lap Tray at a picnic/cookout/BBQ/braai…).

It fits nicely over my legs and with the extra batting on the bottom, it is very comfy as well! Standard place mats of this type normally only have a single piece of batting.