My grandson LOVES trucks. Not cars. Trucks. Especially construction vehicles. He knows the names of all types of construction vehicles and exactly why/where they are used. Last year he got a set of six "smallish" plastic construction vehicles. They aren't quite as small as Matchbox cars, but small enough to travel well. He has been using them to play in the mulch at our house and even took them camping last summer. He loved playing in all of the dirt outside of the tent!
Shortly after he got the small construction set I happened upon a Tonka panel showing all kinds of construction vehicles, roads, dirt and dig sites. I had a plan to make a construction play mat! Fast forward through a crazy year and little time spent sewing anything outside of bridal shower projects and I was FINALLY ready to start the project. When I mentioned it to my son, he suggested that I make it a "camping" quilt so that he can play with it in the tent (and knowing my grandson, in the dirt too, LOL). My son suggested I use fabric from the many pairs of jeans I have hoarded over the years as the backing. Hmmm...the two denim quilts I made for my son years ago still look new. He was definitely on to something!
When I found the panel I also found some Tonka fabric that I used to border the sides. Before I sandwiched the quilt, I did some FMQ through just the flimsy and the batting.
Then I used pieces of denim and camo from my son's jeans, my husband's jeans and my grandson's jeans (it's folded in this shot) to make the backing and quilted grid lines to hold it all together. I folded over the backing to make the binding. I wanted the edges of this quilt as "tough" as the backing!
Since all quilts need a label, I made one that I hope some day will express to Kaiden just how much he means to all of us! While I know Kaiden will take care of this quilt (he is thrilled with it)...we all know how irresponsible first graders can be, LOL. Just in case, I added my phone number to help it find its way home.
Grandpa suggested an old blanket bag to keep everything together and contain any dirt and mud on it until it gets home and heads for the washer. Good thinking, Grandpa!!! This has been a really fun project for me to sew and I know Kaiden will love playing with it! Now I need to focus on the mountain of mending and UFOs on my cutting table...
Toodles...
Very nice. I love this idea and almost wish my boys were small once again so I could "borrow" it.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you, Jackie! It was really fun to do! Not too long ago my future DIL found a very expensive car play mat in a thrift store for $6. I forget what price it was online but she paid pennies for it compared to brand new. I was a little bummed as I had planned to make him this play mat. However, Justin's suggestion was PERFECT! If he only plays with it in the tent and it stays clean he can even use it as a blanket if he is cold! Justin and Gabby are going camping for their honeymoon and at the end of their week Gabby's brother and his family are picking up Kaiden and they will all spend the weekend camping. In the middle of October it could be a beautiful Indian Summer or COLD. Not dangerously cold, but uncomfortable. I will have to make sure he brings his camping quilt just in case! God bless! Lin
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