Toy Bag and Play Mat in One

A simple but effective toy bag that opens out into a play mat.  A water resistant backing means that damp ground doesn't have to mean damp clothes and the drawstring makes picking up the toys easy when it is time to stop playing.

Step 1 What you need

1 1/2 yards of 54" wide patterned fabric
1 1/2 yards of 54" water resistant fabric

[wider fabric is fine - the size of your playmat is limited by the smaller of your pieces of fabric]

16 eyelets (mine were 5mm [a smidgeon bigger than 3/16"] )
 5 yards of cord (must fit through your eyelets, my cord was 4mm)

tape measure
iron & ironing board
thread
sewing machine
scissors
marking pen/pencil
eyelet setting tool, often included with the eyelets and hammer
or
cropadile

Comments

[chwbcc]

Yay! I had a set of the denim Lego bags growing up. And my Mom made a set for the Grandkids a few years back. I love the instructable and this is an easy project for anyone to make. (even if you can't sew)


Her design is much more simplistic but it's the same premise:

Large Canvas (any color)
Fold edges in about 2 inches and sew
Punch out 8 holes and add grommets
Add string and tada Lego Bag.

Here is some photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chwbcc/6581704355/

We actually don't use them anymore because the amount of Legos we have exceed what the bag will hold.  So we use it as a play mat instead.  It folds up nicely and stores real easy in the Rubbermaid. 

Great Work!!!

[PKM]

Having been a LEGO enthusiast as a child, I could really have done with one of these.  My only point of concern (as a practical sort of child) would have been the patterned fabric- very easy to lose those tiny pieces on a patterned surface, so perhaps a plain one for better visibility of "things with small parts" would be appropriate.  It probably all depends on the age and toy inclinations of the kids, though.

[lizzyastro]

I chose this fabric - pirates and islands as a fantasy location to play lego on/with. It is a smooth woven fabric, so easy to sweep a hand over to find something. In reality the bricks and small parts are quite visible - the lighting on the day I took the photo complete with lego did not give much contrast.

If you really need a plain surface, you can turn it over and have the pattern underneath and then outside when the strings are drawn up.  So plain or patterned are BOTH viable options.

Lizzy

[Boost]

Hey I had the same idea a few years back when my sisters kids were toddlers. Nice instructable, ma'am!

[lizzyastro]

Thank you. My boys are really a bit too old for a play mat, but not too old for Lego so they may use it. If not I shall give it to my impending grandchild.

[Lithium Rain]

Impending grandchild? Congratulations! :)

[lizzyastro]

Thank you!

My grandson arrived safely, if rather earlier than expected on 3rd August!

[kaptaink_cg]

My mom made one of these when I was a kid for our legos. It's awesome. I still have it! (I'm in my mid 30s now)

[NostalgicStone]

Very simple, very useful. love it  : )

[canida]

What a great idea!

[NachoMahma]

. Great idea. I don't know enough about sewing to make an evaluation of the Ible, but it sure looks good. ;)