Chalk mat

This is for Amber!

Here is a link to a tutorial for a chalkboard mat that's a bit more stylin' than the ones I made, but the visuals may be useful.

Link.

Here is a reworded version from the directions I used (clarifying, mostly, and getting rid of some yokel grammar). 

Supplies: 

1 piece 10x13.5" chalk cloth (aka blackboard cloth)
2 pieces 12x20" cotton fabric
1 piece 5x12" cotton fabric
1 piece 12x20" fleece (either fusible or baste it into place)
1 piece 12" elastic
1 piece 12x20" fusible interfacing
Chalk, half a sponge

First half:

Pin or fuse the fleece to wrong side of one 12x20" piece of cotton. 

Second half: 

Fuse interfacing to wrong side of the other 12x20" piece of cotton fabric (to prevent the fabric from bunching when sewing on the chalk cloth.  A simple way to overcome this is to use a quilting foot if you happen to have one).  On the piece of cotton that's 5x12", finish one long edge by folding over twice and then top stitching.  Align the unfinished 12" edge with one of the 12" edges of the larger piece of cotton, mark the center, and stitch straight from the edge to make a divider for the pockets.  Each pocket should still be loose except for the one stitch in the center.  Center the chalk cloth in the remaining open area of your fabric and zigzag stitch around the edge of the chalk cloth.  Pay close attention to any bunching.  Pin the ends of the elastic to the edge directly opposite of the center stitching on the pocket, making sure the loop of the elastic is toward the center of the fabric. 

Putting it together:


Put both pieces of cotton right sides together, pinning the edges.  Sew together with 1/4-1/2" seam or whatever seam securely catches all of your edges (this was a Souper Saturday project, so it wasn't too precise) leaving a window on one of the long edges open for turning (preferably away from the pockets so they get caught in the initial stitching).  Turn and top stitch around the entire edge.  I ended up not top edging the pockets on one of them because the fabric was too thick for my machine. It turned out fine. 

They're cute, easy, infinitely customizable, very inexpensive relative to color wonder, compact, and durable.  I want to make a couple more for the older kids but this time actually use a cutting mat and some decent fabric scissors.