What is difference between quilt and playmat?
 

I have been asked to make a quilted playmat. What is the difference between the two? I guess I am old. A playmat for my kids was taking a blanket and putting it on the floor!

Definitely ask mom what she has in mind.........in my opinion sometimes store bought is more practical and reasonable that handmade...... When GBs were here I bought a playmat........

I agree with Geri. Store bought items would be more practical especially with the cost of fabrics.

Might be something that is heavier - that would be less apt to bunch up?

I think too that sometimes "play mats" have safe stuffy things attached - or at least different textures - for the baby to explore and play with.
If this is a good friend, and you'd like the challenge, i think it could be a fun project --- making something that's a quilt plus a little more. But definitely, i'd find out what the person has in her mind before i said yes.

The patterns that I have for playmats (and they specifically have 'playmat' as part of the name) are really just quilts with something of interest on the top...pockets, tabs, pictures, things to entertain the child. One has fasteners for the child to learn...zippers, buttons, laces, snaps, velcro, things like that. They aren't made any differently than standard quilts, except for one that has home dec weight cotton for the background fabric on top. The emphasis is on 'play'. Could be a quilt of streets for a little boy to use his trucks on, that kind of thing (didn't mean to be so stereotyping with that idea, sorry).

A lot depends on the age of the child, his/her interests, and what the mother has in mind, so I'd definitely ask for at least her general ideas.

My daughters use heavy quilts, Warm and Natural batting, as playmats for their babies. They keep it folded up right next to the toy box in the living room.

If it is a boy could the mom want a playmat with train tracks or a road on it? Like some one else mentioned there are also circular quilted playmats you can pull a string to clean it up. I think an I Spy quilt 40x40 or larger made with heavy batting would make a great playmat. I would be hesitant to add loops etc. because of safety. Maybe little lift up windows sewn over some of the pictures?

This is what showed up when I googled.

https://www.google.com/search?q=home..._AUoAg&dpr=1.1

As mentioned, I would ask what the mom has in mind. Storebought may be a better choice. You can easily make a playmat that has 'streets' for car playing, but the storebought ones hold up better to little knees dragging across fabric.

I made what I call a "touchy feely playmat" completely out of scraps from all different types of fabrics as can be seen below.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]513067[/ATTACH]

Each square was 12" finished and I used wool, satin, chenille, suede, ribbon, fleece, ribbing etc which gave bub the experience of putting her hands on different textures and was a good size for her to sit on and explore when the time came.

I hope that the above helps with some ideas.

Wow, thanks for all the feedback. I am now enlightened! The picture of the quilt by Busy Fingers is awesome!

I would think it would depend on how old the child is.

If it was for an infant I would think you would want some kind of water resistant material or something that could be easily cleaned. For a toddler I would think something more suited to actually playing on. Maybe like a picnic blanket style. Whatever you or mom decided I think it would surely have to be sturdy enough to be washed more often than a regular quilt.

<3 Mandi <3

Over here in UK we are taught that all quilts for babies are for them to play on or sleep on but not sleep under in a cot etc. reason they are not checked by. Health and safety therefore not fit for purpose. In the UK H&S as gone mad even concerns are banned, playgrounds rubber and swings checked.
Mine are dragged around the rooms and toddlers snuggle up with them at nap time.not been caught yet by H&S.

I make an I Spy quilt for babies, the moms love them, lots of bright colors, objects, animals etc. But I always tell them it is too heavy (approx 42x52, cotton batting) for a new baby so just use it for a play mat, tummy time until baby becomes a toddler, then it can be used on a bed. Many of them have become the toddler's blankie or a ritual to name the things in it before they go to sleep.

Lots of cute play mats here...I did not like the ones that had cords attached...if you turn your back, baby is wrapped up in those cords..

To me, I don't think there is much of a difference. When I first began quilting (I'm pretty much self-taught), my daughter wanted a "blanket" for outside so she could play with her Barbie dolls without having sticks and rocks coming through. My sister gave me a cheater panel, roughly 45" square, then I added two layers of batting along with two, yes two, layers of an old mattress pad that was fairly thin, plus a backing. Let's just say that I was happy that my Sears Kenmore sewing machine "loved" to sew on heavier fabrics, so she just breezed through the squares on the cheater panel, no problem. Granted, her "play quilt" was somewhat heavy, even with 2 layers of thin poly batting, but it was perfect for her to take outside and play with, and I didn't have to worry about rocks poking through. You can go ahead and laugh at me, but I will say I learned a lot making that quilt, as I have every quilt since, although there was no one to tell me I couldn't do it, so I just did.

Made a log cabin barn raising on one side, a paneled solar system print on the other. Echo quilted pretty heavy and the results were a 60x60 Play Mat for the baby of a friend. Would not have made a good quilt. Way too stiff. So that's my story and I am sticking to it. tim in san jose

A pitcher of it.

My experience
 

If I use a poly batting that is more than 1/4" thick I think the resulting quilt is too "stiff" to be a quilt, and call it a play mat instead. It is a cushion on the floor.

I made a quilt for a new grandson that had "3-D" bowties that could be used to attach baby toys, as shown on the pattern. I told my DDL that it was a "play quilt" just because of the open loops of the bowties. The fabric line actually matches a little book with animals can't think of the name right now:) which I gave them also. Something like Moo Moo Peekaboo. Just trying to be on the safe side although the parents already "get it".

They are one and the same in my humble opinion.

Both of my DDs had a toy like this, and their favorite part was the pocket that had four ribbons sewed into the bottom seam of the pocket, with little stuffed toys attached, that could be stuffed in the pocket, and it had a velcro closure. When everything was stuffed in the pocket, it became a little pillow. Keep the ribbons real short, just above the pocket, for safety. Stuff the pocket and close the velcro, and it is easily washable.

When my son was a baby 25 yrs ago, I'd put him on the floor with toys on a quilt. a lot of people like the ones with ribbons and stuff for the babies to play with