DIY Playing Card, Collecting Card, or Tarot Card Mat

I recently created a quilted mat that also functions as a carrying pouch for cards of all kinds - from playing cards to Pokémon and trading cards! I shared a freebie tutorial to make one at BERNINA's WeAllSew blog, and you can find it by clicking here.

The playing card mat in the tutorial finishes at 21" x 21", just large enough for a solitaire game of klondike. 


And perfect for trading (or playing) Pokémon cards! This is just part of my kiddo's collection pictured above.


The mat rolls up with the cards stowed in an inside pocket for storage. No more losing the Uno deck in the game closet or junk drawer!

I also created a larger-sized mat for bigger decks like tarot or oracle cards (scroll down to find the details about making the larger-sized mat for your tarot deck).

Because the mat is quilted, it creates a nice, clean space for laying out special cards, like my vintage (circa 1984) Egipcios Kier deck pictured above.


The pocket on the back of the mat is large enough to hold the deck and keep it clean.


Fold the mat in thirds over the pocket, roll it up, and tie it together for storage. Because the mat is quilted, the rolled-up mat will protect cards if you pop it in a handbag, backpack, or tote.


These quilted mats go together quickly, and I got obsessed with making mats to match some of my favorite decks!


Like the Siddhartha deck by Bruno Letizia (I love these colors).


And Lulu Mayo's Kawaii deck. So cute, amiright?

If you'd like to make your own large-sized card mat, use the dimensions below for cutting the pieces to make the mat, and follow the tutorial linked above.

To make a 24" x 24" large card mat:
  • Cut the backing fabric and batting to 26" x 26"
  • Cut the fabric or patchwork for the top of the mat to 24 1/2" x 24 1/2"
  • Create at least 108" or 9 feet of binding to finish the edges
  • The pocket dimensions in the original tutorial will fit one standard-sized tarot deck. If you have an oversized deck, increase the dimensions by 2" on each side.

Enjoy!


Comments

Cathy said…
I made the playing card mat this weekend for a family who plays cards in restaurants, parks, etc. It gave me the opportunity to use a piece of fabric that wasn't big enough for anything else, and it came out great! Thank you for a wonderful Christmas gift idea. Next time I make one, it will be made bigger, but this size is great for their application. (PLUS: It gave me the opportunity to work on my quilting abilities; loved doing it! Thanks so much for the wonderful instructions. Happy Thanksgiving!
Cathy from Ohio

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