Fabric Draughts Set with Storage Bag by Melissa Goodsell

 

Project Description:

I created this fabric set to be used in our camper trailer when we’re away travelling.  However, we’ve all been busy playing many games of draughts at the dining table over the last week or so and it’s lovely to be able to pop it away in the storage bag when we’ve finished, ready for the next game.  This would also be a nice game to take in the car, keeping back seat drivers amused during a long journey - the fabric markers mean no plastic game pieces sliding around and rolling under car seats either.

Materials:

Playing board: 

Two 42cm squares of Basic Grey fabric,

One 42cm square of white felt or wadding

Storage bag: 

Two 48.5cm X 28cm pieces of Basic Grey fabric

One piece of white felt or wadding: 48.5cm X 28cm

Ttwo 29cm lengths of ribbon

Draught playing pieces:

Small scraps of Basic Grey fabric

Small scraps of white felt.

Other materials required:

Sewing machine, pinking shears, ruler and fabric marking pen.

Playing board instructions:

Step 1

Select and cut to size (42cm X 42cm) two pieces of Basic Grey fabric and draw up the playing board.  Using a fabric marker pen, draw up 64 squares (8 squares X 8 squares) inside the piece of the fabric.  Each square will measure 4cm and this will leave a 5cm space of fabric around the entire grid.

Step 2

Machine stitch all of the squares using a contrasting cotton.  Alternatively, you could hand stitch the squares.

Step 3

Cut a piece of white felt or batting to size (42cm X 42cm).

Step 4

Position the layers of fabric/felt or batting onto your work surface as follows: 

1^st Fabric (with square grid) right side up

2^nd Fabric (without grid) right side down

3^rd Felt/Batting on top of the fabric.

Machine stitch the layers together, leaving a small gap for turning.  Snip the corners and turn right side out.

Step 5

Top stitch around the playing board and hand stitch the turning gap shut.

Draught playing pieces instructions

Step 1

You will need to choose two separate Basic Grey fabrics for the playing pieces.   Using a 20cent piece as a template (or similar coin measuring approximately 3cm in diameter) cut out two circles of fabric and one circle of felt for each playing piece (using pinking shears).  There are 12 playing pieces required per player, but be sure to do some spares incase you lose some pieces down the track!

Step 2

Position the layers of fabric/felt onto your work surface as follows:

1^st Fabric, right side down

2^nd Felt

3^rd Fabric, right side up

Step 3

Machine stitch across the playing pieces, forming a cross (X) with your stitching.

Storage bag instructions

Step 1

Select and cut to size (48.5cm X 28cm) two pieces of Basic Grey fabric and one piece (48.5cm X 28.5cm) of felt or batting.

Step 2

Position the layers of fabric/felt (or batting) onto your work surface as follows:

1^st Fabric, right side up

2^nd Fabric, right side down

3^rd Felt (on top)

Machine stitch the layers together, leaving a small gap for turning.  Snip the corners and turn right side out.

Step 3

Position the stitched rectangle of fabric on your work surface and fold the bottom edge up and over about 18.5cm - refer to step photo as a guide – to create the pocket for the storage bag.  Pin into place.

Step 4

Machine stitch the sides into place.  Also continue your stitching around the top edge of the storage bag (refer to the step photographs).

Step 5

Cut two lengths of ribbon (29cm).  Fold over the top edge of the ribbon (1cm) and then fold over a second time (1cm). 

Step 6

Pin one piece of ribbon just under the storage bag flap, in the centre and 4cm down from the flap (refer step photograph for placement).  Pin the second piece of ribbon directly onto the storage bag flap edge, aligning it with the 1^st piece of ribbon.

Step 7

Machine stitch both pieces of ribbon into place - this might be a little bit tricky on the lower piece of ribbon.

Step 8

Pop the playing board and pieces inside the storage bag and tie the ribbon for closure.



Comments

[Ane]

Love this idea!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-make-a-draughts-or-checkers-game-from-fabric/2010/05/05/

--Anne

[Natalie Marwood]

Thanks for sharing! This is such a sweet idea, can't wait to make!