While living with a couple--no three--Lego fanatics, my feet have often experienced the sharp pain from stepping on a stray block or five--when they were supposed to have been picked up. The kids play with the Legos, but it's always me wearing out the knees in my pants, kneeling to pick up the stray ones. Legos do seem to blend in so well with our carpeting, that it really is quite easy to miss one or two during pick-up. Mr. French, my robotic vacuum, told me in no uncertain terms that if any Legos were left on the floor, he would without discrimination confiscate them, and into the garbage they would go. I won't even mention the embarrassment I have suffered when someone pops by for a visit and sees what appears to be the entire contents of the Lego catalog strewn across my floor. This always happens when there is not a kid in sight to clean them up. Well, no more since I made our handy-dandy Lego mat. This nifty little thing provides a place to play, easy storage, and portability—all in one convenient package.

Construction is really quite simple. Even the craft and sewing-challenged like me can have success with this project. Here are the basic instructions:

Using either a 45" or 60" width fabric, cut off the corners to form a circle. Serge or sew around the outer edge to form a 1" channel for your cord, leaving two openings for the cord to be pulled out. I sewed these as a buttonhole. I use contrasting thread to serge the channel edge when using a solid fabric, as it provides a visual cue as to which side should face up.

Alternatively, you could use two fabric circles and sew them right sides together, leaving a space for turning (like a pillow). After turning it right side out, stitch up the opening. Then stitch around the perimeter of the circle 1" or so away from the edge to form the channel for the cord. Make two openings for the cord. Then insert the cord, knot the ends together--and voilà no more Lego messes!