How to Sew a Felt Airplane Activity Tray for Kids

Recently I traveled with my kids on a long flight, and I was trying to come up with activities to keep them entertained on the plane. They love things like Legos, but the problem is keeping the Legos from falling off the slippery small airplane tray table. So, I made them felt trays they could keep all the pieces on!

This is a simple and fast project. It easily folds or rolls up to fit into their backpacks, and they can get them out to use themselves. My kids used them for Legos, but a felt tray could also easily be used for dice games, cards, to corral markers and pencils, etc.

Materials:

Two main pieces of felt (or other similar materials) cut 13″ x 19″

One piece of felt (or interfacing) cut 9″ x 15″

4 sets of snaps (one set for each corner of the felt tray)

DIY Felt Tray Instructions:

Of the two main pieces, one will be the base, and one will be the surface. First, lay the base piece wrong side up. Then, draw a rectangle two inches in from all four sides.

Lay the smaller felt piece (or interfacing) centered on the drawn rectangle and pin in place. Top stitch to the base.

Next, lay the surface piece right side up on the base. The base and the surface should be WRONG sides together, sandwiching the interfacing between the two. Pin/clip.

Top stitch all the way around the perimeter with a ¼” seam allowance. Trim away half the seam allowance.

Next, measure where to place the snaps: The “walls” of the tray will be 2” tall when it is snapped together. The interfacing piece stitched in leaves a 2” wall all the way around it, which helps stabilize the base and lets the walls fold more naturally at that point. Pinch one corner together, so that the walls are 2” high, and place a clip or pin there. Then draw a dot or other marking where you would want your snap to be placed. Make sure the marking is on both sides of the pinched corner.

Draw marks in equal spot on all other corners, so the snaps are evenly spaced in each corner.

Install snaps at these placement markings so that each corner can be pinched and snapped to itself.

That’s it!

When unsnapped you have a felt mat that is easily rolled or folded to be carried in a backpack. On an airplane (or anywhere!) it can be snapped together to create a handy felt tray. If desired, add an extra piece of felt that can be laid in the center of the tray for a contrasting color in the base. This is handy for adding cushion, muffling more sound, or adding an easy color for the activity to be seen against, depending on the pieces.

These felt trays made Legos fun and easy as an airplane activity for my kids, and they can use them for other activities too! You could also make one of these with a food-safe PUL surface for a snack mat tray for an airplane.