5 Tips for Sewing a Baby Mobile from a Fabric Panel

If you’ve ever picked up a fabric panel and thought, “What else can I make with this besides a quilt or book?”—you’re not alone. Panels are packed with possibilities, and today I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to think outside the (quilt) block: a DIY baby mobile made from a fabric playmat panel!

This playful project originally appeared on Sew It Yourself, where I turned the Huggable and Loveable panel from Sandra Magsamen and Studio E Fabrics into a colorful nursery mobile. Whether you’re sewing for your own baby or a sweet shower gift, here are my top tips to make the process fun and frustration-free.

1. Look at Fabric Panels Differently

Just because a panel is labeled as a “book” or “playmat” doesn’t mean you have to stick with the original plan! Think of each design element on the panel as an appliqué waiting to happen. For this mobile, I used the cute animal-driven vehicles from the playmat—but you could just as easily cut out animals, letters, or shapes from other panels for similar results.

2. Sew with Dimension in Mind

Rather than fusing the fabric to something stiff, you’ll be turning these into soft, stuffed shapes. When cutting out your pieces, make sure you cut a front and a back for each shape. Then stitch them right sides together, leaving a small gap for turning and stuffing. A little fiber fill goes a long way in creating soft, huggable shapes that will gently sway in the air.

3. Embrace Hand Stitching for a Clean Finish

I know it can be tempting to close things up on the machine, but hand-stitching your shapes closed using a slip stitch will keep your project looking polished. The opening disappears right into the seam, and you won’t have to wrestle small, puffy shapes under your presser foot.

4. Add Visual Interest with Beads and PomPoms

Once your shapes are stuffed and stitched, it’s time to get creative with the details! I love stringing large wooden beads and colorful pompoms along the hanging strands. Not only does this add weight to help the mobile hang straight—it’s also just plain cute. Try spacing them a few inches apart for movement and color.

5. Use an Embroidery Hoop as Your Hanging Frame

Here’s a tip that keeps the whole project budget-friendly: use a 12” embroidery hoop as your mobile base! It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and super easy to work with. Secure your strands to the inner ring with a little clear tape before locking everything in place with the outer ring. Finish it off with a braided string for hanging, and you’ve got a custom nursery piece ready to gift or display!

This baby mobile is just one example of what’s possible when you reimagine a fabric panel. And the best part? When baby grows up, the little stuffed shapes can be reused for soft toy play or room decor!

Want the full step-by-step tutorial?

Head over to Sew It Yourself and check out my free tutorial!

I sewed this project on my Baby Lock Ballad sewing machine—my sewing room bestie! I want to offer all readers 10% off at BabyLock.com when you use my affiliate link. That’s 10% off any machine, accessory, or software. Happy sewing, friends!