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  • From: sjc <indexer AT fairpoint.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Homemade exercise mat
  • Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:26:56 -0500

EarthNSky wrote:
This is a question for Susan Jane or anyone who sews...
Also, if anyone here exercises on a mat, please weigh in with what you
think would be best, too.
I have a piece of foam, 2" thick, 6 feet long x 2 ft wide. I want to
make an exercise mat.
My first thought was to use an old comforter that I have to make a cover
for it, but after laying it out, I'm having second thoughts. Option 2
is to use heavy denim, what was once a sofa cover that I made.

Plan A was to make a fitted cover for the foam, but then, it wouldn't be
removable for washing, and I need that, so I had the idea of making it
like a pillowcase, where the foam slides into the covering. I would
also add straps with velcro at the end of the foam so that I could roll
up the mat like a sleeping bag and secure the roll using the velcro
laden straps. The backing of the comforter I wanted to use sticks on
the foam and does not slide, which makes it great for exercise, but
would be a real pain in the butt to get the cover off and on the foam
mat for laundering.
You can cover foam with a cleaner's bag, leaving 'far' side opening of the bag, insert foam into cover, remove cleaner's bag. That's how they do couch cushions and the like. I think it would still be a PITA for that shape/size.

I would likely cover the foam with a pretty closely fitted cover before I put any other cover on it; that will help keep it from breaking down so fast. I'd use an old all-cotton sheet for that, if I could. Then the foam and that cover I'd cover with whatever. Lay out the foam, lay old sheet over it, and try the comforter for 'slip'. It will likely slip more than on bare foam but I'd think there still might be enough 'grab' there to make it workable. My guess is you will still need a cleaner's bag to get the foam in/out, even with it covered with cotton. Some poly in the sheet cover would make it slip into the cover more easily but would also increase the slip after the cover's on, which I'd think wouldn't be good.

As to design of the cover, I'd likely make an envelope cover that could be tucked to the back just an inch or two, and use the soft Velcro to fasten that. Much easier to apply, and depending on the length of the zipper, may not cost any more. Velco is likely to well outwear the zipper and it never needs it's pull replaced....

Fitted covers are a PITA on foam any way you go about it, I think, and to me an easily-removable cover would be important. If you fit it, though, piping in the perimeter seams will help give it enough shape to help with that skinny 2" edge. And piping's not hard, it just gets a bad rap. Oh, I'm thinking you're missing your zipper foot. Hmmm, piping in that case might be a hassle.

The denim will wear better than the comforter, simply because a twill weave wears better than almost any other weave, and it's probably also heavier than the surface factor of the comforter. Less likely to pick up/show dirt. But it's not like you're a 6 year-old, and if I wanted the comforter, that's what I'd use.

SJ




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