Clean Fun Ahead: Meet the Car Wash Play Panel!
What is a Play Panel?
A play panel is an interactive quasi-quilt that when finished, measures 34.5” x 38”. Quasi-quilt means “seemingly; apparently but not really” a traditional quilt. It’s smaller than a traditional quilt. It’s not used like a traditional quilt, and it’s not shaped like a traditional quilt, either … but it is constructed like a quilt!
In fact, it helps build your quilty skills. The Car Wash Play Panel introduces different machine appliqué techniques in concise written instructions and clear graphics, along with the chance to use that buttonhole foot on your sewing machine.
Basically, a play panel doesn’t live folded at the foot of a bed or hung prettily on a wall like a traditional quilt—rather, it’s down on the floor, getting run over (or through) by toy cars and giggled on by busy little drivers.
How to play:
Playtime starts with a car and a little curiosity.
Kids can “drive” their favorite toy vehicles (matchbox cars, wooden cars, ride-on cars, or even small stuffed animals in cars!) through the open lane of the car wash.
Each section of the panel offers a new sensory experience— a felt pennant flag announcing the attraction, a stop and yield sign to indicate when to advance, puffy buttons to “add soap” or “rinse” the car, mitter curtain strips to swoosh through, and a vacuum hose to detail the car interior.
They might start by lining up cars for a wash, just like the real thing. Then one by one, the vehicles cruise through the panel—rinsing, scrubbing, drying, and even parking in the “clean car” lot at the end.
Kids can narrate the process, create their own car wash rules, or pair it with other toys like garages and ramps for a full-on vehicle adventure. And the best part? There are no batteries required, just a big imagination and a few little vehicles ready to roll.
Where to play:
The Car Wash Play Panel is portable and can be played with anywhere! Your imagination is the limit!
It’s made to be attached to an adjustable Velcro strap, or hang from a tension rod.
Attach it to the Velcro strap wrapped around any brand of modular play furniture, regular couch cushions, around the lip of a kitchen table or desk.
Hang it from the tension rod in a doorway opening, in a hallway, on a bunk bed, or a Montessori tent-bed.
Even take it outside on monkey bars, fence gates, a tree house, or a play structure!
What does it take to make the Car Wash Play Panel?
Fabric requirements:
Use your fabric scraps- even use different types of materials! To add to the durability of your play panel, consider using lightweight cotton/linen canvas (Ruby Star Society has fun and bright options). Quilting cotton works just as well!
Material Requirements:
Many of these materials you may have in your stash. The Car Wash Play Panel has Amazon links embedded in the PDF pattern where you can purchase any of these specified materials.
Customization and personalization ideas:
There are so many customization tips woven throughout the Car Wash Play Panel Pattern. Add your own personal touch and creative ideas by incorporating various textures with ribbon, felt, and minky. There is the option of taking this quasi-quilt down a more traditional route by adding batting- just make sure you follow the batting manufacturer’s recommended quilting distances for the best outcome. It takes a few additional steps, but defo adds dimension! See the difference:
Pattern tester examples:
Need more inspiration? Take a gander at the creations of the Pattern Testers (click the photo to view their IG profiles):
Kid Lit Inspired
No quilt is complete without a book. Similarly, no Play Panel is complete without books! Books are powerful fuel for children's play and imagination, inspiring them to explore new worlds, characters, and possibilities within their own minds. Your child’s imagination, paired with the right tools (toys, i.e. Play Panel), enables your child’s creativity and innovation! Check out these great kid lit options that will help your child’s imagination soar (click the photo for more info about the book):
More Play Panels featuring different fun scenes are in the future- make sure to sign up for the Cobabe Co. Chronicle to get updates on all the latest!
I hope you enjoy making the Car Wash Play Panel and that the littles in your life have a blast exploring and playing with your creation! I’d love to feature your version of the Car Wash Play Panel to inspire others- tag me on social media @cobabeco!
