How to Make a DIY Hopscotch Mat

I’m always looking for simple do-it-yourself activities and games for my toddler to learn from and enjoy.

While planning his birthday party, I was looking to make different station-like games for kids to walk up to and play with.

Through scouring the Internet for ideas, I came across a cool hopscotch idea, where a blogger made a homemade hopscotch game from carpet samples from Home Depot. I loved this idea because it was so creative and resourceful.

I looked into making it, and the carpet samples were quite cheap. However, I was worried about toddlers who are still working on their balance tripping on the carpet squares, especially because they weren’t stuck to each other.

This was all occurring during my felt craze, and then it dawned on me.

I could make a felt hopscotch mat that I could unroll inside or outside for my toddler and his friends to play with.

It turned out awesome – it’s definitely my favorite DIY this year.

​Not only did it look store-bought (I love when my DIYs look store-bought!), but it even inspired my son to learn his numbers. Here’s how to make a hopscotch mat.

Materials for the DIY Hopscotch Mat

Here are the materials and the steps for making this homemade felt hopscotch game.

• One 2-yard piece of felt – I used this felt fabric in green from Crafty Cuts, which measured 72 inches x 36 inches. I like this brand of felt because it was nice, thick, and not slippery! (Some felt can be slippery like the kind you buy in craft stores in rolls).  This material served as a perfect mat. (I even used a small piece of this cut for the lamp post in our photo booth backdrop)
• 15 pieces of felt in colors of your choice – 5 of these will be used for your numbers (2 per sheet), and 10 of these will be used for the hopscotch squares. I used a variety pack from a craft store, but Amazon has some great felt variety packs too. I used the size 9″ x 12.”
• Glue – I used hot glue to stick the numbers to the squares and the squares to the felt. It held up just fine but I had to use a lot of glue. I didn’t try fabric or felt glue, but I know those choices are out there too.
• Number Pattern – I made a free printable (see below) for my numbers. To save ink, you’ll notice I took a few short cuts. I only printed the 1 once (use the stencil for the 1 and the 10), and I didn’t include the 9 (use the 6).
• Scissors

Download the Template

How To Make A Hopscotch Mat

Making the hopscotch was really simple. It’s a no-sew project that doesn’t take up too much time, and yields a great result.

Creating the layout for the DIY hopscotch Mat

First, I laid out the green 2-yard felt piece. Then I started to pick colors for the squares. After I had picked out my colors – yellow, pink, and two shades of blue, I laid everything down, creating a pattern that I liked.

Cutting the Felt Squares for the Mat

After the layout was down, I needed to cut the ten rectangular felt pieces into squares.

To make this as simple as possible, since the pieces were 9″ by 12,” I just cut the 12″ side to 9″ to make a 9″ by 9″ with just one cut per piece.

Also, I used my paper cutter to cut the felt. This made the process of cutting felt perfectly a cinch because I can never get a perfectly straight line with scissors.

I don’t leave my paper cutter sitting out anymore with my son running around; however, the paper cutter I use takes 30 seconds to set up, and you only need to set up part of it to get a good cut.

For someone a busy mom who can’t cut straight, it’s simple and perfect!

Making Numbers for the Hopscotch Mat

After I cut the ten number squares, I started on the numbers. I decided to use felt to make the numbers. I tried fabric paint and a few other types of paint – but it just didn’t look professional.

So, I made a quick little number printable, and then cut out the numbers to use as stencils.

And, for efficiency, I skipped any redundant numbers (one stencil for 6 and 9).

Next I simply held the stencil over the black felt (I used all black for the numbers) and cut as precisely as I could.

I could have traced the stencils onto the felt first and then cut, but I skipped this time for the sake of time.

Gluing the pieces together

Afterward, I glued the black numbers onto the colored felt squares.

Then I started gluing the colored squares to the green felt background. It was turning out so nicely 🙂

The completed hopscotch mat 🙂 Along with a few other party decorations.

Before the party, we used the hopscotch mat in the house, as a little reading carpet. My son learned his numbers quickly and would pick a different number to sit on each time we would read 🙂

This cute, very simple to make, hopscotch mat can serve as a game or a reading mat.

​The cost of the project was very little – I bought most things at the craft stores with coupons, and I used the variety pack of felt for numerous other projects, with a large pile still left.

To give an estimate, I would say I didn’t spend more than $15. I love it so much that I’m looking to make another felt mat as a reading mat for my son’s reading corner.

If you are looking for a fun activity for kids that involve learning, definitely consider making a hopscotch mat.