Categories: Pillow, Crochet

This DIY lap desk lets you flex your crafting muscles! Do-it-yourself with crochet, sewing, painting, and more!

What you need to make this project

Materials: Fairfield Poly-Fil Premier Polyester Fiber Fill – 32 ounces bag.; Feels Like Butta Bonus Bundle yarn (100% polyester, 9.7 oz/275 g/590 yd/540 m) – 1 skein in 156 Mint, or approximately 590 yd (540 m) in any medium weight yarn.; Muslin, “ugly,” or scrap fabric – 1 fat quarter or half yard cut of fabric.; FolkArt Home Decor Chalk paint in 34175 Sunset Rose.; Aleene’s Original ClearGel Tacky Glue.; ewing thread in a color that coordinates with your yarn.; Houseworks Unfinished Wood Lap Desk.; Sandpaper.

Supplies: FolkArt Home Decor Wide Brush.; US Size I-9/5.5 mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.; Yarn needle.; Sewing machine with leveling foot or walking foot, and hand sewing needle.; Pins and pin cushion.; Fabric shears and marking pencil, or cutting mat, acrylic ruler, and 45 mm rotary cutter.

Instructions

Step One

DIY Lap Desk with Crochet Cushion

Gauge

12.5 hdc with two strands of yarn held together = 4” (10 cm) wide. Exact gauge is not critical for this project but stitches should be small so that fiber filling doesn’t show.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Pattern Instructions

Paint Lap Desk

On top of a covered surface, use the sandpaper to lightly polish the edges of the Unfinished Wood Lap Desk to remove any splinters or sharp points. Wipe Lap Desk clean.
With Wide Brush and Chalk paint, coat one side of the Lap Desk, being sure to paint inside of handle and at sides.

Allow paint to dry for 2 hours or as directed by paint manufacturer.
Gently remove Lap Desk from painting surface.
With Wide Brush and Chalk paint, coat other side of the Lap Desk, being sure to paint inside of handle and at sides.
Allow paint to dry for 2 hours or as directed by paint manufacturer.

Crochet Cushion Top

Holding two strands of yarn together, ch 61.
Row 1: Turn, skip 1 ch, sc in next 60 ch. (60 sts)
Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in first 60 sts.
Rep Row 2 until piece measures 1 piece cut to approximately 12” (30.5 cm) wide. Fasten off.
With yarn needle, weave in ends.
Crochet Cushion Top should measure approximately 19” (48.5 cm) x 12” (30.5 cm).

Complete Cushion Cover

With fabric shears or rotary cutter, trim piece of fabric to 19” (48.5 cm) x 12” (30.5 cm).
Position wrong side of fabric on wrong side of Crochet Cushion Top. Pin around all four sides.

Position pinned piece with crochet side up so needle is positioned under marked opening. Using a 1/2” seam, begin sewing fabric to Crochet Cushion Top, continuing to end of first side. Continue sewing together second, third, and fourth side. When you return to first side, stop sewing before top of marked opening.

Attach Cushion to Lap Desk

Position Cushion on underside of Lap Desk below the handle.
Apply Glue to both underside of Lap Desk and fabric side of Cushion.
Press Cushion to Lap Desk firmly. Cover with books or weights or tie pieces together.

Allow glue to dry for 48 hours or as directed by manufacturer for weight bearing projects.