You can make this sewing machine mat that will protect your equipment and make sewing easier (not to mention cuter)! 
Materials
1 fat quarter of quilting cotton fabric
1 fat quarter of contrast quilting cotton fabric
9″ x 20″ of high density foam. I cut a rectangle from an old yoga mat.
1 set of snaps
Sewing Essentials (pins, scissors, etc.)
Cut
9″ x 20″ of foam
30″ x 2″ for the scissor leash
13″ x 21″ of the top fabric
13″x 21″ of the bottom fabric
7″ x 21″ for the pincushion sleeve
Sewing Machine Mat Tutorial
Sew
Prepare the scissor leash by pressing in half with the wrong sides facing. Open and fold the edges so that they meet in the middle. Press.
2.
Fold over one of the raw ends to the wrong side. The other raw edge will be inside the mat.
3.
Sew along the long edge and the folded short edge of the scissor leash. Set scissor leash aside.
4. 
Fold pin cushion sleeve in half with wrong sides together. Stitch along the long edge and one short edge. Clip the corner.
5.
Turn the pin cushion sleeve right side out. Fill with sawdust. I found a canning funnel to be helpful. Pack the sawdust in tightly.
6.
Fold over the open edge and stitch shut. It doesn’t have to be pretty as you won’t see this from the outside of the finished mat. Set the pin cushion sleeve aside.
7.
Sandwich the raw edge of the scissor leash between the two mat layers, right sides facing. Stitch along the top, side, and bottom edge. Clip corners and turn right side out.
8.
Sew a seam 3″ from the bottom edge. This will divide your mat into two pockets; one is for the mat and the other is for the pin cushion.
9.
Slide the mat into the larger pocket. Tuck the raw edges in and pin in place.
10.
Stuff the pin cushion sleeve into the pocket you formed. This will be tight. I found it helpful to use a wooden ruler to help stuff it in.
11.
Pin the remainder of the edge close and handstitch shut.
12.
Apply a snap to the end of the scissor leash.
