Sunday, September 23, 2012

Adventures in Sewing: Picnic Placemats


Some time sewing recently produced this gem of a project.  Picnic placemats with a cutlery and napkin-holding pouch. They are placemats that you can roll up and put in your picnic basket, sure to add a touch of awesome to your picnic.  I know picnic season is winding down in most of the country, but here in the desert, it's about to start next month and last until next summer.  I made this set for my daughter in Michigan, but I think I'm going to have to make another just for me. 

I can't express how easy this is!  It's a few straight stitches and some top-stitching.  It was also a super-cheap project because I got the fabric on clearance.  You could also recycle old sheets, napkins or tablecloths and skip the fabric store all together.   These took so little time that I forgot to take how-to pictures... sorry.  But here's the gist of it.  Cut 4 rectangles (the size of placemat you want + seam allowance, I did 22"x 16") out of a double-thickness of fabric (making 8 total). Cut 4 smaller rectangles (about 7"x 4") and 4 (about 2"x 4") strips.

Placemats:
 Pin two rectangles (right sides together) and stitch all sides, leaving a 6" gap. Trim corners, turn right-side-out and top-stitch all the way around the edge. Repeat for remaing placemats.

Pockets:
On top edge of 7x4 pieces, make a 1/4" double-fold hem, topstitch.  Press 2x4 strips in half (wrong sides together) lengthwise, open and press edges to the center, fold in half and stitch open edge closed.  Place strip 2"-3" from top hem of pocket, baste.  Press the sides and bottom (and attached strip) 1/2" to the wrong side.  Position onto placemat about an inch from the side and bottom.  Topstitch around bottom and side edges of pocket, leaving the top hemmed edge open.  Repeat for remaining placemats.

And VOILA!  Picnic placemats!  :)    



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19 comments:

  1. What an adorable idea! I love your picnic placemats.

    I'd love it if you would share this (and some of your other projects) on my link party that's going on right now:
    http://sewingbarefoot.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-weekly-creative-1.html

    Have a nice day!
    Shannon

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  2. I love the placemats! Such a great idea! I'm visiting from the Dedidcated House and will have to keep this in mind. Thanks!
    www.sophieathome.blogspot.com

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  3. That is such a great idea! Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  4. These are adorable! I love the print and the whole idea of it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Mary! You could even sew coordinating napkins... :) Hey, are you going to the farmer's market at Park West this weekend?

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  5. These are great! I need to make some myself. I tried to follow you on facebook (like) but your link does not work :(

    Marilyn

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    1. Thanks for the head's up on the facebook button! I'm not very tech-savvy yet. It's working now. :) I'd love to see what yours look like if you do this project. I could have so many done in so many patterns... endless possibilities. :)

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  6. I'm featuring your picnic placemats tomorrow at my link party! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you'll stop by again to link up more projects.

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  7. Very simple and stylish! And thank you for the nice comment on my blog! I also see you are a Southern Oregon girl.. me too! I grew up in Central Point. Now I am in the mountains of Utah, so we both are a little displaced :) lol. Thanks again and have a great day !!

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    Replies
    1. Grants Pass is my heart and home, I'm hoping to move back someday! Looks like we grew up right next to eachother. :) I spent a year in SLC (Layton) while stationed at Hill AFB. Small world!

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  8. So cute! I wish I was a sewer!

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    Replies
    1. You can be! It's a lot easier than you might think, especially these placemats... just straight lines. :)

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  9. Athena,
    Super cute placemats! We all need more picnics in our lives. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share this week! Have a wonderful week.
    Michelle

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  10. These are so cute! What a great idea! :) I've a good 6 months until it'll be picnic weather in Ireland again so plenty of time to make some! :) Thanks for stopping by my little blog.

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