Adventures in My Craft Room: Reversible Placemat with Napkins and Rings

On rare occasion, I get the opportunity to spend some quality time in my craft room.  It's really a spare bedroom that doubles as a craft room, but I am completely grateful to have the space.  I'm doubly grateful for the opportunities to use it.  Since my time is so limited, I've found that it's better for me to tackle easy projects that don't take a lot of time.  I'm often interrupted by Baby Boy, so I can only get some time in during naptime (if the house is clean already).  This weekend, the stars aligned and so it was, I spent some quality time with my sewing machine. 

My oldest step-daughter recently moved into her first apartment, so I wanted to make something for her to make things a bit home-ey.  You remember those days?  No money, so the folding lawn chairs became furniture and an air mattress was completely acceptable.  Placemats? Huh! Not in the budget.  So, I took advantage of some fabric on sale for 50% off and made this super-cute placemat, napkin, and ring/tie set.  The total cost to make this set was under $5, yay!

Just look at the adorable rose napkin ties...

For a set of 4 reversible placemats, 4 cloth napkins, and 4 napkin ties, I used under a yard of each of the (4) fabrics.  You could get away with doing this with a yard of just two fabrics and it would be just fine.  You might even be able to do double-sided napkins (instead of the hemmed ones I did) if depending on the width of the fabric and the size napkins you choose. 

Since you cut squares and rectangles, you can really customize this patter to fit the sizes you want. 

My cuts were:

Placemats - 13" x 16" (Cut 8 - 4 from each fabric type)
**Optional** You could also cut 4 pieces of fusible interfacing if you want to make them firmer
Napkins -  10" x 10" (Cut 4)
Napkin Ties - 2" x 14 (Cut 4)
Flower Base - 2.5" diameter circles (Cut 4)
Flower Ruffle - 3" x 25"-ish (Cut 4)

I use a 1/2" seam allowance

For placemats:

With right sides together, pin both sides of the placemat together.  **If you use fusible interfacing, follow manufacturers instructions to fuse to the wrong side of one of the placemat pieces**  Sew together around all four sides. leaving a 6" opening.  Turn the placemat right-side-out and press, folding under the raw edges of the opening. 

Topstitch around all four sides to finish.



For Napkins:

Press 1/4" to the wrong side, fold again and press.  Repeat on opposite side, then on the remaining two sides.   

Stitch in place in the center of the fold.

**If making double sided napkins, follow the same instructions (without interfacing) as the placemats.**

To make the flower napkin ring:

Fold the (rectangular) flower piece in half (wrong sides together) lengthwise, press.  Baste the raw edges together using a 1/8" seam allowance.  Pull the basting thread to gather slightly until the strip is about 18" long.  Fold one of the short edges over 1/4" two times and press.  Begin with the folded end on the outside of the flower base (2.5" circle) and pin the gathered ruffle around the circle.  Work in a spiral toward the center. 

Sew in place (stitching in the spiral).  Wrap the end of the ruffle around itself and tack in place by hand. 



To make the napkin tie:

Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press.  Open and fold the short raw edges in 1/4" to 1/2" and press.  Fold long raw edges into the center crease and press.  Re-fold in half along the center crease and press.  Sew along open edges.  Stitch by hand, the flower to the tie. 

And Voila!!  You have a beautiful set of placemats and napkins. 



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