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No-Sew Place Mats

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-743 -- More Projects »
Interior-design expert Rosalund Gale shows how to dress up a drab dining-room table with decorative homemade place mats.

Initial Tips

  • You can use remnants, old tablecloths or dishtowels and ribbon, fabric paint, buttons and decorative trim.

  • Place mats can be made in any shape. Try using a favorite place mat as a pattern for the project.

Materials:

fabric of choice
scissors
hot glue
iron-on flannel or fusible interfacing
stick pins
buttons, ribbons or other embellishments
metallic fabric paint

Steps:


  1. Lay the fabric and pattern side by side, right sides together.
PHOTO

Figure A
  • Cut out fabric, adding an extra inch all the way around (figure A). You will need two pieces of fabric to glue together, either cut from the same fabric or from two different fabrics, if you want to make a reversible place mat.

  • Add matting--either iron-on flannel or fusible interfacing--if desired to make the place mat more substantial.

  • Cut out a piece about an inch smaller all around than the fabric you just cut (cut the exact same size as your original pattern for the right dimension).

  • When ironing on the felt or fusing, do so with the abrasive, shiny side down, next to the wrong side of the fabric.
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
    PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Pin three layers (two fabrics, right side together, and matting, if used) together around the entire place mat right at the edge of the matting (figure B), positioning the pins right next to each other.

  • Open the fabric at the edge and run a bead of hot glue all around, right up next to the pins. Be sure to leave a space (figure C) unglued to turn the place mat right side out.

  • Remove pins and turn right side out.

  • Embellish with things like buttons and ribbons.

  • Try using metallic fabric paint to outline the pattern in the fabric for a dressy look.
    • Guests
    Rosalund Gale
    Interior-Design Expert
    E-mail: RosGale@compuserve.com
    Also in this Episode
    Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-743
    •No-Sew Place Mats
    •Fragrant Sprays for the Home
    •Homemade Musical Toys
    •Smart Solution of the Day
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