set the table

I ordered this grey and white fabric from Fashionable Fabrics over a month ago...I loved it, but the scale was larger than I expected and too big a pattern to make the tunic I had planned to make. I was stumped as to what to do with the three yards I had...until I got this fabric from Bippity Alice. The Oz fabric went perfectly with the Taza and I knew I wanted to make placemats and napkins.

these are really more of a process than a "pattern" and like everything I sew, if I can do this, you better believe that you can! I am self taught and know very little!

I began by getting a placemat I already had and measuring it. I then cut out two pieces of this for each placemat. My dimensions were 17.5 x 12.5

to incorporate the floral fabric I cut a 4.5 inch strip and eyed where I wanted it

from the edge, I marked the 7 inch mark and cut a straight line

I then removed 4 inches of fabric from the placemat front  to allow for the 4.5 inch strip of floral fabric (and a 1/4 inch seam on either side of the strip)

 pin the floral strip, right sides together, on your placemat...sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance (which for me is the edge of my foot)

do with both sides of the fabric 

press open your seems

then, right sides together, sew the top of the placemat to the bottom, leaving a 3 inch section un-sewn for turning inside out. press...neatly hand stitch the hole open and topstitch with a contrasting thread (I used hot pink!)

for the napkins, I did the same basic treatment

I measured a small cloth napkin I already had

cut a horizontal line 2.5 inches down from the top

added a 1 inch strip of the Taza fabric and replaced the top

sew top to bottom, right sides together, turn inside out (clip your corners first), press, topstitch (hot pink)

set the table

when I use nicer placemats and napkins, it makes dinner feel a little more special and the behavior from the little ones a little bit better...

Bippity Alice is one of my favorite etsy resources for fabric and I loved this Oz print! I have saved the last few scraps from this project and will combine them with the unused yellow print I still have for a table runner. Her prices are amazing and she gets your fabric in the mail quickly! She also makes cloth books, aprons, and bags in case you don't sew! I am thrilled to have found her!