Free Tutorial - Summer Placemats and Flatware Pouches

At my house, we're all decked out for summertime!

Wouldn't it be fun to jazz up your own table

with fresh new place settings?
Today I'm sharing a free tutorial,
for placemats and matching flatware pouches!

For these samples, I used a few summery coordinates

from Terry's Fabrics.

I got things started with a favorite print:

Beach Huts in Blue,

with red and blue cabanas on a creamy background.

Next I chose a solid fabric,

Panama Curtain Fabric in Linen.

The taupe tones reminded me of rich sandy beaches.

And now for a little zing...

I selected a fun stripe called Chips, in Ocean.

To make a set of 6 placemats and 6 flatware pouches,

I used about one yard each of the Beach Huts and Linen,

plus 1/2 yard of the striped fabric.

You can cut pieces for 3 placemats,
cutting across the 54" width of home dec or curtain weight fabrics.

Let's get started making the reversible placemats.

I created pieced sections for the front sides.

For each placemat:

cut a section of the beach huts fabric,

measuring 6" high x 17 1/2" wide,

to be used as the center strip.

Add the bottom strip in linen,

cut to 3 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide.

Add the top strip, also in linen,

cut to 5 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide.

Here's the placemat front, all stitched and pressed.

Trim the finished front to 13 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide.

{Keep in mind, you can use a single piece of fabric

or make a patchwork in any pattern. Design opportunities are endless.}

For each placemat cut a backing piece,

measuring 13 1/2" x 17 1/2" wide.

Pin the front and back pieces with right sides together.

Starting on the upper edge, about 2" from a corner,

stitch around all 4 sides with a generous 1/4" seam,

leaving about 2 -3 " open for turning.

Here's a tip I always use

whenever I leave an opening for turning.

I backstitch a tiny (1/4") seam

that goes from the opening to the edge of the fabric, 

as shown in the photo below.

This strengthens the opening

and also makes it easy to turn under the edge

during the pressing step.

Turn the placemat right sides out through the opening.

Use a turning tool to smooth out the side seams

and gently push out the corners.

Give it a good press,

then topstitch near all the edges.
Repeat to create a set of four...or six...
or however many you need.

Admire your gorgeous finished placemats!

And they're reversible!

Now let's make those fun flatware pouches.

For each pouch:

cut (1) outer fabric 6" x 15"

and (1) lining fabric 6" x 15".

Pin outer fabric and lining right sides together,

and stitch with a generous 1/4" seam,

just as you did for the placemats,

leaving a 2" opening on one long edge for turning.

Turn the pouch right sides out through the opening.

Use a turning tool to smooth the seams

and gently push out the corners.

Press well.

Place the pouch with the lining side up,

and fold the bottom edge up to make a 5" pocket.

Press well.

Begin stitching at the bottom fold,

and topstitch along one long edge,

across the top,

and along the other long edge.

Reinforce the stitching along the top edges

of the pocket,

since these are stress points.

These are super quick to make,
and you'll have your set finished in no time.
Look how sweet the flatware pouches look,

filled with silverware and a napkin.

They really dress up those pretty placemats,

don't you think?

These would make wonderful gifts

for Mother's Day, birthdays, wedding showers...

I made some more, to match my Cherry Kitchen decor!
They're just as much fun to use indoors.

{Also, I have a fabulous red gingham picnic tablecloth for my outdoor table.}

I feel more of these coming on...
perhaps with some ric rac trim,
or button-down flaps.

For now, I'm going to have fun using this set all summer long!

This set looks really sharp with the Beach Huts pillows
I had created last summer!

If you create your own placemats or flatware pouches,

I hope you'll let us know how yours turn out!
Feel free to leave a link in the comments,
or add them to my Flickr group here.

Enjoy!

Pin It

Doggy Beach Bag - Lessons in Large Scale Prints

Our Florida friends have a little dog Dunkin

who goes with them everywhere,

including the beach.

There's even a Doggy Beach near their home!

That's what inspired me to make this...

Doggy Beach Bag!

I had fun designing my own tote,

using ideas from lots of other

purse and bag patterns I've made before.

It is a really large and sturdy bag...
about 16" wide by 19" tall...

Dunkin could fit inside comfortably!

{This is my little dog, Ginger...and she's not going inside that bag!}

I started with these fun prints from Terry's Fabrics, 
in duckegg blue, gray, cream, and brown.

I love to use stripes and circle dots,

to set off a focal fabric.

Clockwise from top:

Right Lines, Great Spot and Man's Best Friend, 
all in the duckegg colorway.

These curtain weight fabrics are sturdier than the
quilter's cotton I normally use.
I lined the outer bag pieces with Pellon 101SF
fusible interfacing, to add stability,
but it was not really necessary.

One great thing about working with
the high quality prints from Terry's Fabrics 
is that they do not tend to fray.
I've had that issue in the past with some other home dec fabrics.
It's so nice to make a project without a sense of dread!

I'd like to share some tips for working with large prints:

1. Choose larger projects for larger prints.
This just makes sense, right?

{There are exceptions, of course, but the bigger prints are shown off best this way.}

I really love the way those big giant spots
look on the back of the bag!

2.  Select three different prints to allow for great design opportunities.
Using only 2 prints, or more than 3, is fine...just more complicated.

I chose one print for the outer pocket,
and a different fabric for the bag body.
The third print, the stripe, was brought in for the lining
and some other detail work.

The three prints are varied in scale and value,
and they just look great together.

3. Directional prints, including stripes, need special consideration.

When cutting stripes, be extra careful to keep them straight.
Also note placement of pieces,
so they will not end up sideways or even upside-down.

4. Feature favorite parts of the large print, where they will be noticed.

Keep in mind which areas will be hidden
on the bottom or within seams, during construction.

{Here's a sweet little face that I wanted to be sure to include.}

5. Partner the fabrics to show good contrast and interest.

Try using "opposite" prints for outer and inner bags.


For the outer pocket on this tote,
I chose the striped lining fabric for the pocket accent.
It's a nice and neat finish, and it shows up well
against both of the other fabrics.

On the inside of the bag, 
I used the spotted exterior fabric to make the interior pocket.

6. Try something different!
Even an old dog can learn new tricks.

This stripe was actually printed horizontally across the bolt,
which is very unusual!
I love striped handles, and this time I tried
using the stripe lengthwise...and I love the way it looks!

I hope this post will encourage you to try some
large prints in your projects.
It's a whole new world of fabrics to choose from,
and you'll be rewarded with great looking results!

{I think Ginger would love a nice new doggy pillow.}

Pin It

Springtime in the Kitchen

Home Sweet Home...

We've just returned from a family trip to Florida!

Those warm sunny days make me wish spring would

hurry up and make its way to Pennsylvania!

{I picked up some daisies to brighten the kitchen, while I wait.}

Remember my kitchen table topper,

made from some happy red gingham

and a vintage-style cherry print from Terry's Fabrics?

Well, I've used it again to add some more cherry pop

to my country kitchen.

I started with a little cherry berry basket,

made using this tutorial from Noodlehead.

Paper napkins are very lovely in my basket...

but so are GINGHAM napkins!

All I did was hem some 14 1/2" squares of gingham. 

Since they are woven, there is no "wrong side."

{I always say, you can't go wrong with gingham.}

Next on my wishlist for my cherry kitchen

was a little counter topper,

made to match the table topper.

How did I do it?  Simple!

Cutting:

(6) 2 1/2" x 15" cherry strips

(6) 2 1/2" x 15" gingham strips

(1) 12" x 15" Pellon ShapeFlex SF101 interfacing

(1) 12" x 15" cherry backing

At least 1 1/2 yds. Ricrac - 5/8" wide 

Sewing:

Stitch the strips of fabric together

with a 1/4" seam, pressing each seam to one side.

When finished,

the patchwork measures 12" x 15".

Fuse the SF101 interfacing to the 

back of the patchwork, to give it wonderful shaping.

Next baste the gingham in place

just less than 1/4" from the edges of the patchwork.

Pin the patchwork top and the cherry backing

wrong sides together, and stitch just inside the basting,

so that the previous stitches will not show.

Leave an opening on one side for turning.

Turn the topper right sides out,

and smooth out the ricrac along the edges.

Press well, then topstitch near the edges to finish!

I think it looks just great on my countertop.

You know what else?  

It's reversible!

 It makes me smile to see those little aqua dots
in the background of the cherry print.
I really love decorating my kitchen with cherry pop!

Soon the sunny days will be here at my house,

and I'll be making some fresh food...

and sewing some fresh new projects.
I've got a new set of fabrics from Terry's Fabrics to show you!

Come back soon to see what's cooking!

{I'm happy to be the newest contributor for the How To Blog at Terry's Fabrics! 
Head on over to check out more great ideas...}

Linking up with Fort Worth Fabric Studio

Pin It

My Very Cherry Kitchen

Welcome to my kitchen!

Let's take some time to enjoy some tea,

and I'll show you something new I've made!

One way to beat the winter blues

is to stitch up something new for the kitchen table.

I've got a little kitchen that may be

undergoing a few changes in 2014,

according to my husband.

It's got lots of oak cabinetry,

and the walls are painted a shade of aqua-green

that I just adore.

{My favorite thing is this Hoosier cabinet...
a family heirloom that deserves its own post someday.}

Every chance I get,

I like to add a little pop of cherry RED in the kitchen.

That's why I chose these two awesome prints

from Terry's Fabrics

to make my new table topper.

The gingham check satisfies my "thing" for gingham

and lends a picnic feeling to the kitchen every day.
It's an excellent quality, woven gingham,
and the shade of red is just what I was looking for.
The fabric weight is a wee bit lighter than home dec,
so it blends perfectly with either quilting cottons or home dec prints.

The cherry print reflects my favorite vintage kitchen theme,

and it even has a tiny aqua polka dot 

throughout the background...

a perfect match for my kitchen walls!
The cherry motifs are about 2 - 3" across,
so they show up beautifully.

I took a cue from the Christmas tree skirt I'd made,

and I fashioned a hexagonal table topper,

using the two prints in alternating strips.

I just stitched up the triangles to form
a giant hexagon.

Because the fabrics are home dec weight,

I left the topper unlined,

and just finished it off with a hem.

The table topper is such a sweet way 

to brighten my kitchen table.

I'll leave it on the table for tea,

but when it's dinnertime,

it's easily whisked away for storage.

Stop by my blog again soon,

and I'll make something else for my

Very Cherry Kitchen!

Pin It