I’ve been planning a Shabby Chic Tablescape for quite some time now. I’ve had the idea bouncing around in my head, and when a very dear friend gave me a lace bed skirt that she couldn’t use, it all came together. The bed skirt was still in its original packaging! Yards of beautiful lace. She thought that maybe I could use the fabric. Well, use it I did!
The bottom part of the bed skirt was just long enough to add to place mats that I wanted to make for a Shabby Chic, Pretty in Pink Tablescape.
I recently showed you my yellow tablescape. The color is such a happy color! And the place setting is easy to do.
This is how I made the placemats that were used in that tablescape.
I’ve recently gotten a request from someone who doesn’t have a sewing machine, but wants to create her own unique tablescapes. So I thought I’d share a quick way to make placemats without having to sew a stitch.
Here’s what you’ll need: Continue reading
Spring is right around the corner! And that means that Easter will be here before you know it. Time to change out the St. Patrick’s Day decorations & replace them with all of the pastels of Easter.
There were so many beautiful fabrics to choose from this year. I spent more time in Joanne Fabrics than I should have, but I finally found a theme for this year. Easter Eggs! And the fabric that I found had so many lovely colors in it. I checked the color sample area of the fabric & really had to debate on which color I wanted to go with this year. 
Since I live in a household full of men, I don’t use my favorite color very often. (not exactly a ‘manly’ color) But, I just had to go with Lilac for my tablescape. I couldn’t resist it.
I really like dressing the table, whether it’s for a holiday or for every day. For some reason, it always seems to make the room look more pulled together. I love what a clean table cloth & place mats can do for the room. But I can never find what I want. The colors are either off or the place mats looked ‘store bought’. A trip to a fabric store can spark your imagination & you can usually find exactly what goes with your decor. That’s how I started making my own place mats. But I get bored very easily. I like to change things up. Making my own place mat patterns gives me a broader outlet to make my home, ‘my own’. You can make unique items for your home too!
Here’s what you’ll need:
brown craft paper (a quick tip: I use a pony tail elastic to hold the roll instead of a rubber band. It seems to last longer & doesn’t mark the paper) 
ruler
plate
marker
scissors
I got out the brown craft paper & put a dinner plate on it to judge the amount of paper I’d need.
For mine, I needed about 15″. I measured 15″ across the bottom of the roll of paper, making marks to make sure it would be straight. After I marked the paper, I cut the paper across at the marks.
Then I folded the paper into quarters, to mark the center of the paper. Open the paper up. The center point where the folds cross.
Next you’ll have to judge the width that you’ll need for the place mat. I put the dinner plate on the center fold & added the knife & spoon to the paper. I needed about 10 1/2″ from the center. So my pattern had to be 21″ wide by 15″ high.
Cut off excess paper after you’ve found your ideal size. Push the plate to the far right side of the paper. Draw around the outside of the plate at the fold.
Sketch in a curve from the line you’ve just made to the center bottom of the paper. You’ll do this free-hand. As you can see, it took me several times to find a curve that I liked.
Fold the paper in half, from top to bottom, with the line that you just made on top. Cut out the curve along the line. (first half made)
Open the paper back up. The curve is made for the right side of the pattern.
Fold the paper in half, side to side. Draw around the curve to mark the cutting line for the left side of the pattern.
Cut along the line you’ve just made. And you’re done! You now have an elongated oval place mat pattern. This pattern gives a completely different look to your table, and I think you’ll like it.
I don’t know of a better way to add color to a tablescape than by using placemats. I usually make my own because I can customize them to my tastes and they are almost always less expensive than store bought. Another reason that I like making reversible placemats is because it takes less room to store them. (store 4 instead of 8) It’s hard enough to organize your home as it is, especially when you don’t have that much room to begin with.
For this one I used the Oval Placemat Pattern from a previous post.
What you’ll need:
1 yard of patterned fabric
1 yard of solid fabric (I used costume satin. It’s easily washed & has intense color)
Matching thread
Sewing machine
Straight pins
Ribbon (optional) (I used 1 roll of 9′ long)
Pin the pattern to your fabric & cut 4 of the placemats from the patterned fabric & 4 from the solid fabric.
To mark the placement for the ribbon, I folded the pattern piece in half. Then I laid the pattern on the cut placemat piece & used the bottom of the fold as a guide. (I chose this because the ribbon was printed with words. I wanted to be able to read it through the plates) Pin the ribbon in place.
Sew the ribbon to the solid placemat fabric, stitching close to the edges.
Sew the ribbon to all of the solid placemat pieces.
Place 1 solid placemat piece on top of 1 patterned piece, right sides together. Pin in place, leaving an opening for turning. Repeat for all 4.
A little trick that I learned a long time ago, is to use 2 pins to mark the place where I want to begin sewing & where to end sewing. You need to leave a space opened to be able to fit your hand inside to turn the placemats to the right side. There’s nothing more frustrating than to sew an item, only to realize that you’ve forgotten to leave an open space to turn it. It’s such a waste of time to have to rip out stitches.
Sew all the way around the placemats, starting at one ‘different colored pin’ & finishing at the other pin. (to leave the opening) I usually sew about 1/4″ from the edge. Turn the placemat, right side out. Pin the opening closed. Top stitch around the placemat, using matching color thread. Top stitching the placemat closes the opening & keeps the edges of the placemat crisp. Press lightly.
Use the fabrics that speak to you. These are for your home. Customizing your placemats is easy. Make them your own & have fun with this.
When you’re creating a tablescape, it’s usual to have placemats to add color to your table. I’ve found that I can never find what I’m looking for in the conventional stores. I’ve been making my own placemats for years. They are always unique & colorful. And once you know how to make your own, you can save a lot of money.
What you’ll need:
Brown Craft Paper: (I always use this kind of paper because it is sturdier than other paper & is very inexpensive. If you make a mistake, it doesn’t hurt so much to throw it out and start over. You’ll need a sturdier paper if you’re going to reuse the pattern many times.) I find this paper in the stationary section of Walmart or at the Dollar store.
Ruler
Scissors
Saucer or Plate
Pencil/Pen/Marker
On the craft paper, measure 17 1/2″ wide by 12″ deep. This is the size that works for me. Adjust it as you like it. This placemat pattern is for your table.
Cut out your pattern. Measure up from each corner 2 1/2″ & mark. (You’ll have 2 marks at each corner).
Place your saucer or plate on the corner of your pattern. Draw around the plate, joining the marks that you made at the corners.
Cut along the curved line that you’ve just made. That’s all there is to making your own oval placemat.