How to Make Place Mats Without Sewing

A homemade place mat can tie together a festive table setting.

For any holiday, season or event, entertain with a set of homemade place mats to give an individualized accent to any table. Making place mats does not require a sewing machine, or any sewing, actually. You can create place mats without spending any more money than the cost of the fabric. These homemade place mats make a festive contribution to a potluck dinner or another community event.

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Fabric
Fabric scissors
Iron-on interfacing
Iron

Instructions

- 1
  
  Browse the aisles of your local fabric or crafts store for material and interfacing; make sure to purchase only fabrics that can withstand ironing. Felt, felt blends and cotton blends all will work. For each place mat you intend to create, buy a similar yardage of iron-on interfacing.
- 2
  
  Calculate how much fabric you will need. A place mat measuring 21-by-16 inches will adequately fit a dinner plate, napkin and silverware. If your fabric is 44 inches wide, as it commonly is on bolts of fabric, then you would need about 1 1/2 yards of fabric for four place mats, depending on the pattern.
- 3
  
  Wash your fabric before working with it to ensure none of the colors will run if any liquids spill on the place mats. After washing, cut the fabric into the desired place mat size.
- 4
  
  Cut the interfacing one inch shorter than the place mats on all four edges so that it fits entirely within the space of the fabric. The interfacing acts as a "backbone" or "ribbing" for your place mat and keeps it stiff by holding it in place.
- 5
  
  Set your iron to its "wool" setting; allow it to reach the necessary temperature.
- 6
  
  Press and hold your iron in place on the interfacing for 10 seconds once it has reached the desired temperature. Lift the iron and place it down again in another spot. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire area of the interfacing. Do not to slide the iron over the interfacing as you would if you were straightening a pair of trousers.
- 7
  
  Allow the place mat to cool after you have ironed the interfacing.
- 8
  
  Cut straight slits on the border with fabric scissors to make a decorative fringe. Cut only from the outermost edge in to the beginning of the interfacing to make the fringe. Depending on how much room you left when sizing the interfacing, the slits should be about one inch long.

Tips & Warnings

Always check the manufacturer's notes that come with fabric for washing instructions.
Washing felt is tricky, so have your felt place mats dry cleaned to make sure they last for a long time.