How to Make a Leather Placemat

If you want to add a sleek and sophisticated touch to your dining room decor, leather placemats may be just the thing. You can spend mega-bucks buying handmade leather placemats. Or, with a little time and attention to detail, you can craft your own placemats to match your decorating style.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heavy craft paper
• Piece of leather (measuring at least 12 by 15 inches)
• Double-sided tape
• Cotton canvas (same size as the leather)
• Cotton canvas thread
• Sewing machine
• Fabric scissors

1. Draw your pattern onto a piece of craft paper in the shape and size that you want the finished placemat to be, adding an extra 1/2 inch to the entire perimeter.

2. Cut a pattern from craft paper and attach it to the right side of the leather with double-sided tape.

3. Use a pen to trace around the pattern on the leather. Then cut it out with your fabric scissors.

4. Stick the pattern to the right side of the canvas with the double-sided tape. Trace it and cut it out.

5. Tape the right sides of the leather and canvas together. Set your sewing machine on a heavy fabric setting and sew together with a 1/2- inch seam allowance. Leave a 10-inch opening along one edge.

6. Flip the placemat right side out through the opening, the "good" sides should be showing. Tuck in 1/2 inch of excess fabric from the 10 inch opening and topstitch 1/4 inch from the edge around the entire place mat.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to pull or stretch the leather while you are sewing. The finished placemat will not lay flat if you do.