How to Weave a Placemat

There are many home décor projects that you can easily do yourself for a fraction of the cost of buying it retail. Placemats, for example, can be created with a variety of materials and take only a few minutes to create. So if you want to learn to weave a placemat, keep reading. You can create them with paper, leather, fabric or anything else that you can think of.

Things You'll Need

• Construction paper (various colors)
• Scissors
• Tape
• Clear contact paper

Instructions

1. Cut strips of your material; this example uses paper. You can choose whatever combination or color scheme that fits your needs. Cut 10 strips out of one color, making them two inches wide and 24 inches long. Next, cut out another 12 strips of paper in a second color, making them 2 inches wide and 22 inches long. These are the pieces you'll weave, so you may want to combine several different colors.

2. Secure the base pieces. Take the 10 longer strips of paper and lay them on a table or smooth surface side by side. Use your tape to secure one end of the strips to the table.

3. Weave the pieces. Using the 12 shorter pieces, begin to weave them in and out of the taped pieces to create the design that you desire.

4. Preserve your placemat. After you weave a placemat, cover both sides with clear contact paper to protect your creation. You can now wipe it down as needed, and it will stay safe and secure.

5. Vary your materials. After you get the hang of weaving placemats, try different materials and color combinations.