How to Make Burlap Place Mats

Burlap place mats are both functional and attractive additions to the dining room or kitchen table. They are economical to make and use, because burlap is inexpensive. Another benefit of burlap place mats is that they can be made easily and children can even be involved in some of the steps of the creation of burlap place mats. Make burlap place mats and create fun, easy and attractive place mats for your table.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Burlap
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Disappearing fabric pen
• Paper and pencil
• Yarn
• Yarn needle

1. Cut 18-inch-by-12-inch rectangles of burlap for each place mat.

2. Make a fringe around the edge of each burlap rectangle by pulling out four yarns along each edge. Simply start tugging on a yarn thread at one edge and as it begins to come loose, continue pulling it until it has been completely removed. Repeat on each of the four edges to create a fringe edge border for the burlap place mat.

3. Use the disappearing fabric pen to draw a design on the burlap place mat. Keep it relatively simple because you will be sewing yarn over your design. Make either an abstract design or draw a picture. Children may be able to help create this design.

4. Plan the colors of yarn that you will use to sew your design onto the burlap place mat. Make a drawing onto paper of your plan.

5. Choose a color yarn to start with and thread the yarn needle with a 12-inch length of yarn. Tie an overhand knot at the end of the yarn.

6. Insert the yarn needle up from the underside of the burlap at an edge point of your fabric pen design. Make running stitches along the fabric pen markings to outline the design onto the burlap. Running stitches are simply inserting the needle up and down into the fabric and making an outline with the yarn. Don't worry about the fabric pen being visible under the running stitch because it will disappear, leaving only the running stitch.

7. Fill in the pattern onto the burlap place mat with yarn as you planned in Step 4. Make the outlines first and then, if desired, you can fill in areas in the burlap with a satin stitch. A satin stitch is created by making stitches very close together to fill in an area of fabric.

8. Change yarn colors as necessary by tying a small overhand knot on the underside of the burlap, clipping the yarn, and threading the yarn needle with a new color.

9. Repeat Steps 3 through 7 to create as many burlap place mats as desired.

References

• Various Embroidery Stitches