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How to Decorate a Table

Tablemats and napkins make theperfect table setting for an informalmeal. They are simple to make and canbe a good way of using offcuts andremnants of fabric.

Tablemats can be made from plain orpatterned fabric and arc most effectivewhen machine quilted with a layer ofwadding (batting) sandwiched betweenthe top and bottom pieces of fabric.The layers help to protect the tablesurface beneath the plates. Bind theedges with matching or contrastingfabric or ready-made bias binding.Alternatively, choose ready-quiltedfabric and follow the instructions forbinding given here to finish the edges.

Napkins are simply a hemmed pieceof fabric, usually square and made in acloth which co-ordinates with thetablemats or a tablecloth. Give somethought to the practical purpose ofnapkins and always make them fromfabric which is washable. Polyester andcotton blends are a popular choice forinformal napkins, but nothing beatsthe look of pure, crisp linen for aformal occasion.

1. Decide on the size of the tablemat andcut out two pieces of fabric. Along theshort edge of one piece, mark evenlyspaced points 25 mm/1 in apart using aruler and a sharp pencil. Join the points tomake lines running across the fabric.

2. Cut a piece of wadding (batting) to thesame size as the fabric and sandwich itbetween the two fabric pieces, with thewrong sides together and the markedpiece on top. Pin together then tack(baste) between alternate pencil lines.

3. Lengthen the stitch on the sewingmachine, then work parallel rows overthe pencil lines using a matching orcontrasting thread. Round off the cornersby drawing around a cup or small plate,then trim away the surplus fabric.

4. Cut out and join the bias strips until itis long enough to go around the tablemat.Fold the strip so that the raw edges meetin the middle and press. Open out one folded edge of the binding and pin itaround the tablemat with the right sidesfacing and raw edges aligning. Fold backthe raw edges where the binding meets.

5. Fold over the binding to the wrong sideof the tablemat. Pin and stitch the binding in place by hand as shown. Turnthe tablemat to the right side andstrengthen the edge by working one rowof machine stitching around the edgeclose to the inside fold of the binding.

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