Rustic Handwoven Placemats

Just finished these placemats.  I had fun trying out a new technique with strips of fabric woven into a cotton canvas.  I like the way they turned out.

If you would like to try this project, you can find the directions in the Spring 2010 Issue of Quilts and More.  In case you can't get your hands on this issue, following are the instructions with a few of my own suggestions thrown in.

Materials Needed:

You will need about a yard of fabric for each placemat.  Scraps would work fine, or you can use fat quarters from your stash. 

You also need 36" wide or wider latch-hook rug canvas 3 3/4 squares per inch.

Finally, you need a Locker Hook, which is a 6 1/2 inch aluminum tool shaped like a needle with a large eye, and a hook on the opposite end.  These are generally located in the same area where the latch-hook canvas is sold.  This tool will make the craft quicker and more enjoyable than the safety pin suggested in the magazine article.

Making the Mats:

• Cut fabrics into 3/4" strips across the width of the fabric and then cut the strips in half so that each strip is 3/4" x 22"
• Cut latch hook canvas 54 squares tall x 70 squares long for each placemat.  
• Fold under 2 rows on long ends of canvas and zigzag stitch to hem.  Repeat with both short sides, so that you have a 2 row hem all the way around.  When you are stitching these hems, line up the holes as best as you can.  You will be threading fabric strips through them.
• Fold and press strips of fabric in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.
• Thread strip of fabric into Locker Hook tool.  Beginning at one short edge of the canvas, weave the tool over and under mesh for 4 inches or so.  Then pull the tool through so that the fabric follows.  Work through the hemmed edges as if through one thickness.  Repeat until opposite end of the canvas is reached.  Leave approximately 3"-4" of fabric loose at the beginning and ending of the row, you will be trimming it later.
• Alternate under and over pattern with each row and try and keep strips as flat as possible.  If you want to weave random rows rather than row by row in order to space out your colors, I suggest that you mark either all the up or all the down rows with a small pen mark on the canvas.
• Zigzag stitch through strips and canvas at the short edges.  
• Using a pressing cloth, press the mat from both sides.  The canvas will soften up as well as flatten out.
• Trim the fabric fringe to 2" on both short sides.

Happy Sewing♥