Poinsettia Placemats and Napkins

Trees Decorated?  √
House Decorated?  √
Christmas Shopping Done? Semi- √
Handmade Gifts Done?  . . . .

chirp. . . .chirp. .  . . . .chirp.

This week I’m going to be extremely efficient and organized and get lots done. That’s what I’m telling myself.
I’ll let you know how that goes. ;)

In the meantime, I have a fun Christmas Placemat and Napkin tutorial to share with you!

Here is what you’ll need to make a set for your holiday table:

• Placemats (Purchased or Made. I found these beauties on clearance at Target. Love.)
• Fabric for Poinsettias and Napkin Binding (I made 4 and I used about 1/2 yard of 60″ fabric)
• Linen for napkins (18″ square per napkin)
• Small Scraps of Felt and 1 Button per placemat

 Start by drawing out a petal shape for your poinsettia leaves. Cut out 10 leaves per placemat. (It sounds like a lot but it goes fast.)

 Layer 2 petals right sides together. Sew around the edges with a small seam allowance, leaving the bottom straight edge open.

Turn right side out.

 Fold the two sides of the bottom edge together and sew across the edge. This will put a little pleat in the bottom.

Repeat for your other petals. 

Cut a small circle out of felt. (I used a thread spool for a pattern.)
 Sew the folded edge of your petal to the felt circle.

Sew four more petals to the felt circle.

Sew a fun button to the center to cover up those raw edges.

Position the flower on the left side of the placemat, about halfway between the top and bottom so that one leaf points up, one leaf points to the left, one to the right, and two point down.
Tack the flower well to the placemat on the underside of the left and right leaves.
Make sure you don’t sew all the way through the leaves.

Now your flower’s all sewn on and ready for a napkin.

You can use purchased napkins for this next step, or make your own.

This is “cheater” bias tape – but it looks pretty and worked for the amount of fabric I had.

Sew a strip of red fabric to 2 sides of the napkin, right sides together.

Fold the fabric away from the napkin. Fold it in half, then turn under the unsewn edge 1/4″. Lay that along the edge of the napkin and sew down. You are covering the raw edge of the seam inside the fold.

 For the opposite two sides, cut two pieces slightly longer than the napkin. Sew on as you did before.

 Fold the red piece right sides together and sew up the sides of the fabric, along the edge of the napkin.

 Turn right side out and turn the raw edge under 1/4″. Sew down as you did the other sides.

Now you have a pretty napkin trimmed to match your placemat!

 Tuck your napkin under the poinsettia.

 Add your place setting and you’re all ready for a beautiful holiday table!!

Those of you with little ones might be thinking this isn’t too practical. I have an idea for you that we used to do.

When our kids were little, we would sometimes have “special” dinners. We’d set the table with pretty placemats, napkins, good dishes, and eat by candlelight.
It usually wasn’t anything fancy, but somehow candlelight and a pretty table makes even meatloaf seem special.
The kids loved it and it made an ordinary dinner a little more fun. They were usually on their best behaviour too, so that was nice.

It is a fun adventure as long as you go into it knowing it’s entirely possible that something will get spilled on, or worse. If you plan for it, then you don’t stress too much about it. :)
The holidays would be a perfect time to try it out – and it could also be a great ”practice” session if your family does a fancy Christmas dinner. So you could make up these placemats to set out for your “special dinner”!

That leads me to a question.
Do you do a big, formal-ish Christmas Dinner? Do the kids eat with you or is there a “kids” table? Or does your family do something more casual that day? I’d love to hear about it!

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