Numbered Placemats

Numbers are hot, hot, hot right now!!  I am loving the idea of numbers.... so I decided to make some numbered placemats!  Admittedly, we rarely use placemats.  My hubby thinks casual is the way to go, so I never had much need for *cute* placemats until now.  I've decided to up my game with my kitchen table setting!

Do you want to know how to make your own??  Here is what I did:

1.  Cut your fabric.  

I used duck cloth because I wanted something sturdy.  I decided to make 4 red placemats and 4 white placemats.  I cut my fabric pieces about 16 x 20.  I needed a front and back for each placemat.  Iron your fabric so it's nice and smooth before painting.

2.  Make stencils using freezer paper.  

I used my Cricut to cut out my number stencils, but you could also you a razor blade.

3.  Iron on your freezer paper stencils.

Be sure that you iron your freezer paper with the smooth side down.  I also ironed some scrap freezer paper on the under side of my duck cloth to prevent any bleeding.

4.  Prepare to paint your numbers!

I painted white numbers on my red placemats and white numbers on my red placemats.  I used Tulip Matte paints.

5.  Paint your numbers.

I painted over my stencil, let the paint dry for about an hour before repeating.  I gave each number 3 coats of paint.

6.  Pin your front and back together.

Pin right sides together (that means the number you painted will face inside).

7.  Sew together.

Sew all the way around the placemat with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Leave a spot to turn inside out.  I like to leave my opening in the center of one of the 4 sides.

8.  Turn inside out.

After clipping my 4 corners, I turned my placemat inside out.  I really had to work my 4 corners to get them as pointy as possible.  I like to use a tool like a pencil eraser to poke out those corners.

9.  Sew up the opening.

Sew up the opening of your placemat!  

10.  Press your seams

Give those beauties a nice, finished look by pressing the seams.  

I am so happy with how my placemats turned out!!  So simple.  So elegant!

Now all I need is new table setting to match!!  

PS Have you noticed my new snazzy menu bar?  You can see where I link my projects by clicking my Link Parties tab.