Patio Rodeo Placemats

Set the table for a funky Fourth of July!
For each placemat, you will need:
  • Cowboy fabric, 20 inches x 14 inches
  • Cream color fabric, 20 inches x 14 inches
  • 2 pieces brown synthetic suede fringe, 13 inches long (4-inch width)
  • Cream color craft thread or embroidery floss
  • 1 pair of second-hand blue jeans with 2 ½ inch belt loops
  • 1 white bandana
  • Thread to match cowboy fabric
  • Gold thread
  • 1 embroidery needle
  • 1 sewing needle
  • Straight pins
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure
  • Spray starch
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron


Directions
Step 1
With the right side of the cowboy fabric face down, iron and starch the fabric. Fold the raw edges in ½ inch all the way around and iron the edges down. Repeat for the cream fabric backing.

Step 2
To make the blue jean napkin holder, cut a 2½ inch by 8½ inch piece of denim from the jeans. Remove three belt loops from the jeans and attach to the denim piece with gold thread.

Step 3
Whipstitch the blue jean napkin holder to the cowboy fabric with the craft thread.

Step 4
Pin the cowboy fabric to the cream backing with the good side facing out, sandwiching the fringe on the right and the left sides.

Step 5
Using a sewing machine and the matching thread, stitch the front and back of the placemat together ¼ inch from the edge. (A simple straight stitch will do.) Sew all the way around. Then roll the bandana and insert into the belt loops.

As seen in
Decorating Spaces magazine
This Independence Day, round up your best buckaroos for a good old-fashioned Patio Rodeo. Set the scene with denim “back pocket” invites, mini hay bales, and rusty horseshoe candleholders. To make this get-together as American as apple pie, plan on serving barbecued spareribs, corn on the cob, and baked beans. (And a punchbowl spiked with Spirits of 76!) Sew it all up by making these one-of-a-kind fringed cowboy placemats. What better way to celebrate your independence!
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No Stick Tip: If you want your placemats to be washable, pre-wash the fabric and attach the fringe with snaps. Or, the day before the stampede to the chuck wagon begins, spray them with Scotchgard.
Sew Easy Tip
To turn a square corner, keep the needle in the down position, raise the presser foot, and turn the fabric ninety degrees. Then giddy up and start sewing again.

Guest Wrangling Tip: Show your favorite cowpokes to their seats with Sheriff’s Badge Place Cards. Just write each guest’s name on a party-store badge and pin it to the placemat. They’ll know where to git along little dogie!
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