Cookies and milk. Mmmm. We use these snack mats every night just before bed. And as I've said... cuter than paper plates, reusable, washable, and handmade with love. Let's do it!
You'll need:
2 x base fabrics 11" x 8 1/2" each
1 x trim or ric rac 11" long
1 x ribbon or trim for tag 2" long
1 x batting 11" x 8 1/2"
fabric for applique
Wonder Under or other fusible web for applique
embroidery floss
(Use 1/4" seam throughout)
Step 1: Add trim to bottom of base fabric. (The trim I used was too wide, so I cut it according to what I wanted to see poking out at the bottom, plus 1/4") Place your trim and base fabric right sides together, raw edges aligning. Fold the ends of the trim, as shown in the pic, so it won't get sewn up later in the side seams.
Step 2: Add your appliques. Use the fusible web (I have a how-to on fusible web applique here). The milk circle is a 2 1/2" diameter circle. The plate is a 5 1/2" circle with a little flourish if you'd like to add it. Here's how I made my template:
I know this looks ridiculous but I swear it'll make you a plate and I'm sorry I don't have better software or a scanner. (hangs head in shame.) Iron on your milk circle and plate in these positions...
Step 3: Add a tag 1 1/4" down from the upper left hand corner if you'd like:
Step 4: Place the two base fabrics right sides facing each other. Place batting on top. Sew along all four sides of the snack mat leaving about a 3" open space to pull everything right side out. I left my open space on the left hand side, next to the plate. Once you've pulled the mat right side out, iron and slip stitch the open space closed.
Step 5: Stitch the appliques down. Stop stitching exactly where you've begun, then pull all the threads through to the back. Make a big knot, thread all the threads into the needle and pull that big knot back into the mat, burying it and the threads in the batting.
Now you have this...
Step 6: Embroider. A 3 1/2" circle goes inside the plate, centered. Also stitch around the milk circle. Then there are the words... cookies... milk... crumbs...
And you are done!
This tutorial was written for those with a basic knowledge of sewing, but if you are new to sewing and have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll try to help you the best I can!
xo amy