Decorate your table with these reversible placemats for any occasion.
If you like to decorate for any holiday, these reversible placemats are a great addition to your decor. These are a great beginner sewing project and really great for kids to learn how to sew. And the best part is they can be used for two holidays or seasons because they are reversible. The other benefit is the pocket so kids know where to place the utensils when they set the table.
Are you ready to make your own? Let’s get started! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.
Quick links to information in this post
1. Materials needed to make Reversible Placemats
2. Video Instructions
2. Cutting Instructions
3. Sewing Assembly
Material needed to make Reversible Placemats with pockets
- Two coordinating cotton fabrics for each side of the placemat
- 14″ x 20″ for each side of a placemat (multiply that by how many placemats you need to make)
- 5″ x 10″ for each pocket (multiply that by how many placemats you need to make)
- Ribbon or Ric Rac (optional) 6″ in length for each pocket
- Interfacing or batting (optional)
- Sewing Machine
- Matching Thread
- Scissors
Video Instructions
Cutting Instructions
Wash and cut fabric
Wash and iron your fabric. This will preshrink your fabric before you make your project. If you don’t prewash your fabric, it will become distorted if you wash it after making it.
For each placemat, you need 2 pieces of fabric cut to the size of 14″ x 20″. This is your main fabric for the placemats. Then, for the pockets, you need each pocket to be cut 5″ x 10″. If you are using ribbon or ricrac for the pockets, cut this to 6″ in length for each pocket.
If you choose, you could also stabilize these with interfacing or quilting if you like. I will not be doing that today.
Sewing Assembly
Step 1. Make the pockets
Fold your pocket pieces in half, wrong sides together. Mark the middle at the fold and place your ribbon or ricrac 1 inch down from the fold on one side of the pocket.
Unfold the pocket and sew the ribbon or ricrac in place.
Fold the pocket in half, right sides together and sew around the open edges of the pocket, leaving an opening to turn right side out. Sew using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Trim the corners of the pockets and turn right side out.
Fold the opening into the pocket and press the pocket flat. Repeat with the pocket for the other side.
Step 2. Sew pockets to placemat
Place the pockets on the fabric pieces for the placemats. Using a ruler, place the lower left corner of the pocket 1.5″ from the left edge and 2.5″ up from the bottom edge.
Pin the pocket in place and sew around the three edges of the pocket, leaving the top open. Sew about 1/8″ from the edge of the pocket. Repeat with the other side of the placemat.
Step 3. Sew placemat
Place the fabric pieces of the placemats right sides facing together. Make sure both pockets are facing upright.
Sew around all the edges of the placemat with a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving 4″ open for turning.
Trim the corners of the placemat and turn right side out. I use a bodkin tool to get nice poked out corners. Press with an iron, making sure the opening is pressed with the fabric turned inwards.
Lastly, topstitch around the whole placemat a little less than 1/4″ away from the edge of the placemat. Now repeat for all your other placemats.
I love how quick and simple these are. This is a great project for beginners and kids.
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