Bonus: Picnic Mat

Make your favorite rodeo fan a personalized picnic mat with cute cowboy motifs. Handles allow easy carrying, and the mat unfolds to reveal a table setting.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Finished size: approximately 16"x20½"
• General supplies listed on page 00
• Denim rectangles: 23"x25", 7"x10½", 17"x21&fra"
• Fusible cut-away stabilizer
• Fusible tricot interfacing
• Double-fold bias tape
• Hand-sewing needle
• Adhesive hook-and-loop tape
• Cowboy-theme embroidery designs and alphabet or lettering software
• Optional: bandanna, cup, bowl,
plastic utensils

Embroidery

Use the alphabet or lettering software to spell out a name. Print or stitch a template of the design.

Position the 23"x25" denim rectangle right side up on the work surface with one 25" edge as the upper edge. Measure 4¼" from the left edge and 5¼" above the lower edge; pin mark. Place the template on the rectangle, positioning the lower left point of the first letter at the pin mark. Chalk-mark the design placement and cross marks.

Print or stitch a template using a cowboy-theme embroidery design. Measure 6¼" from the rectangle left edge and 6" down from the upper edge; pin mark. Position the center of the template at the pin mark (1).

Apply fusible cut-away stabilizer to the wrong side of both embroidery areas following the manufacturer"s instructions.

Hoop the fabric, aligning the guide marks on the name. Embroider the design. Un-hoop the fabric. Repeat to stitch the second design.

Trim the rectangle to 17"x 21½", making sure the center of the cowboytheme design is 3½" below the upper edge and 4" from the left edge.

Apply fusible cut-away stabilizer to the wrong side of the 7"x 10½" rectangle following the manufacturer's instructions. Hoop the fabric and embroider the cowboy-theme design in the center. Un-hoop the fabric. Trim the rectangle to 5¼"x 10½".

With right sides together, fold the short edges of the 5¼"x 10½" rectangle toward the center until they meet. Stitch the sides using a ½" seam allowance (2). Turn the rectangle right side out through the center opening. Slipstitch the opening closed (it won't show).This will be a pocket for the napkin/flatware.

Place the 17"x 21½" embroidered denim rectangle right side up on the work surface. Position the pocket along the lower right-hand corner of the rectangle. Chalk-mark around the pocket edges. Set aside the pocket.

Bleaching

Apply bleach stamps in the same manner as directed for the jean jacket creating a border around the rectangle. Reapply bleach as desired to create more color contrast. Let the bleach dry completely.

Construction

Apply fusible tricot interfacing to the place-mat top wrong side following the manufacturer"s instructions.

Right side up, position the pocket on the place-mat top right side within the chalk marks. Edgestitch around the pocket sides and lower edge.

Cut two 10" lengths of double-fold bias tape. Measure and mark the center of each lengthwise edge of the place-mat top. To create handles, place one length of bias tape on each lengthwise edge, positioning each tape end 3" from the center. Pin the handles in place (3). Place the remaining denim rectangle over the place-mat top with right sides together. Pin around the rectangles, sandwiching the handles between the fabric layers.

Stitch around the rectangles using a ½" seam allowance and leaving a small opening for turning. Be careful to keep the handles out of the way of the stitching.

Turn the place mat right side out through the opening. Press, turning in the opening edges. Slipstitch the opening closed.

Place a spoon and fork in the pocket along with the bandanna (for use as a napkin).

Place a kid-size bowl and cup in the center of the place mat (lay the cup inside the bowl).

Fold the place mat left and right edges toward the center; draw up the handles to carry the place mat.