oilcloth picnic mat tutorial

After reading the new book by EllynAnne Geisel, The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives, I just had to make this pretty picnic mat for my family. The day my family spent flying kites in a wet field I knew we needed one of these, but it was the section on picnics that made the idea a reality. My philosophy for both shops Modern June and Oilcloth Addict is that small things in life help to make big memories. I know EllynAnne feels the same way. Linens of all types evoke fond memories.

Check out my review of the book at Sew Mama Sew! Don't forget to leave a comment after reading the post, Sew Mama Sew is giving away 6 books!!!

Be aware my mat is a big one, 8' x 8', just great for a family of four. Feel free to scale up or down for your needs.

Stuff you gotta have:
4 yards of oilcloth, seen in Lime Green Gingham
A fat quarter of a fun fruity oilcloth pattern, appliques are from the Apples and Pears Oilcloth
Rotary cutter
Ruler or yard stick
Gypsy Gripper, an optional tool I can not live with out.
Thread


step 1. Cut cut out your appliques and take your four yards of oilcloth and cut it into two equal parts ( two, two yard pieces)


step 2. Pin your appliques in the correct corners. You are doing this first so don't have to wrangle that big mat under the machine like it did! Trust me do it now while it is in pieces!


step 3. Sew your appliques into place.

Tip! When turning sharp corners leave your needle in the down, lift pressure foot and then turn.

step 4. Sew your two sides together making a large 8 foot square. Sew right sides together using a 1/2 SA. I suggest you place your machine on the largest table you have, this is a lot of oilcloth, a large table will help support the bulk and keep you happy.


step 5. Lay oilcloth face up roll both sides of the up so you can easily get to your seam. Now finger press your seam off to the left. There is no need to pin.


step 6. Back at the machine you are going to want to do an edge stitch off to the left. This is going to strengthen your seam and substitute not being able to iron. This will help that seam behave. As you stitch make sure both sides of the seam are off to the left.

Tip! I like to use the inside edge of the presser foot as a guide to keep my top stitch straight.


step 7. Fold you hem up one inch and sew one side, then do a faux mitered corner. Or better yet check out this tut for the real thing. I wish I had looked that up when I was sewing up the hem.

Note! Oilcloth does not fray so you could leave this edge raw or pink the edges. I hemmed the mat to help give it body and weight. Wind can ruin a picnic so I figure every bit helps.


step 8. Clean up. Oilcloth is very easy to clean, simply whip clean with a damp cloth. EllynAnne has a great tip for easy clean up at a picnic, she suggests that we eat on and extra tablecloth so when you are done you can wrap it all up and take it home. This leaves the picnic mat ready for relaxation time.


step 9. Storage. Keep the creases away by folding it in half and then rolling it up. Your local fabric shop should happily give you their empty cardboard rolls.

Picnic season is coming, Happy Spring!!!

Pantry Project #5, Chalk Cloth tags and labels

These simple Chalk Cloth tags and labels can be used all over the house, I need these for the pantry/laundry room to get that place organized once and for all.

Stuff you need:

Chalk Cloth Fat Quarter
Oilcloth Fat Quarter Four Pack or a Oilcloth Charm Pack
scissors
spool of ribbon
ink pin and white pencil
vase or template for oval shape
Fray Check


step 1. Find a shape, you could use a template if you have on but I always use what I have laying around. While I was looking around the house for an oval shape and I got lucky! What is so great about it is that the top is bigger than the bottom. How perfect is that? (Thanks Janet, your gifts keep giving!)



Don't have that kind of luck? No problem, find your shape and increase or decrease it on the printer. Easy-peasy!










step 2. Cut your large ovals out of oilcloth and your small ovals out of the chalk cloth.






step 3. Cut your ribbon into 20" strips. Fold the ribbon in half and place it in the center of the tag and sandwich them in-between the two layers. Use cloths pins to pin the tag. Make sure your ribbon in a V shape, this will help you tie your label later. Don't forget to use some fray check on the ends of the ribbon to keep them tidy.


step 4. Set your needle to the left so you can edge stitch the chalk cloth on to the oilcloth. Slowly sew around the chalk cloth tag.


step 5. Make a few without the ties and you can hot glue them onto all sorts of things.


Oh, these are fun. You are going to love making them, they are so quick and easy. Leave me a comment tell me what you would use at set for. The first 10 people will receive a free scrap pack with enough oilcloth and chalk cloth to make a few.

Don't like the oval shape change it up with what ya got!

Oilcloth Trays Revisited, Pantry Project # 4

So it took me a few days, life at Modern June and Oilcloth Addict is b-u-s-y, but it did it. I made a few more of those great oilcloth trays. You remember those from a couple of weeks ago. The trays are getting a bit of bloggy buzz, thekitchn.com and craftzine.com have given us a shout out. And the basket lining made it on the the fantastic website Craft Gossip! Thanks for the shout outs and support!

So check out the latest color combo, I really like the look of the green, tan and browns! I lined one with the lime polka dots and the other with the walnut Faux Bois oilcloth. Maybe I will actually get some laundry done too, forget that, I would rather sew!

Pantry Project #3 Chalk Cloth Mason Jar

Here a fun and very easy project. I was at a big-box store the other day, I saw jars with chalk paint on them they were cute but costly. Once home it was time to get crafty! For the price of one store bought jar you would buy a fat quarter of chalk cloth, grab your stash of mason jars, add a bit of DYI action and you have yourself a whole set of customized jars.

Supply List:
fat quarter of chalk cloth
pencil
ruler
rotary cutter or pinking shears
hot glue gun
lots of great jars
chalk marker pen (optional)

1. Measure your jar and mark your chalk cloth

2. Use rotary cutter or pinking shears to cut a nice edge along your chalk cloth.

3. Starting in the back of your jar, hot glue one end on to the jar.

4. Wrap and glue one of chalk cloth strip into place.

These and many more are just waiting for a place in the pretty new pantry.

Pantry and Laundry Room Project Quickie

This is so easy-peasy, you will love it. Line a lazy susan for all those small laundry products that you often have to dig for. My lazy susan came from a dear neighbors estate sale, but you can find them at target.

Stuff you gotta have:

• a fat quarter of oilcloth, I used the Faux Bois in walnut.
• Lazy Susan
• Pinking sheers
• pencil

1) Flip the lazy susan over and trace on the back side of the oilcloth

2) Using pinking shears cut 1/4" inside your circle. I did this since the base of the lazy susan was wider than it's tray. Check your lazy susan before cutting to make sure you know how much to cut off.


3) Now just drop it in and load it up! I choose not to glue or tape (double-sided) the liner in place. I did this for easy cleaning. Now if the fabric softener leaks I can take the liner out and whip it clean.

Pantry Project #2, Lining a wire Basket with oilcloth

Years ago I found some great wire baskets, I found them in the alley before a clean up day. What was my neighbor thinking, these are choice goods? I have used them with out lining for a long time, but now I need to use them for holding all the paper party supplies. I found that are lots of great tutorial out there for lining baskets. Here are my two fav's.

If you are going to use the Anna Marie Horner oilcloth this Sew Mama Sew basket lining how to if perfect, just don't forget to skip the ironing!

Mexican Oilcloth to your liking? This tut from DYI.com is great because you don't use elastic to keep it into place! Oh course, I can't do a project the way I am told to, so I am showing you how I adjusted the tutorial.


Since I am using the wire basket I am doing a double sided lining, my lining is lined! My inspiration is this great combo, faux bois oilcloth in birch and the lime dot oilcloth that I used on the shelves.


1) I am a bias junky so I choose to use pre-made bias for this project. My large basket took two package of bias. I attached across the top first.


2) Next I did the inside corners of the lining. I left 13 inches for ties. TIP: When you go to turn that corner leave your needle in the down position, lift your pressure foot up and swivel the material around.


How good looking is this? I love my weathered wire baskets even more. Here are two great uses for my super fun baskets. You could stuff it with laundry detergents, this is so easily cleaned you won't have to worry about spills.


Or, You could do what I am doing and fill it up with Party supplies. I now have all my paper products in one place. Now I can just pull the box down and get the party started. Don't forget to replace your stash after the party so you will be set for your next shindig!

Today I need to make a ton of oilcloth trays in my new color scheme. I will be making them for my kitchen linens. That tutorial made the Craft Magazines blog! What an honor, thank you Craftzine.com peeps!

Pantry Project #1

Spring is here, a time for cleaning and fresh starts. I could wait no longer, it is time to conquer the messy pantry. Check back throughout the week, there will be more fun oilcloth projects in store for this pantry!


The supplies you gotta have:

• enough oilcloth for the job
• scissors
• utility knife
• adhesive putty or double sided carpet tape
• clear packing tape.

1) Take a basic measurement of the your selves. As you can plainly see my shelves are old and battered so I plan to wrap the oilcloth up underneath, hide the evil that lurks beneath. To compensate for this I added a few extra inches, in length and width. Now just add up all your measurements and go order up some oilcloth!

2) I cut my oilcloth into 6 strips. My self is only 10 1/2" deep, but using a 47" x 12" piece of oilcloth allowed me to cut, trim and fold the oilcloth up under the shelf.


3) Cut around any trim, corners or stray fuse boxes with a craft knife.


4) Use the adhesive putty to secure the edges near the wall. In hindsight I would have liked to use double sided tape, perhaps carpet tape. I used what I had, the putty.


5) Now wrap up that shelf like an oddly shaped present! Using clear packing tape to secure it into place.


Now for the hard part, filling it back up in an orderly manner. No worries, I have several oilcloth project to help me get organized. See you tomorrow!

For the love of oilcloth

Apartment Therapy loves oilcloth and we love Apartment Therapy. Check out the 8 great ideas for using oilcloth. AT, thanks for one of our first major shout outs!

New Designer Oilcloth is here!

Oil Cloth in Fortune / Sun

It's here, it's here! I am so thrilled to announce OILCLOTH ADDICT now carries Anna Marie Honer's great new oilcloth. This oilcloth nothing like the Mexican Oilcloth that we carry. It is very much like a European oilcloth with with its slick, smooth coating but because it is so thin it has a softer drape. This oilcloth can do it all, gathers and seams are a snap! Hurry on over and pick some up this great laminated cotton will not last

Oil Cloth in Small Gathering / Citrus

Pantry Week Postponed

Hey all, I am illin' in a big way and unable to make the pantry fabulous this week. Check back next week of all the crafty goodness. For now I am headed to the pantry to make some asian chicken soup.

Pantry Project #4, Oilcloth Trays

Who can't use a good high walled tray? I am going to whip up a bunch of these to help organize that pantry of mine. They will be great for holding all sorts of things, I am seeing my dish rags in this one!

Supply List:
a half yard of oilcloth
a fat quarter of oilcloth
a scrap of chalk cloth (ask for one at check out!!!)
pencil
ruler
scissors
straight pins
cloths pins

1. First you'll need to make your self a pattern using a large sheet of paper. This pattern was made to fit my pantry shelves, you can adjust it to fit your needs, don't forget to allow for seam allowances. SA for this pattern is 1/4".

2. Cut 4 layers of oilcloth.

3. Line up and pin three layers of oilcloth. Quilt the layers together to create our stiff outer layer.

4. Stitch corners of your quilted outer layer and then the lining.

5. Now that you have your two layers stitched into the tray shape you will pin and baste the two together.

6. Using cloths pins you will fold the vertical sides towards the inside of the tray as shown above.

7. Flip the tray over to the underneath you are going to edge stitch the pinned sides.

Line up the edge of the tray with the inside of your presser foot, place your needle down into the corner before you start to stithc. This will make a nice crisp corner and a sturdy tray. Edge stitch. Start and stop just inside the corners. See photo below.

Note: Make sure your lining is being sewn into the seam as well, I missed one side completely. Use the inside edge of your presser foot as you guide.

8. Now pin the remains sides in place

9. Again line up the tray with the inside of your presser foot in preparation for edge stitching. Place your needle down into the corner before you start stitching. Edge stitch.

10. Your corner will look like this.


11. Apply your bias tape. Use the left inside edge of your presser foot as a guide. If possible move your needle to the left for a nice close edge stitch. Use your fingers to "squash" the corners in while you round the edges of the tray. Using your free arm will also add you in this last step.