Set the table..with placemats

I was told years ago the way to identify a home economics teacher was that her shoes and purse matched and her bound buttonholes were perfect! Not that I was ashamed of my chosen career, but I made an effort to never have my shoes and purse match..and I hated bound buttonholes. ( I retired as a Family and Consumer Science Teacher..so there.) But, I do have to admit I want my table set correctly! I “need” the fork to be on the left side of the plate and the blade of the knife pointed in towards the plate. Intellectually I know it is the company and food that make the meal, but my heart likes an attractive table. The adage “we eat with our eyes” refers to the presentation of the food but why not extend that saying to include the table.

Thus my fondness of placemats. Placemats are a fairly new concept–tablecloths have been around for centuries, but placemats appeared in the last hundred years or so. They were used to protect the lovely finish of wooden tables from heat and scratches with out the hassle of a large cloths that probably needed to be ironed. Spill something on a placemat and it can be changed easily.

After realizing the functional value of placemats, the fun aspect of using placemats was recognized. Placemats dress up the table. Use placemats to celebrate a holiday, to compliment a special set of dishes, or to create a theme. Fabric purchased on a trip made into placemats are useful souvenirs–every time the Alaska theme placemats come out we remember our cruise. And since we are crazy dog parents, we have Shiba Inu placemats.

Caring for quilted placemats is easy. Straight out of the dryer and onto the dining table. Placemats can be flipped over for the next meal if you accidentally spill food.

Placemats are made of various materials–wood, lace, cork, laminate, vinyl, burlap–but the ones at the Quilts Etc. Sale are cotton and are quilted– of course!

This set of four comes with napkins and is reversible. The back side is a deep red for a completely different look. $40 SOLD

Want to celebrate Kansas’ state flower? or the end of summer? This set of four is also reversible, the back side the color of the napkins. $40

My granddaughter was fascinated by this group of animals wearing antlers. They certainly are not the usual characters we see. This set of four has a white on white snowflake print on the back. $40.SOLD There will be another set of placemats at the sale with these same guys but framed with light blue snow flakes. SOLD

With a nod to the colors and prints of the 1950’s, this popular line ” Deer Christmas” by Moda was used for these four placemats. $40. These prints look like they could have been on Christmas cards my grandparents sent.

Six placemats are in this set that could be used anytime, although they suggest a winter scene. They are 12″ x 18″. $50. SOLD

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These vintage postcard prints were used to made eight different placemats..they will be bound in the same fabric as used to frame the prints. We will probably sell them in pairs–2,4,6 or 8. Come to the Quilt Sale Etc. to see them in person.

I refuse to count the number of placemats I use–the meals may be boring but the table never is!