Denim Pocket Placemat

This is a great way to recycle jeans.  And the pocket makes a perfect place to tuck in the eating utensils. 

• Kid's jeans
• Adult jeans
• Backing fabric
• No-sew fabric adhesive tape
• Iron
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Sewing machine
• Seam ripper

1. Remove the pocket(s) from the kid's jeans with a seam ripper.  Set aside.
2. Cut out front and back leg panels from adult jeans.  Make pieces as big as possible excluding the seams.
3. Cut panels again making them rectangles and removing any excess.
4. Sew panels together with a 1/2 seam allowance to make one large panel at least 20" wide.  Ours took three panels sewn together.
5. With the iron, press the seams flat.
6. Measure and cut the placemat top 2" bigger than the overall desired measurement (in our case, 20"x16").
7. Press a 1/2" hem on each edge of the denim.  Fold over 1/2" again and press.
8. Using no-sew tape attach the pocket to the front of the denim in the bottom right hand corner.  The top of the pocket should be approximately 7 inches from the top edge.
9. Cut your backing fabric to the exact measurement of the overall desired measurement.
10. Turn the placemat over and insert the backer.  Using the no-sew tape adhere the short sides first.  Be sure to keep the heat on long enough for the pieces to stick firmly together.
11. Cut away some of the fabric from the corners of the denim to remove some of the bulk.  Fold the fabric on each end of the long side to create a diagonal line when folded over.  This will create a nice mitered corner.
12. Fold over long edges and adhere with no-sew tape. 

Source:  TodaysNest.com