Have a Vegan DIY Holiday with Vegan Food Gifts!

If presents are something on your to-do list this holiday season, why not skip the mall this year and do some vegan gift giving DIY style? After all, there really is no better way to spread the vegan love than with a chocolate chip cookie, or a basket of freshly baked muffins.
The project I am sharing below is for a non-edible gift. But check in throughout the month as I post other edible gift ideas. You can also check out previous posts for Saltine Butter Toffee, Twigs and Berries, Hearty Pasta with Chick'n Soup Mix, Jalapeno Jam, Strawberry Pineapple Orange Cake Mix, or Home Made Spicy Dill Pickles.
To inspire you further, I am giving away a copy of the book to one reader, anywhere in the world, so just follow the prompts in the widget below!

These simple placemats are meant to be used as lap mats as part of the Movie Night Gift Basket, on page 116, but I think they make a snazzy gift all on their own, or as a wonderful addition to any gift basket. Or even just to jazz up your own tabletop. And, I think they got a little passed over in the book, with not much attention paid to them, so I wanted to share this project here. Especially since giving vegan food gifts are great, but once tey are eaten...they are gone. At least these little guys will remain on tabletops for years to come.

Reversible Placemats from Vegan Food Gifts (page 117)
A couple of notes: This is a great way to use up scrap fabric.
You can totally add fringe, rick-rack, dingle balls, ribbons, buttons, appliqués, ruffles, simple piping, or any kind of accoutrements to these adorable placemats.
I make them by hand (because I am too lazy to go out to the shed and unpack my sewing machine) but feel free to use a machine, or any kind of stitch to finish your edges. When doing it by hand, if I am not adding a ruffle or fringe, I like to use a blanket stitch for its decorative value, as well as its ability to create a finished edge.

To make one placemat you will need:
fabric
felt interfacing
scissors
pins
embroidery thread or yarn
needle with a large eye
measuring tape
iron
optional notions for decorating

1. Press fabric to eliminate wrinkles and creases and measure two rectangles of fabric to 13 1/2 x 19
1/5-inches. Measure one rectangle of felt interfacing to 12 1/2 x 18 1/2-inches.

2. Fold over a 1/4-inch seam allowance and press in place on all 4 sides of both fabric rectangles.

3. Sandwich the felt interfacing in between the 2 fabric panels, making sure there is a 1/4-inch seam allowance on all 4 sides.

4. Pin in place.

5. Finish using a simple blanket stitch.

6. Press flat with an iron to complete.

a Rafflecopter giveaway