Easy-to-Wipe Placemats

• 1). Measure and mark two 19-by-13-inch rectangles on the wrong side of the oil cloth. Cut out the two rectangles with scissors.
  
  
• 2). Put the two rectangles of oil cloth together with the wrong sides facing each other.
  
  
• 3). Sew along all four sides of the rectangles with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
  
  
• 4). Trim the seam allowances along all four sides of the oil cloth placemat down to 1/4 inch with pinking shears.
  
  

Machine Washable Placemats

• 1). Measure and cut two 19-by-13-inch rectangles from cotton fabric.
  
  
• 2). Put the two rectangles together with the printed sides facing each other.
  
  
• 3). Sew the two fabric rectangles together along all four sides using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving only a 4-inch opening in the middle of one of the sides. Turn the placemat right side out through the 4-inch opening.
  
  
• 4). Fold the raw edges of the fabric in 1/2 inch along the 4-inch opening. Iron the folded edges as well as the rest of the four sides of the placemat.
  
  
• 5). Sew around the placemat with a 1/4-inch seam allowance to hold the seams flat as well as to close the 4-inch opening.