Fall is actually my FAVORITE time to picnic!!! Time to make some potato salad, corn on the cob, or some simple, delicious sandwiches. To help keep stains off your nice, clean blanket or tablecloth, make some easy vinyl placemats that will hold all the necessary utensils. They’re easy to wipe clean, and you won’t need to use disposable utensils since you can just wrap everything up, and do the clean-up at home.

Start with vinyl shelf liner that does not have the adhesive on the back. This stuff is perefect for this project because it’s the right width, and you don’t have to hem it, so it cuts down on sewing.

Cut the shelf liner to the desired placemat width. I bought two styles of shelf liner, so I could have a contrasting utensil holder, but you can use the same style if you like the look better.

I wasn’t sure how big my utensil holder needed to be, so I cut it a little long, so I could trim it later.

Place the utensils and napkin under the utensil holder piece. Pin the areas that will need sewing. Cut off excess. When making more than one placemat, use this cut piece as a template for your next cut.

Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to wrap around a rolled placemat.

Fold the ribbon in half, and pin it to the utensil area piece, so it’s in the center of the side of the placemat.

Sew the utensil holder to the placemat.

Roll placemat, and tie the ribbon in a bow. Cut excess ribbon.

Take your new placemats to you favorite spot for a lovely picnic!