This is our fifth year hosting Thanksgiving in Chicago for the twelve members of our joint families. Each year we try to do something slightly different for food and table decor.

I constrained myself to come up with an idea solely using things here at home because (a) my craft closet is to the brim and (b) trekking to Joann Fabrics on a cold Sunday in Chicago is none too appealing.

So using a leftover pack of chocolate paper placecards from our wedding, extra felt from my campfire coffee cozy, and orphaned buttons, I came up with this easy and festive felt leaf concept for the table — no sewing machine required (yay!).

You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Supplies:

• Kathy’s free templates for leaf placecards in Adobe Photoshop (also available in PowerPoint) and felt leaf napkin rings (PDF)
• Chocolate brown felt and gold felt
• Orange embroidery floss
• Disappearing ink fabric marking pen
• 8 1/2″ x 11″ white or cream paper
• Rotary fabric cutter
• Clear fabric ruler
• Self-healing mat
• Pack of pre-cut chocolate brown placecards
• Good paper scissors and good fabric scissors (yep, you should own both)

Table

• White buffet plates
• Buffet silverware
• Wine glasses
• Water glasses
• Orange napkins
• Yellow tablecloth

Felt leaf napkin rings. Print out my free leaf template pattern. Choose one or more leaf shapes and cut out to use as a pattern.

Trace your leaf pattern onto the gold felt and cut out. Use disappearing ink pen if you can; because mine is dry I used a Sharpie and just cut inside the lines to make up for it.

Cut your brown rings 7″ wide x 1.5″ tall using a rotary cutter, clear fabric ruler and rotary mat. Measure 1/2″ from the left side and cut a slit halfway through (so your slit will be half of the 1.5″ tall). Repeat on the right side, but make sure the slit is opposite like in the photo above.

Place your leaf in the middle of the brown ring. Place a small button on top. Sew through the button, leaf and ring using orange embroidery thread. Tie a knot in the back.

Roll your napkin. Wrap the napkin ring around and slip the napkin ring slits together like so.

Placecards. Open my free template in Adobe Illustator or PowerPoint. Type the names of your guests. I used the Bell Gothic Standard font so if you don’t have it, switch to your desired font.

Print and cut out the leaves.

Cut a gold felt square; any shape will be fine. Layer the gold square on top of the placecard, then the leaf and the button. Sew through all layers using orange embroidery thread. Bring on the sweet potatoes and corn casserole!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use the template so I can smile when I see that it’s being used.

Posted by Kathy on November 23, 2008  | Permalink  | Comments (8)  |