Placemat Tote

I've got a great easy (possible gift...) craft for you today. The older brothers of the kids I watch have them for their scriptures and seminary journal and I kept eyeing them because they looked so easy to make, yet functional. So today while I was babysitting I grabbed one and snapped a few pictures so I could recreate them.

It took me an hour to figure everything out AND make it perfectly. So, with these instructions you can snap them out like candy. Hmm, not sure where that phrase came from, but you get the idea right?



Here's what you need:
One placemat
7/8 yd Cotton Belting (Not sure if this is what it's called...it's on little bolts by the yard)
(total cost <$2) Steps:
1) Fold placemat in half, right sides together. Sew down both short sides with abt 1/2 inch seam.

2) Squish down the corner so it lays flat and measure down about 4 inches. (This makes it so you can fit something 4 inches wide inside-feel free to adjust as desired). Just lay the side seam to one side or the other. Pin so you know where to sew, and sew it straight across. Repeat on other side.
4) Cut the belting in half, each being 16" each. (Again, feel free to adjust.) Measure in abt 3 inches from each edge and pin each end in place, overlapping 1 inch.
5) Sew around them in a cool x-ish pattern so they're nice and tight. (I also flattened the inside hem and sewed a little so it lays flat, but it's totally optional.)

And you're done! Fill with books, toys, craft supplies or whatever!**if you can't get enough, go ahead and add a ribbon closure or dress it up a little by adding some trim around the top such as this:
So many options