Table Scraps - Dec Island Batik Challenge

The Dec challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors was to make some kind of table runner using scraps from our stash.  I have a beautiful stash of Island Batik fabrics, so this was a fun challenge.  I love to use up scraps- so I headed to some 2 1/2" strip packages that I had leftover from other projects.  Quite often I don't use a whole strip  package, so I have these great partial packages of 2 1/2" strips of coordinating colors from different collections.

I decided to make a coiled table mat from a bright collection called Budding Blooms.  I thought it would make a nice colorful table mat.  Here are some of the leftover strips.

Coiled mats are easy to make.  You wrap fabric strips around a cord- many people use clothesline cord, but I had some leftover macrame cord that worked great.  It is softer and sews very easily.  Since batiks don't ravel a lot, I only worked with a single layer of fabric.  Many people take a strip and fold it in half.  I cut the 2 1/2" strips into 3 narrow strips and found that was wide enough to wrap around the cord.

You do need to have your mat coil OUT from the machine so it will lay flat as it gets big.

I wrap the fabric strip around the cord for several inches then hold it with a clothes pin to keep it from unwrapping while I sew the cord with a simple zigzag stitch.  This is very easy and you can use any length and width of strip.  You can also use various cords- just make sure it will move easily under the pressure foot.

Isn't it colorful!  Just what I was hoping for.  You can keep adding coils until you get the size you want.  I decided to make this one to fit a small table my father in law made.

It is December and you may be wanting to make some gifts that are quick and easy.  It is very quick to make coiled hot pad mats.  It doesn't take many strips of fabric or much cording to make a hot  pad.  Here is one with Christmas colors.

I made this one from three fabrics in the Alpine Jingle collection.  I used the same length strips in this hot pad.

Our weather has finally gotten cold and it feels like winter.  It's a great time to stay inside, get out those scraps and make something beautiful with them.  Enjoy!