A Musical Table Centerpiece

Miss Abigail and I were talking not too long ago about what types of table linens she might want from her hope chest. She thought a table runner to lay on the kitchen counter under trays for snacks would be helpful. So I made this easy self-faced table centerpiece this morning. I didn't have enough fabric length for a runner, so this is a little wider and a bit shorter - more of a centerpiece than a runner. It is still roomy for the purpose. It measures 19 x 27 - inches.

Abigail and Jacob are both very musical, so the fabric should reflect their interests and the black and white colors make it easy to coordinate dishes and other decorations at a casual get-together.

There are many directions and tutorials for creating a self-faced, mitered corner placemat or baby blankets or quilt. I find the directions for a baby blanket from the Utah State Cooperative Extension the easiest to understand and complete. I used that PDF to make this centerpiece, just changing the measurements to fit well on a kitchen counter. If you have another great pattern, please share the link in a comment!

Tutorial - Crocheted Granny Round Soup Mats

Size:  10-inch diameter
Materials: Worsted weight cotton yarn, size G crochet hook

Row 1: Make a magic circle to form ring. Ch 2 (counts as first sc). Make 13 sc in ring. Join with sl st to top of chain 2. (14 sc)

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Dc in next sc. Ch 1. (Dc, ch 1) in each sc stitch around. Join with sl st in third chain of beginning stitch. 14 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3. Dc in space below. Ch 1. (2 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in the ch 1 space. 14 pairs of dc.

Row 4:  Ch 3. 2 dc in space right below and to the right of the chain 3. Ch 1. Put (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. You can see the completed row in the picture for beginning row 5.

Row 5: Ch 3. Dc in next 2 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space. *Dc in next 3 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. 56 dc.

Row 6: Ch 3. Dc in same stitch as joining. Ch 1. Make 2 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch 2. *skip next 2 stitches. 1 dc in next stitch. Ch 2. 2 dc in next space. Ch 2.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in space.

Row 7: Ch 3. 2 dc in space below. Ch 1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 2 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Row 8: Ch 4. 3 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around to the last space. Put 2 dc in last space and join with a sl st in the 3 chain of the beginning chain 4.

Row 9: Sl st in next stitch. *5 dc in ch 1 space. Skip next dc. Sl stitch in next dc.* Repeat between ** around. Join with a sl st in beginning sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

"Granny Round" Soup Mats

Miss Abigail loves a party! She has always loved socializing with people and that often involves food.  I know she will want to host casual get-togethers with friends and have another couple over for dinner occasionally. So I've been thinking about what she might need in her linen closet to plan for a special occasion. I've been thinking about a game night or a movie night or a casual picnic at the trail head - even snacks for finals week.

I mentioned before that I had not created many table linens for the hope chest because we didn't know very early in this process what her dishes would look like. But now we do, so the gap in table linens looms large in the unfinished projects category.

I thought these small place mats might work for an easy winter soup party or a summer pasta party, a mini salad bar potluck or snacks for a game night. They don't take up much room at the table, but they still give a bit of a finished look. I made four, thinking she might be hosting a second couple for dinner or a couple of girlfriends in a study group. A tablecloth would be an easier choice if there is a larger crowd around the table.

I began with my pattern for the simple granny round dishcloth, but changed the pattern to make it larger with an additional row. Here is the new pattern if you want to make these mats for yourself. I will post a photo tutorial tomorrow for those who might need some visual help. I will remind everyone of the copyright notice in the sidebar and ask that you don't sell or steal this pattern. Thanks!

Granny Round Soup Mat

Size: 10-inch diameter

Materials: Worsted weight cotton yarn, Size G crochet hook

Row 1: Make a magic circle to form ring. Ch 2 (counts as first sc). Make 13 sc in ring. Join with sl st to top of chain 2. (14 sc)

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Dc in next sc. Ch 1. (Dc, ch 1) in each sc stitch around. Join with sl st in third chain of beginning stitch. 14 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3. Dc in space below. Ch 1. (2 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in the ch 1 space. 14 pairs of dc.

Row 4:  Ch 3. 2 dc in space right below and to the right of the chain 3. Ch 1. Put (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Row 5: Ch 3. Dc in next 2 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space. *Dc in next 3 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. 56 dc.

Row 6: Ch 3. Dc in same stitch as joining. Ch 1. Make 2 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch 2. *skip next 2 stitches. 1 dc in next stitch. Ch 2. 2 dc in next space. Ch 2.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in space.

Row 7: Ch 3. 2 dc in space below. Ch 1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 2 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.

Row 8: Ch 4. 3 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around to the last space. Put 2 dc in last space and join with a sl st in the 3 chain of the beg chain 4.

Row 9: Sl st in next stitch. *5 dc in ch 1 space. Skip next dc. Sl stitch in next dc.* Repeat between ** around. Join with a sl st in beginning sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

A Peek Inside - A Linen Table Runner Gift

When Miss Abigail graduated from homeschool and began college my sweet sister sent her a gift for the hope chest, this pretty embroidered linen table runner. I honestly love that Abby has so many gifts in her hope chest.

While I don't have all her gifts photographed yet, I decided to create a label to organize these "gifts to Abby", so that we both can remember the many women who have contributed lovely things for her future home.

A Peek Inside - More Embroidered Pillowcases

I love hand embroidery. It's very relaxing to me! The tips of my fingers do suffer from the pricks of the needle, however. I guess you just have to put up with that in order to produce such a lovely result.

A Peek Inside - Another Set of Pillowcases

This set of pillowcases in the hope chest is recycled! Some years ago, my father-in-law gave me several pillowcases that were cleaned out of an old warehouse where he worked. They are made from beautiful, tight cotton percale and the fabric is lovely. But, these original pillowcases had a large black logo stamp on the cuff - not so lovely. So, I cut the whole hem off to get rid of that logo. Because that made the pillowcases too short for even a standard pillow, I made a new cuff with this pretty blue print cotton fabric. I used the easy "magic" or "burrito" method to enclose the seams in the cuff. Then I embroidered a design to dress them up a bit. No cost upcyling - just scraps.

A Peek Inside - A Simple Printed Tablecloth

I haven't made a lot of table linens for the hope chest, but this is a small everyday tablecloth that matches Abby's pretty white dishes. The fabric was purchased in the home decor section of our local fabric store and then just hemmed around the edges. Very simple sewing.