Leafy linens - transforming place mats and napkins into personal works of art

Sunset, July, 1999 by Ann Bertelsen

Use our patterns to turn solid place mats and napkins into personal works of art

Forget the needle or paintbrush. And don't worry about your artistic skills. Here's an easy way to embellish place mats and napkins for a summer table. The attractive leaf shapes that enliven these linens are cut from an adhesive bonding material called Wonder-Under Transfer Web, then ironed on. The paper-backed adhesive turns any fabric - cotton, linen, denim, or synthetic material into a fusible one at the touch of an iron.

We asked San Francisco designer Doreen Leong to ornament purchased place mats and napkins with leaf motifs; her templates are at right. Different color schemes will adapt the design to suit the season: Shades of green speak of summer; reddish brown leaves introduce a touch of fall. Choose your own fabrics and colors, then use the templates to make seasonal linens.

TIME: About 90 minutes for four place mats

COST: About $10 to $15, not including the cost of the mats

MATERIALS

* Templates (enlarged to desired size)

* Place mats and napkins

* Pencil

* One package of Wonder-Under Transfer Web

* Fabric remnants in different colors (or three 1/2-yard lengths of selected fabrics, or use pieces of other napkins)

* Iron and pressing cloth

* Scissors

DIRECTIONS

1. Use enlarged templates to plan the position and number of leaves on place mats and napkins. Mark with pencil.

2. Place the rough side of Wonder-Under against the wrong side of fabric and press for five seconds with a hot, dry iron using pressing cloth; let cool.

3. Use templates to draw an outline of leaves on the paper backing of the adhesive web. Cut out the leaves.

4. Gently peel off paper backing. Position the fusible fabric, web side down, on the place mat or napkin. Dampen the pressing cloth and place it over the leaf motif.

5. With iron heated to the wool setting, press down firmly for 10 seconds. (For heavy fabrics, press a few seconds longer.) Repeat the process, lifting iron and overlapping pressing positions until all the fabric is fused.

6. Remove the press cloth; iron over the leaf motif to eliminate any excess moisture.

NOTE: Read the materials that come with the Wonder-Under and follow the manufacturer's directions. The finished linens can be machine washed or dry cleaned, according to the fabric's care specifications.