Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Make Your Own Picnic Pack

This is a simple sewing project that you can make in time for summer picnics & BBQs.

I have seen similar totes for sale and they are very pricey, but you can make a set for the cost of one purchased tote!  The tote is simply a rectangle shaped piece of fabric with little pockets sewn in to hold your knife, fork, spoon, and napkin.  It has ribbon ties that hold it together once rolled up.

The base of the piece is a fabric placemat.  Choose a complimenting fabric to make your pockets & napkins.  For a binding across the top of the pockets and to make the ribbon tie, I use bias tape.

Start by making your napkins.  You can do this by simply cutting your fabric in a square 1 inch larger than the finished napkin size.  I cut mine 18” square to make a 17” inch finished size napkin.  You can either finish the edges with a narrow rolled hem or serge the edges.

To make your pockets, cut a piece of the fabric 6” x 6” square.  Trim one edge with the bias tape to make a nice finished edge to the pocket top.  Fold under the other 3 sides a quarter inch and press in place.  Position the pocket near the right hand lower corner of your placemat.  Topstitch along the sides and bottom to attach.  Repeat to make a pocket for the lower left hand corner.  To make the little pockets for the knife, fork, and spoon, divide the pocket into thirds and topstitch.  Place the napkin & utensils into the pockets and roll up the placemat starting on the right hand side.  Cut a length of bias tape long enough to wrap around the placemat and tie shut.  Unroll the placemat.  Fold the length of bias tape in half to find its center.  Finger press to mark the center of the bias tape.  On the left hand edge of the placemat, find the center.  Tack the center of the bias tape strip to the back edge of the placemat.  Add your utensils and napkin, roll it up & tie to secure.

Viola!  You are finished!  Make one of these little totes for each family member. 

I am making these to carry with us when we go to church or out running errands.  We usually carry a picnic lunch with us so that we can stop at a park or somewhere that our daughter can play.  You can keep these totes along with some plastic dinner plates and bowls in a backpack, a basket, or other container large enough to hold them. 

These are great for everything from picnics away from home or backyard BBQ’s.  I love them, as they are also reusable.  Just wash them up when you get home, then repack them so they are ready for the next time.  Having little ones, I add to the pack right before we leave, a little rectangular container with some fabric wipes that are already wet with a solution of water with a drop of baby wash. 

Enjoy!

Untitled Comment

11:25, Wednesday, June 11, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

Just had a friend on HSB tell me about these not to long ago and I was trying to make a mental picture of what she was talking about! LOL Thanks for the description and tutorial!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo