How to make rope placemats
<p>Handmade rope placemats will add a wonderful personal touch to your next dinner party, but remember that they’re destined to get dirty. I have used water-based acrylic paint from the hardware store so they can be machine-washed easily. If you want to add some flash to your placemats, ensure that your decoration can withstand a good scrubbing.</p>
<p><strong>You will need:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>50m of cotton rope</li>
<li>1m x 1m piece of paper to paint on</li>
<li>Small craft paintbrush</li>
<li>Water-based acrylic paint in your favourite colours</li>
<li>Sharp scissors</li>
<li>Measuring tape</li>
<li>Sewing machine with a zigzag stitch</li>
<li>Thread</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How to:</strong></p>
<p>1. Untangle the rope and place it on the large piece of paper. Using the acrylic paints, dab blobs of colour in random spots on your rope. Allow to dry.</p>
<p>2. Untangle your decorated rope and cut it into six equal lengths measuring approximately 8m each.</p>
<p>3. Take one of your pieces of rope and coil one end into a small circle. It should resemble the number 9 with a small coil and a tail of loose rope. You should be a pro at this step by now!</p>
<p>4. Place your coil under your needle and slowly start to zigzag stitch the rope together. Bind the coil together by reversing over your stitches a few times to secure them. Repeat in the diagonal direction to the first line of stitching.</p>
<p>5. Continue sewing your placemat until it measures 25cm in diameter. Loop the last few centimetres of rope underneath itself and sew it closed, leaving a little nubbin. Repeat with the remaining pieces of rope until you have six placemats.</p>
<p><em><img width="172" height="172" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37890/roped-in-cover_172x172.jpg" alt="Roped In Cover" style="float: right;"/></em></p>
<p><em>This is an edited extract from</em> Roped In<em> by Gemma Patford published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $29.99 and is available in stores nationally.</em></p>
