SPRING INTO GARDENING!

Create colourful and simple-to-sew table linens using patterned fabrics for easy-breezy outdoor living

spring is made for relaxing afternoons lounging outside – in your garden, on your balcony or at the park – and eating alfresco. Food just tastes better in the fresh air! To create a truly wonderful spread, check out these easy projects for you to sew and show!

Lay the table – and set the mood – with an organised chaos of colour. Impress everyone with a made-by-you tablecloth, placemats and napkins, and use shapely, textured plates – check out charity shops. PS, you can get metallic cutlery sets for about $20 at homewares stores.

No flies on you or your drinks! Keep all buzzing and annoying insects away from your drinks jug with this nifty mesh cover. Note the decorative weights.

Keep everything tucked in and where it should be with elasticised food covers. No need for metres of wasteful plastic wrap that can bunch, fail to stick or be pierced.

Do not disturb! After a leisurely lunch, who doesn’t love an afternoon nap in a shady spot? And your siesta is made all the better with a plethora of cushions with covers sewn by you.

Instructions on page 178

Serve up style along with refreshing bevvies with a quilted tray mat. Just pick your fabric, measure the tray for the width and length you need, leaving extra for the hems, and cut. Then, with a little basic up-and-down stitching, you’re done!

Spring is always welcome but not so welcome are the bugs, especially at lunchtime. Beat the critters with this mesh table cover. It’s finished off nicely with a feature trim and mitred corners.

Have lunch all wrapped up with fantastic reusable food wraps. Made from fabric and lined with the plastic from your cereal boxes, they’ll keep your food fresh and inviting. The size is up to you and the sewing a cinch. Pretty and practical!

You can never have enough cushions or in too many colours. And making your own means you can create any size you like. Here, the existing seat cushion was simply covered in a new coordinating fabric. You just fold the fabric neatly, tucking it under the cushion and pinning it in place with a safety pin. How easy is that!

Spring is the perfect time to take a day out and spend it with friends Instructions on page 178

Have food, can travel! Make food wraps, covers, napkins and more in spring fresh fabrics, then fill a basket with all you need for a long lazy lunch outdoors or a picture-perfect picnic.