Embroidered tray mats

Materials

* Rubber non-slip matting * Raffia (preferably1-2mm wide or use 3-4mm like this) * Tapestry needle * Scissors * Pencil * Ruler

Step 1

Thread the first colour of raffia you are using onto the needle. If you have raffia which is more than 2mm wide, split it into two by pulling apart.

Step 2

Start at one corner and thread around. Try any type of pattern. This one goes over 3 holes, then under 1, and repeats that pattern for the whole border of the rectangle.

Step 3

When you reach the end, tie a knot to finish. Burn the ends with a match for a couple of seconds to melt the raffia into a knob which can’t slip through the holes. Or you can return back over the same stitching on the back of the mat, for a few centimetres. Once you have done the border, start with the shapes on the inside of the mat.

Green on red coasters

Create coasters by cutting squares of rubber matting approx 10cm x 10cm. Using a running stitch, start on a corner and follow the perimeter. After a full round, start the next round about 1 cm in towards the middle. Continue until you reach the middle then finish off with a knot at the back, or go back over the last 3cm of stitches.

Blue on white design

This has the edges folded over and embroidered. Separate rectangular shapes of matting are cut out and then stitched onto the mat.

White and orange diamonds design

White and orange diamonds design

This requires a pattern, tracing out the design and counting the correct number of holes between shapes. This is the most complicated.

White on grey blocks design

White on grey blocks design

This can be created as you go, using straight verticals and horizontal lines to form the shapes.

Green on red coasters

Brightly coloured rubber matting and raffia makes a fresh summery coaster.

Blue and green geo shapes design

This type of design can be done free-form, using one layer of shapes (blue), then a second layer of shapes in another colour (green)