This project doesn’t require a pattern—just a few measurements and some very satisfying sewing.

Sailcloth makes the perfect placemat. It has enough body and structure to sit nice and flat underneath a plate (or a sandwich), and it’s substantial enough to absorb a little moisture and protect your tabletop from water rings, stains, and food flying off a toddler’s plate.
I like using placemats the same way I use cloth napkins: I don’t want to wash them every single day. At our house, everyone has a particular spot at the table and their own napkin, usually in a different color or print. I do the same thing with placemats. Everyone gets a different one, but because all of the prints are designed to work together, the table still feels like a set.
This is also a wonderful project for new sewers. A mitered corner can seem a little complicated the first time you make one, but once you figure it out, it’s incredibly satisfying. It gives something as simple as a rectangle of fabric a beautiful, professional finish—and learning to make one is one of those great little sewing triumphs.
I highly recommend ordering a little coordinating fabric for napkins or a tablecloth while you’re at it. Pick a few prints, mix and match, and make a table that feels entirely your own.