Give Thanks- Mayflower Place Setting

Larissa from Just Another Day in Paradise

Why hello there to all of Dee Dee's fabulous readers. My name is Larissa from Just Another Day in Paradise. I am so happy to be joining this Thanksgiving blog party. I love Thanksgiving. I love everything about what it represents. One of my favorite parts of this holiday is gathering as friends and family. Of course the food doesn't hurt either!

These past several years I have enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving. I enjoy compiling my menu. I LOVE putting together a pretty table. Now that my wee ones are Little Men they are involved at our Thanksgiving meal which means Momma gets to set a kids table.

So today I am sharing with you a tutorial for a fun and easy place setting that will add to the adorableness of your kiddos and their very own Thanksgiving table.

You will need:

1/4-1/2 yard of dark brown felt

1/4 yard of muslin small dowels

embroidery thread

coordinating thread

fallish candy

Making your boats:

for each boat you will need to cut the following-

four rectangular pieces with a short side measuring 4 1/2 inches high, 6 1/2 inches long, and a tall side at 5 inches high.

2 muslin squares measuring 6 inches long by 5 inches high.

1 piece of felt for the bottom that is aprox 6 1/2 inches long and at the widest part 3 inches across. You will cut it in this type of pea pod shape.

Each boat side will be two pieces thick.Pin the 2 pieces together. Ignore the muslin in this picture...that step will come later.

Sew along the top edge of each side of the boat.

In order to create the boats "wood plank" sides, sew lines all the way across, measuring about 1+ inch apart.

Now that your 4 pieces of felt have turned into 2 sides, pin the two sides together right sides OUT.

The reason that you pin the 2 pieces right sides out is that you are going to close up either end with a blanket stitch. My sewing machine has that function so I took the easy way out and let my machine do all the work. You could also do your blanket stitch by hand.

Once your sides are sewn shut, turn inside out. Pin your bottom piece to the bottom of your boat, making sure that the narrow ends are at the blanket stitched ends...I would use the appropriate boating terms here if I knew them, but alas I am not sure where Port is!

Sew around the entire edge. Then flip out your lovely little Mayflower.

For the sail-
On one muslin square embroider a kiddos name... preferably one that will be using the table :). I lightly trace the name and then go over it with the thread. For this project I used a larger needle and the thread at its thickest.

Once the name is in place, pin the 2 muslin squares together right sides facing. Sew around edges except for a small hole to turn out. Clip edges before turning out.

Turn out sail and then iron flat. Sew around the edges for a finishing touch and to close the hole.

To assemble your sail, take a short dowel...you might have to cut off several inches...your new sail, and two strips of felt measuring aprox 1/2 inch by 2 inches.

Put two dabs of hot glue on the outside edges of each felt strip. With the dowel placed in the center of the back of the sail, glue the strip around where the dowel hits the top of the sail and the bottom.

Fill your Mayflower with candy...yes I realize they might ruin their dinner, but I am pretty sure you sneaked a spoonful or two of potatoes, so I say it is fair.

Place the dowel in the center of the candy...it will stay as long as too many m&m's don't go missing.

Set at your kiddos table on each plate of your little guests. They will LOVE it.