maker monday

Maker Monday: Duct Tape Placemat

Make meal time more colorful with a woven Duct Tape Placemat, this week’s Maker Monday project. The placemat sports an easy wipe-off surface, making after-dinner clean up a breeze.

Duct tape can be found in a variety of colors and prints. Pick two or three to create a patchwork quilt effect. Or go with standard silver duct tape to give your placemat an industrial, Warholian touch.

maker monday

Supplies:

Duct tape

Scissors

maker monday

Cut the duct tape into 15-inch strips. You will need 24 in all. We used 12 strips of our main color, then six strips each of the two other colors. Fold each strip in half lengthwise to seal. Smooth the strip flat. If the edges don’t match up perfectly, simply smooth the adhesive edge over. Don’t worry if some strips are a bit longer. You will be trimming the edges once the weaving is complete.

maker monday

Now comes the fun part — weaving! Set your main color strips side by side, matching up the top edges. Weave your contrasting color across the top. The first few rows tend to be loose, but you can tighten up your weave as you go. Continue to weave and tighten until all 12 horizontal strips are in place.

maker monday

Trim the overhanging edges as needed.

maker monday

Choose a color for your border. Cut four 17-inch strips and edge about halfway onto the last weave on each side.

maker monday

Lift and turn the placemat over.

maker monday

Fold the border edges over to seal. Use small pieces of duct tape to finish the corners.

maker monday

Flip it over and there you have it, a bright shiny placemat with plenty of mileage.

For more Maker Monday projects and other fun stuff for kids, visit the Kidsburgh Activities page.