Chalkboard Placemats

I wanted to get some placemats for a birthday favor at my daughter's birthday party.  I found some
chalkboard placemats and thought those could be made instead of bought.  Well I did find some chalkboard fabric online after asking all of the fabric shops around me who did not know it existed.  I put a design together.  My mom helped me out A LOT with all of the sewing.  We used iron bonding on the material before sewing since we were unsure how the chalkboard fabric would work.  We put two pockets on the front.  I could not find small erasers or sponges so I had to cut some up.  I also did not know about priming chalkboards before the party.  It might have made them all work a little better.  Apparently this is something needed for all chalkboards, even chalkboard paint and chalkboard fabric.

I used:
9 x 11 size pieces of chalkboard fabric which I found here

12 x 18 size pieces for backing and background
4 x 4 size pieces for the pockets
10" ribbon for closing

The pocket squares were folded with a 1/2" on each side.  We used the iron-on adhesive to keep those seams.  Then used more to iron them onto the background and then sewed them on permanently.  The chalkboard got iron-on adhesive strips on it as well.  The iron did not hurt the chalkboard, but we did still put the iron on the backside.  These were then sewed on as well.  Then the background was just sewed onto the backing, with 1/2" turned in on both pieces.  While sewing these two together, the closure ribbon was also sewed in.  They turned out pretty nice. 

This project actually ended up being a lot of work.  But they did turn out nice.  Although the materials were much cheaper than if I were to buy the placemats, the labor would have added up to the cost.  Since I did not have to though, it was nice to save that cash.