I ♥ hot pads! I have tons of them. In fact, I'm zany enough that when I throw a dinner party, I actually coordinate my hot pads with my table setting. Yes... I need professional help. These awesome quilted hot pads are super simple, and each one uses just a 10" x 10" square for the front and back. You might have some scraps laying around that would be perfect. Our design is reversible, which is a two-for-one deal, and the insulating batting between the layers makes them functional as well as fabulous.

If you want to jump start a project, start with something off-the-shelf and add your own sewn touches to make it unique. That's what we did with this set of clever dish towels. We started with plain white towels from Crate and Barrel, then added three fabric bands with contrasting topstitching. The color and pattern really pops off the crisp white background. I can't guarantee folks will be fighting to help you dry the dishes, but I can promise the towels will look fabulous hanging on the rack.

We love the cloth napkin here at Sew4Home! It's a green alternative to paper; it's super simple to make; and it adds a cheery splash of color to your table. That's a trifecta of winning reasons to give it a try today. We used a different fabric for each of our six napkin samples, because mixing and matching is fun.

Here's a new take on the standard rectangular placemat. These have a slightly trapezoidal shape (okay ... I just gotta say, Trapezoidal sounds like a character from Fiddler on the Roof ... dontcha think??). The unique shape allows them to fit nicely around our round kitchen table. And, they're reversible, so you can spill breakfast on one side, then flip them over to spill lunch on the other. You could also alternate sides around the table for a fun and colorful look. The coordinating binding ties it all together.

On Wednesday of this week, we featured our Heart Happy woman's apron. Today it's the guy's turn to shine. Made in the same longer-style French baker's cut, our men's version goes even further down that road, using a smooth white cotton twill with cream linen ties. You'll notice the cream linen matches the woman's apron ties, and we used a scrap of that apron's Paula Prass Woodland Delight in Brown Bloom for a coordinating pocket heart. You know, they say the couple who cooks together in matching Sew4Home aprons is 47% happier than the average couple. Don't even try to prove that stat.

Patterned in the longer style of a French baker's apron, our woman's Valentines apron is the perfect accessory to don when lovingly whipping up a dinner for two. Believe it or not, it takes just a single yard of fabric thanks to our clever cutting plan. We even supply you with a pattern to download to help you cut the arm hole curves. Start to finish, you can easily make this apron in an hour. In fact, check back this coming Friday to see our matching men's version. Make them both and cook together in style.

For each set of Themed Room projects we do here at Sew4Home, we like come up with at least one fun thing to do with all your leftover fabric scraps. For our Citrus Holiday Dining Room, it's these cute tea towels trimmed with a simple eight-square patchworked row and highlighted with bright red jumbo ric rac. They'll be fightin' over who gets to dry the dishes!

The hostess apron is a nod to the more elegant entertaining of days gone by, when a beautiful apron was a critical part of your party ensemble. We've brought back this vintage accessory, but with a bright new spin to match the playful palette of our Citrus Holiday projects. We combined five different Heather Bailey fabrics, then added a deep wine red for the waistband and all the ties. Flouncy skirt tiers and a bold bow we tied jauntily at the shoulder are the finishing touches that make this apron a stand out.

We know Sew4Home is all about home dec sewing, but every once in a while, we like to branch out. Besides, we were a little afraid our cool Patio Party linens were stealing all the glory. I hate it when the placemats look better than me! Aprons are all the rage right now because they are so fun and easy to make. Try this cute little number, and show off your own party style.