Picnics are synonymous with summer, sunny skies, the bright green of fresh cut lawns, colorful flowers in hanging baskets on porch fronts and in window boxes. Of course, family and friends to gather together add to summer’s bliss to laugh, reminisce and enjoy great foods. Easy-to-sew projects to add to memorable summer gatherings take little time at all.

Consider sewing Mason jar sleeves for an added pop of color to delicious homemade foods packed into canning jars, a bandana table runner to decorate the picnic table, a covered casserole or pie tote and a teepee for kids for a respite from the hot sun.

Mason Jar Sleeves – a few fabric pieces, batting, pony tail holder and button will make a sleeve. Cut two pieces of fabric and one of thin batting approximately 12-inches by 4-inches or fabric and batting pieces sized to go around the type of canning jar to be used. Layer fabric pieces right-sides facing (with pony tail holder laying inside and against one short edge) and place all on top of batting. Stitch around in a 1/4-inch seam leaving an opening for turning; be sure to have stitches catch one end of the pony tail holder. Turn, press, hand stitch opening closed. Wrap around the jar and determine best placement for the button that the stretchy pony tail holder will go over. Adds a dressy look to the canning jar.

Bandana Table Runner - red, white, and blue color bandanas make for a jubilant patriotic theme or choose colors to coordinate with celebratory family events – weddings, graduations, birthdays and reunions come to mind. Bandanas are thrifty to buy and come in a rainbow mix of colors. Stitch two rows of bandanas along their side seams, four (or more) to a side. Generally, eight bandanas can make the table runner. Back the runner with a complementary solid, muslin or printed fabric piece. Stitch the two rows of assembled bandanas onto the backing fabric piece. Pink or serge the edges for a quick to make picnic table runner.

Covered Casserole or Pie Carry Tote - 1/2-yard each of two coordinating print fabrics or a combination of a print and solid, one-half yard of cotton batting and four metal or plastic D-rings. Cut two 18-inch by 18-inch squares out of fabrics and one of batting the same size. Layer the three together - batting on the bottom, fabrics right-sides facing each other on top. Stitch around all sides, leaving an opening for turning. Trim seams, clip corners, turn right-sides out, press. Stitch opening closed.

Quilt a few lines by sewing diagonally or in any free-motion pattern to secure the three layers. To make the carry handle, cut a fabric piece 6-inches by approximately 22-inches. Fold lengthwise right sides together. Stitch down the long length to secure, turn right sides out and press. Hand stitch short ends closed. An option to make the carry handle sturdier - stitch a wide piece of webbing down the center of the handle. Attach rings at corner points by turning a corner over a ring and stitch securely.

To use, cover dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to protect contents. Place dish centered on top of the now padded square. Thread strap to poke through all the rings forming a handle to knot securely. Best to place one hand under the covered casserole/pie to steady when carrying.

Shade Teepee - some fabric, old tablecloth, or painters' drop cloth, some rope or jute twine and a few long dowel rods, broom handles or painting extension poles (four at least) make a charming teepee for little ones to sit in (easy to collapse and carry too) and provide shade from the sun. Set up the dowel rods in a spread-out shape and where all rods cross at the top. Wrap the rope or twine several times around the top to secure. Drape the fabric around the rods and staple the fabric at various places along the length of the rods. Cut fabric if necessary to leave an opening.

Summer picnics are great treasures for family and friends for memory making long after the warmth of summer begins to fade.

Sew happy, sew inspired.