April 24, 2016

Quick cutlery holder

At our 50th wedding anniversary party last week, we had a sit-down dinner in our home with some of our friends. We had three tables to accommodate 25 of us. Rather than trying to put lots of dishes on the tables and passing them around between three tables so that everyone could help themselves, I decided to lay them out on our servery. That way, everyone could walk past and serve themselves from each dish and then sit wherever they liked at the tables.


I thought it would be easier if the cutlery was also available from the servery. I was going to wrap the knives and forks in the serviettes but I have seen cutlery slipping out or people dropping them using this method, so I wanted to come up with something that was a bit more substantial.


My answer was a wallet to hold the serviette and knife and fork. They were super easy to make. I used some pretty cards that were already scored for folding. They measure 15 x 21 cm (6 x 8¼ inches):


I cut them on the fold line to give two cutlery holders out of each card, then folded them again in half lengthwise. I used the back of the cutting knife to score the card lightly which made them easy to fold:


Then it was over to the sewing machine to sew down the side and across the lower edge. (Reminder to self: Change the needle before you start the next project. It won't be very sharp after all that cardboard sewing!)


Then it was on to the serviette folding. I folded it diagonally to give me a centre crease line, then opened it up and folded the side edge into the centre crease:


The other side was then folded to the centre crease to match:


 All it needed then was to fold the side again into the centre:


and the other side to match:


Then they could all be popped into their cutlery holder:


I stood them up in a pretty pot and had some sweet comments about how great and practical they were ... and they looked good too!

After all the party preparations, it was lovely to spend a relaxing week away with our local bird-watching club enjoying the wonderful Australian bush, with plenty of sunshine and lots of birds that we don't normally see, so no sewing to show you!

PS - Photo at the top is our second Anniversary Cake - we know how to celebrate!!!

Val

8 comments:

Createology said...

Very clever of you and so thoughtful for your guests. Happy 50th Anniversary and many more...

Susan said...

Happy Anniversary! 50 years is quite a milestone!
What a clever idea for entertaining!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Happy anniversary. That cutlery holder is such a great idea. And so beautiful too. Thanks for the directions.

Nanna Chel said...

What a lovely idea, Val. It sounds like you had a wonderful celebration.

Susan said...

Very clever!! I'll file that one away...though I might have swapped my needle to an old one before I started ....

Anonymous said...

The cake looks scrumptious. I'm so happy you had this terrific celebration with family and friends. What a great idea for the cutlery and napkin. You are just so clever, Val! I'm glad you enjoyed a bird-watching week away, too. That had to be peaceful and relaxing.

Carla Fiedler said...

Happy Anniversary! Congratulations on 50 years! What a witness to young people today!

Gina E. said...

Congratulations on your 50th anniversary, Val and Mr L! That was a nifty idea to hold the cutlery, and the cake looks fabulous!