Painted oilcloth was once a household staple. Today's versions are versatile and simple to work with -- their cut edges won't fray -- and their colorful designs make cheerful backgrounds for casual summer meals.

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Strawberry-festooned place mats brighten a breakfast table. These mats are double-sided; choose one pattern, or mix and match.

Trace the outline of another place mat onto oilcloth. Cut two pieces for each mat; spray reverse sides lightly with spray mount, and press together with your hands. Next cut out final shape and machinestitch edges, leaving a seam allowance. Trim edges with scallop fabric shears, or finish a straight edge with bias tape.

If you had walked into any middle-class American kitchen nearly a century ago, you almost certainly would have found a table covered in oilcloth. Marketed to homemakers, it was durable, stylish, and -- at as little as 11 cents a yard -- a bargain. Oilcloth came in solid colors, bold geometric designs, and ornate patterns that mimicked fancy woven damasks. It was not, however, fancy. A heavy canvas or cotton fabric rendered waterproof with a coating of linseed oil and paint, it was a basic, everyday cloth that was easy to clean and inexpensive to replace when it wore thin from use.

Although original oilcloth is hard to find -- it fell out of style, and what remained either disintegrated or was discarded -- modern versions have a loyal following. Made of plastic or vinyl woven with cotton, updated oilcloth is as long-lasting and as adaptable as its predecessors. Use it anywhere you want a splash of color and a washable surface: on a breakfast tray, in a drawer, or over a favorite cookbook. And of course, use oilcloth on your table. When you wipe away those mealtime spills with ease, you'll thank those who came before you for inventing it.