Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Splendid Pieced Placemat


What you will need to make a set of 10 placemats:
  • Fabric for front (I chose 4 different colors) 3/4 yard of each color
  • Backing - 2 Yards
  • Batting - 2 Yards
  • Tread
  • Sewing machine
If you want to just make a set of two, you will need 20" of a yard of fabric for the front, 17" of a yard for the backing and 2-16.5" square pieces of batting.

It is always a good idea to wash, dry and iron your fabric before using it.
Take the material you have chosen for the front and square it so the ends are even.  Cut each piece into 4.5" wide strips.  Sew 1 strip of each color together using a 1/4" seam allowance.


Once sewn together, lay out and cut into 4.5" strips. 
Since I made 10 placemats, I needed 10 strips of each row. The end strip was just flipped for the other side and the middle one is the same just flipped as well.
Now it's time to sew each row together.
The trick to get your squares to line up, is to iron the seams on each strip a different way, so they kind of butt up against each other. *Notice the top seam is ironed up and the bottom seam is ironed down.  I also sewed the strips together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Once all the strips are sewn together, iron flat.

Now we are going to cut out the backing and batting. Cut a 16.5"x16.5" square out of both the backing and batting. 
Layer everything like the picture above.  Sew around the outside with a 1/4" seam, remember to leave a gap wide enough so you will still be able to turn it.  Miter or trim the corners so they aren't bulky.

Once they are all sewn and trimmed, turn each one inside out so the front and back are showing and the batting is now in the middle.
After you have turned them, iron them flat and push the corners out. Turn in the gap and iron, then pin to keep it together.

Now it is time to quilt!
First I stitched all the way around my placemat really close to the edge to close the gap. Next I did a second row of stitches just inside my first ones. Next, I quilted an "X" through the middle of my placemat. I finished my quilting by sewing just inside the middle 4 squares.
Sit back and admire your fine work (before you need to buckle down and finish the other nine you cut out).  Congratulations, now you have a set of awesome homemade placemats!
 
I definitely want to make more, it would be fun to search through your scraps and see what you can come up with! If you don't use the strips method you would just need to cut each square 4.5" and go from there. Easy Peasy!!

We would LOVE to see your projects. Send us your pictures so we can show you off on Mondays, also if you have any questions please email us at thepolkadotumbrella@gmx.com and we will help you in any way we can.



12 comments:

Unknown said...

I love these! Beautiful colors & you did wonderful work on them!
Kudos!
Saw this link from Tatertots & Jello on facebook.

Angie said...

Beautiful! I would love to get together and learn from you!

Unknown said...

Darling! I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my "featured" button.

Melinda said...

These are so cute and a good way to get your feet wet if you don't quilt. I think I'll need to give these a try. :) Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

These are so cute! I love the fabric you used. Thanks for the tutorial. I think I'll make some for a friends birthday!

Unknown said...

I LOVE these!!! I'm almost wondering if these would help my autistic son grasp "his" space at the table... hmm! Quick and easy enough to at least try, right?

ShannonSews said...

I love your new placemats! The colors and patterns you chose go so perfectly together. Very pretty!!

Deanna said...

I have been needing new placemats AND meaning to learn to quilt! I really appreciate the tutorial and encouragement - thank you!!

Unknown said...

Sew neat & nifty! What a creative idea for placemats. Glad to have found your blog via Funky Junk & happy to be a new follower. Please share your creativity with my followers, link to my blog bash K.I.S.S. :)

http://thetatteredtag.blogspot.com

Shabby Soul said...

I love these! I have been wanting to make me some place-mats! I am gonna start on these soon! Thanks for positing!

Unknown said...

Thanks bunches for linking your fun & creative placemat's to my blog bash K.I.S.S., always appreciated. :)

http://thetatteredtag.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Hi, Erica! lovely placemats!

thanks for linking up last week! hope to see you again this week! have a nice weekend!

http://tosewwithlove.blogspot.com/2011/02/crafty-saturday-link-up-party-no-9.html