New Placemats and a Tutorial

I finally replaced the 12+ year old placemats for the kitchen this week. Do you think I needed to?

So I got busy in my stash and found a print I liked for the borders and then a variety of prints that went with it. These are my new placemats! I love this technique I used because the quilting is all done for you as you sew.

Here is how I made them...

For each placemat you will need:

-backing cut 15 x 19

-batting cut 14 x 18

-4 border strips cut 2-1/4 x 12-1/2

-binding to go around placemat

-strips from assorted fabrics cut 9" long and a variety of widths- I used 1-1/4" , 1-1/2" and 1-3/4" wide. Each placemat I made used 14 to 15 strips.

Next, set up your sewing machine with a walking foot if you have one.

Layer the backing and batting. Then mark a rectangle in the middle of the batting 9 x 13. That's 2-1/2" in on each side.

Line up the first inside strip with the end mark on the batting. I started on the left side and worked right.

Place the next strip on top, right sides together and sew with about a 1/4" seam. Back stitch at the top and bottom.  For this project it doesn't have to be perfect. Flip over and lightly press making sure you don't get your batting with your iron.

Keep going lining up your pieces with your marked lines until you reach the mark on the other end.

Next mark a rectangle on your inside strips 8-1/2" x 12.5". You will use these lines to line up your border fabrics for sewing.

Pin the long side borders down lining them up with the marking you just made. Sew with a 1/4" seam. 

Flip the borders out and press lightly. Then line up the borders for the short side with the markings. These borders will be a little too long but we will trim them later.

Flip and press again. Next baste around the outside edge of the placemat just inside the 1/4" seam allowance. Trim the excess batting and backing off the placemat.

Now you are ready to prepare your binding ( however you like to do it) and sew it on.

After the binding is on check quickly for any folds in the fabric. Then finish sewing down the binding.

Ta-da! You are done! Enjoy your brand new placemats. I'm enjoying mine!

And just a peek at my pineapple block progress...8 more done!

Happy stitching!