Today we are going to show you how to make a quilted placemat using fat quarters!
I shared this tutorial awhile back over at The Polka Dot Chair but today, since it is the first day of spring, and the weather in my neighborhood is still gloomy, I wanted to share something that felt like spring…and these placemats made out of our Just Add Sugar Fabric are just the trick.
So, let’s get started!
All you need to make each placemat is:
*2 Fat Quarters (I used coordinating prints so the placemats can be reversible!)
* Fusible Fleece (a piece measuring 14″ x 17″)
*Thread
*Sewing Machine
*Iron
*Scissors
Once you have your supplies gathered all you need to do is complete the following 6 steps:
#1. Cut each of your fat quarters to measure 15″ x 18″.
#2. Cut your fusible fleece to measure 14″ x 17″. Iron the fusible fleece onto the back side of one of your 15″ x 18″ fabric pieces….making sure to center it in the middle of the fabric.
#3. Place your two 15″ x 18″ pieces of fabric on top of one another, rights sides together, aligning all four sides. Now stitch around the perimeter of the fabric. Use a generous quarter inch seam allowance and leave a 2″ opening so that you can turn your placemat right sides out.
#4. Using the 2″ opening turn your placemat right sides out. Iron flat. *Note: For crisper corners clip corners before turning and use a point turner to push out corner tips.
#5. Top stitch around the entire perimeter of the placemat using a quarter inch seam allowance. Pay special attention when stitching across the 2 inch opening to make sure both top and bottom fabric of the placemat is stitched closed.
At this point you can be finished with your placemat and it will be darling.
However, if you would like to quilt it simply….
#6. Find a design element in your fabric to quilt along and stitch along that element. On this placemat I used the stripes as my guide…but…if your fabric does not have an obvious design element use a ruler and a chalk pencil to draw either stripes or a grid and then follow those lines with your sewing machine. The fusible fleece will give your quilting stitches a cute texture without being too poofy.
And that’s it! Easy right?
Now you can make them for all of your fun culinary gatherings!
And add a touch of spring (or autumn or winter) to any of those gatherings!
