Hey everyone. Today we're making an elegant set of placemats that can handle weeknight suppers and holiday dinners alike.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the "Colorado Vail" Damask Fabric from Belagio Enterprises.
It is part of the Colorado Collection.
And it is a premium, upholstery-grade textile.
The design is an intricate damask weave.
Woven right into it is a subtle "Vail" pattern.
That pattern mimics the organic shapes found in mountain landscapes.
It is a tonal pattern, not a printed one.
That gives you a multi-dimensional effect, with real depth and elegance.
Really really pretty, y'all.
It is made from 100 percent polyester.
That gives you a durable surface for daily use.
It resists shrinking, stretching, and wrinkling.
It is rated for 30,000 double rubs.
That qualifies it as a heavy-duty fabric.
So it suits high-traffic use, residential or light commercial.
It comes 56 inches wide.
It typically has a 15-inch vertical repeat.
We will work with that repeat, not against it.
Completely up to you which part of the pattern you feature.
The project: a placemat set
We are making four placemats.
Each one finishes at 18 inches wide by 13 inches tall.
That is a roomy, standard placemat size.
Why does this fabric suit placemats?
First, placemats live a hard life.
A heavy-duty fabric is exactly what you want there.
Second, that substantial weight lies nice and flat.
Your placemats will look tailored, not floppy.
Third, that mountain-inspired damask was made to be seen up close.
Super duper easy, folks.
Materials
- 2 yards of "Colorado Vail" Damask Fabric, for fronts and backs with room to match the pattern
- 1 yard of low-loft cotton batting or fusible fleece, for a little body
- All-purpose thread to match, plus a size 90/14 needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and marking pen
- Pins or clips, and your sewing machine
- Optional: a point turner for crisp corners
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well.
Then lay it out and study that Vail pattern.
Remember, the vertical repeat is typically 15 inches.
So each mat can show one main motif run.
Choose a pretty section for the first front.
Then match that same placement for the other three.
I like the motif centered, side to side.
Completely up to you, though.
Cut eight fabric pieces, each 19 inches by 14 inches.
Cut four batting pieces the same size.
Slow down on those cuts.
A straight edge now means a straight placemat later.
Next, layer one front right side up.
Place one back right side down on top of it.
Place one batting piece on top of that.
Pin or clip all the way around.
Sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam.
Leave a 5-inch opening on one long side for turning.
Set your stitch length around 3.0.
That is roughly 8 to 9 stitches per inch.
Slow down at the corners, or the needle snaps on the layers.
Ask me how I know.
Pivot at each corner with the needle down.
Then trim the corners at an angle, close to the stitching.
Trim the batting a little closer, too.
That keeps the corners from getting bulky.
Turn the placemat right side out through that opening.
Push those corners out gently with a point turner.
Press the placemat flat, all the way around.
Fold the opening edges in, and press them, too.
Now topstitch around all four sides, 1/4 inch from the edge.
That one pass closes your opening and gives a clean frame.
Just like that, you have one placemat done.
Repeat for the other three.
Tips from my table
Match your four fronts before you cut everything.
Same motif placement makes a set look intentional.
Test your tension on a scrap first.
Two minutes of testing saves an hour of ripping out.
I once cut a whole set with the motif running sideways.
We turned them, called it a design choice, and laughed.
Press after every step, not just at the end.
That is your permission beat, folks.
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
Nobody is grading the underside of your placemats.
Take your time.
It is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
We are just letting one sturdy, lovely fabric dress up the table.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the "Colorado Vail" Damask Fabric at Linda's Electric Quilters.
