Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn a bundle of 10-inch squares into a fresh set of placemats for your table.
Here we go.
First, let's look at the fabric
This bundle is 10in Squares Coco, 42pcs/bundle.
You get 42 pre-cut squares in the bundle. Each square measures 10 inches by 10 inches.
The tags list it as a cotton pre-cut, from Checker Distributor. That matters because placemats get used hard — under hot plates, catching crumbs, in the wash a lot. Cotton handles that really really well.
Because these are already cut to 10 inches square, you skip the long cutting session. Open the bundle, press lightly, and you are ready to lay out your set. Just like that.
Lay your squares out and group the ones you love together. Completely up to you.
The project: a set of four placemats
We're making four placemats, each finishing at about 12.5 inches by 18 inches. A dinner plate sits comfortably, with room for silverware.
Why do these squares suit placemats so well? Each top starts with two whole squares sewn side by side, so you get a big, simple panel with very little cutting. A narrow border cut from a third square brings the height up to a proper placemat size. Three squares per placemat, twelve squares for the set of four.
That leaves you 30 squares. Make a second set for a gift, or save them for a matching runner. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Materials list
- One bundle of 10in Squares Coco, 42pcs/bundle — you will use 12 of the 42 squares for four placemats
- Backing fabric, about 1 1/4 yards, cut into four pieces about 14 by 20 inches
- Thin, low-loft batting, four pieces about 14 by 20 inches
- Binding fabric, about 1/2 yard, or leftover squares cut into 2.5-inch strips
- Piecing and quilting thread, 50-weight is a good everyday choice
- A size 80/12 needle for piecing and quilting
- A rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips, and a walking foot if you have one
Brief steps
1. Choose and press. Pick 12 squares, three per placemat. Press them flat. Decide which two will be the center panel and which one will become the borders.
2. Sew the center panel. Sew two squares together along one edge with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. That panel measures 10 inches by 19.5 inches. Press the seam to one side, then trim the long ends so the panel is 10 inches by 18 inches.
3. Cut and add the borders. From the third square, cut four strips 1.75 inches by 10 inches. Sew two end to end for the top border and two for the bottom, trim each to 18 inches, and sew on with a 1/4-inch seam. Each border finishes at 1.25 inches, so your top is now about 12.5 by 18 inches.
4. Layer and baste. Lay a backing piece right side down, add batting, then the top right side up. Smooth from the center out and pin every 3 to 4 inches.
5. Quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch along the center seam and the border seams. Then add one or two echo lines about 1/4 inch inside the borders, at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. A walking foot helps keep layers from shifting. Slow down at the corners or the needle can deflect.
6. Bind all four. Join your 2.5-inch binding strips end to end. You will need about 64 inches of binding per placemat. Sew it on, fold it to the back, and stitch it down. Repeat for the other three. Just like that, a full set.
Practical tips from my table
Placemats need to lie flat. Use thin batting, not the lofty kind you love in a bed quilt. A puffy placemat will rock a coffee mug, and nobody wants that test at breakfast.
Check your first placemat before you chain-piece the rest. I once cut all my border strips a quarter inch too narrow. I caught it on the first one and fixed the cutting. Make one, measure it, then go.
And here's your permission beat. It doesn't have to be perfect. If one placemat is an eighth of an inch narrower than its sisters, set the table anyway. You're your own worst critic, I promise. Nobody at dinner is bringing a ruler. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
These make a super duper easy gift, too. Stack four, tie them with a leftover strip, and you are done.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 10in Squares Coco, 42pcs/bundle at Linda's Electric Quilters.
