Hey everyone, today we're making a sunny placemat set that brings a bright circle-stitch print right to your table.
Here we go. Let's talk fabric first. That's the fun part.
This is Flock Together Circle Stitch Yellow Cotton, from In The Beginning Fabrics. The designer is Jason Yenter. It is 100% cotton, and the width of fabric is 44"/45". That is what the product listing tells us, plain and simple.
The color story starts with yellow. The listing also calls it multi color, and I can see why. The print is built on circles and geometric circle shapes. There is a sunny, abstract feel to it too.
Picture that on your table. Just like that, everyday meals get a little lift.
Why this fabric suits a placemat set
A placemat is a perfect showcase for a print like this. Each mat is flat and open. The circles get room to show. Nothing has to be cut tiny or pieced small.
It suits a set, too. Cut four mats from the same length of fabric. The print repeats across all four. Your table looks pulled together, even if every mat catches a slightly different part of the design. Matched, not fussy.
My preference here is a simple turned edge. No binding to cut. No binding to sew down. But you could add binding if you love that framed look, or back each mat with a solid cotton. Completely up to you. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
What you'll need
- 1 1/2 yards of Flock Together Circle Stitch Yellow Cotton, 44"/45" wide, 100% cotton
- Low-loft batting: 4 pieces, each 19" by 13"
- Matching thread for construction, plus a contrasting thread if you want visible quilting
- Your usual basics: rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and a size 80/12 needle
This plan makes four placemats. Each one finishes 18" wide by 12" tall. That is a comfortable everyday size, with room for a plate, glass, and silverware.
Here is the math. You need eight fabric pieces, four tops and four backs, each 19" by 13". Two fit across the 44"/45" width. Four rows of 13" take 52" of length, so 1 1/2 yards cuts them all.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Then square up the edges. Go slow with the ruler. A straight first cut makes everything else easier.
Second, cut your fabric. Cut eight pieces, each 19" wide by 13" tall. Keep the circles running the same direction on every piece. Step back and look before you cut the next one. That one check keeps the set feeling like a set.
Third, make your sandwich. For each mat, lay one back piece right side down. Lay a batting piece on top. Then lay a top piece right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or clip all the way around.
Fourth, sew around all four sides with a 1/4" seam. Leave a 4" opening on one long side for turning. Backstitch at both ends of that opening. Slow down at the corners, or the needle can complain on the layers.
Fifth, trim the corners on a soft diagonal. Do not clip into your stitches. Turn each mat right side out through the opening. Push the corners out gently with a blunt tool. Then press the edges flat, tucking the opening in as you go.
Sixth, topstitch close to the edge all the way around, at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. That closes your opening and finishes the edge in one pass. Alrighty. Want a little more? Echo a circle or two. Keep it light. The print is already doing the pretty work.
My tips from the sewing room
Tip one: test on a scrap first. Stack fabric and batting just like a real mat. Check your stitch length and tension. I have skipped that test before. I have also ripped that test out before. Two minutes now saves you real time later.
Tip two: press, but do not stretch. A good press after turning gives you crisp edges. Crisp edges make a simple project look really really finished.
Tip three: it does not have to be perfect. If one circle lands a little off-center, leave it. You're your own worst critic. Nobody at your table is measuring your mats. Take your time, it's not a race. A finished set on your table beats a perfect plan in a drawer every time.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper fun, and a sweet gift idea too.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Flock Together Circle Stitch Yellow Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
