Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to make a set of four placemats that let one big, bold eagle print do all the decorating.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric First
This one is American Freedom #34 Blue Big Eagle from Marshall Dry Goods.
It is 100% cotton. It is 45 inches wide. It is sold by the yard.
The full name tells the story. American Freedom #34 Blue Big Eagle 45" wide Fabric per yard.
That big eagle is the whole charm here. You do not need tiny piecing. You do not need applique.
Cut it big. Center the eagle. Let the print show. Just like that.
I love a print like this for the table. It reads clearly from across the room.
The Project: A Placemat Set
We are making four placemats. Finished size is about 12 by 18 inches each.
That fits a plate, silverware, and a glass with room to spare. Why does this fabric suit it? Three good reasons.
First, 100% cotton is easy to press. Crisp edges matter on a placemat. Cotton gives you those crisp edges.
Second, the 45-inch width works beautifully. You can cut two placemat fronts side by side across one width.
Third, the eagle needs space. A placemat front is one flat panel. Nothing gets chopped into tiny pieces.
We are not reinventing the wheel here. We are framing a great print. Super duper fun.
Materials List
- 1 yard of American Freedom #34 Blue Big Eagle for the fronts
- 1 yard of a coordinating cotton for the backs
- Low-loft cotton batting, enough for four pieces about 12 by 18 inches
- All-purpose thread to blend with the background
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat
- Pins or clips
- Iron and pressing surface
- Sewing machine with a standard presser foot
One yard makes four fronts. That gives you a matched set for the table.
Want six placemats instead? Get an extra half yard. Completely up to you.
Cutting the Pieces
For each placemat, cut one front at 13 inches by 19 inches. That front is your showpiece. Center an eagle on each one if you can.
Cut one backing piece the same size, 13 by 19 inches. Then cut one batting piece at about 12 1/2 by 18 1/2 inches.
Take a second before you cut. Turn each front piece around. Make sure the eagle is not upside down on half your set.
Ask me how I know. Yep. I have done that. Check first. It saves seam ripper work.
Brief Steps
Step 1: Layer it up. Lay the backing right side down. Center the batting on top. Lay the front on top of that, right side up.
Step 2: Pin the edges. Smooth from the center out. Pin around all four sides. Take your time here.
Step 3: Quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch around the edge if you like, or add a few straight lines across. About 10 to 12 stitches per inch works nicely for cotton like this.
You can echo the shape of the print, too. Or keep it plain and let the eagle shine. Completely up to you.
Step 4: Trim it square. Trim each placemat down to 12 1/2 by 18 1/2 inches. Square those corners. Slow down with the rotary cutter.
Step 5: Bind the edges. Bind with 2 1/2-inch strips, just like a little quilt. Fold, press, and stitch all the way around.
Miter the corners if you like. Or round them and use bias binding. Both ways work just fine.
Step 6: Press and set the table. Press the edges flat. Set them out. Done.
Practical Tips From My Table
Press before you sew. I know. Pressing feels slow.
But a pressed layer sews flat. A wavy layer fights you the whole way. Really really simple fix, y'all.
Watch your eagle placement, too. Fussy cut those front panels. If the eagle sits at the very edge, part of it disappears into the binding.
Give that print breathing room. Leave at least an inch from the cut edge. You will be glad you did.
And here is your permission beat, friends. Your binding may wobble a little. Your corners may not be perfect.
It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. Nobody at your table is grading seams.
Take your time. It is not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the American Freedom #34 Blue Big Eagle 45" wide Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
