Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to sew a cheerful set of four quilted placemats.
Here we go. The fabric is Bright Pink Coral Flamingo Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard. It is a cotton fabric from Poppie Cotton. It comes from the Country Confetti collection.
The width is 44"/45". That is a useful width for table projects. You can cut two panels side by side from one width. Just like that, you get a lot from every yard.
The color is right there in the name. Bright Pink Coral Flamingo. It is bright and happy. It brings a table to life fast, folks.
I like quilting cotton for placemats. It presses clean. It cuts clean. It sews smooth. And you can wash these and lay them right back out.
The project: a set of four placemats
We are making four placemats. Each one finishes at about 12 inches by 18 inches. That is a nice size for a plate, a glass, and silverware.
Why does this fabric suit it? A placemat is flat and simple. That bright pink gets to be the whole show. You do not need piecing or fancy blocks to make it pretty.
You have options here. Use this fabric for tops and backs, like mine. Or use it for tops and a solid from your stash for backs. My preference is this fabric on both sides. Then every placemat is reversible. Completely up to you. And if I can do this, y'all can do it.
Materials list
- 1 1/2 yards of Bright Pink Coral Flamingo Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard
- Cotton batting, about 1 yard, or four pieces cut 13 inches by 19 inches
- All-purpose quilting thread in a matching color
- A size 80/12 needle for regular quilting cotton
- A rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
- Pins or clips, and a good iron
Those are honest numbers. One and a half yards gives you four tops and four backs, each cut 13 inches by 19 inches, with small scraps left over.
Brief steps
Step one, press your fabric well. Square up the edge first. Take your time. A crooked first cut makes every panel crooked.
Step two, cut eight fabric panels, each 13 inches wide by 19 inches long. Four will be tops. Four will be backs. Then cut four batting pieces the same size.
Step three, make a little sandwich for each placemat. Lay a back panel right side up. Lay a top panel right side down on top of it. Lay the batting on top of that. Line up all the edges and pin well.
Step four, sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave a 4-inch opening open on one long side for turning. Backstitch at the start and the end. I aim for about 8 to 10 stitches per inch.
Step five, clip the corners at an angle, but do not clip into your stitching. Turn the placemat right side out through that opening. Push the corners out gently with a point turner. Press flat, and tuck the opening edges in even.
Step six, topstitch around the whole placemat about 1/4 inch from the edge. That closes the opening. Then add one more line if you like. A simple stitch in the ditch, or a gentle meander, holds the layers together. Just like that, you are done. Repeat for the other three.
Practical tips from my table
Here is a warning at the right moment. Slow down at the corners. You are sewing through fabric and batting there. Slow down there, or the needle can snap.
Want a thicker placemat? Add a second layer of batting. Want it thinner for easy washing? Stay with one layer. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Both ways work really really well.
Here is a mistake I have made. I once sewed all the way around and forgot the opening. Oh my goodness. The fix was simple. I took out about 4 inches of stitching, turned it, and topstitched it closed. Check for that opening before you turn.
And here is the permission beat. These placemats do not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. If one corner is a tiny bit soft, nobody at your table will ever know. Take your time. It is not a race.
Press the finished placemats really well. A crisp edge makes the set look finished. Super duper cute, and super duper fun for supper or a birthday.
Alrighty. Set those placemats out where you can enjoy them.
Thank y'all for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Bright Pink Coral Flamingo Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
