Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to sew a cheerful set of four placemats that brighten up any table.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This is Basics Yellow Polka Dots from Santee Printworks.
It is a 100% cotton quilting fabric.
It measures 44"/45" wide.
It is sold by the yard.
The brand is Santee Printworks, from TC Studio.
The collection is called Basics.
The color is Yellow.
The pattern is classic polka dots on yellow.
The product notes call it a dependable dot basic.
It suits bindings, backgrounds, and scrap quilts.
I would add placemats to that list, y'all.
This yellow is pure sunshine.
It feels happy without trying too hard.
And those polka dots are friendly, not fussy.
You do not have to match them at every seam.
Cut it, sew it, and the print behaves.
Because it is a basic, it plays well with others too.
Pair it with white, soft gray, or a sweet floral.
Completely up to you.
Why it suits a placemat set
We are making four placemats.
Each one finishes at 12" by 18".
That is a good, generous table size.
There is room for a plate, silverware, and a glass.
No crowding, no fuss.
Placemats are a perfect first project, folks.
They are flat, straight, and forgiving.
You get to practice cutting, layering, and topstitching.
And you finish all four in one afternoon.
This sunny dot print does the heavy lifting.
One big piece per placemat front.
No piecing needed at all.
The dots give you pattern and cheer in one step.
Super duper cute on a breakfast table, if you ask me.
They also make a really really sweet housewarming gift.
Sew a set, tie them with ribbon, and you are done.
Materials list
- 1 yard of Basics Yellow Polka Dots — enough for four placemat fronts
- 1 yard of a coordinating cotton for the backs, or piece the backs from stash
- Low-loft batting, at least 26" by 40" total, for a soft, flat layer
- Thread to blend with the yellow
- Rotary cutter, mat, and a clear ruler
- Pins or clips and a marking pencil
- Your sewing machine and an iron
That is a short, friendly list.
You may already have most of it at home.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well.
Wrinkles will lie to your ruler, every time.
For each placemat, cut one front piece.
Cut it 12 1/2" by 18 1/2".
Cut one back piece the exact same size.
Cut one batting piece the exact same size too.
Layer them in this order.
Batting on the bottom.
Back piece right side up on the batting.
Front piece right side down on top.
Pin or clip all the way around.
Sew around all four sides with a 1/4" seam.
Set your stitch length to about 2.5 millimeters.
That is roughly 10 even stitches per inch.
Leave a 4" opening on one short side.
Slow down at the corners, folks.
Pivot with the needle down, or the corner gets wonky.
Trim the corners at an angle, close to the stitching.
Turn the placemat right side out through that opening.
Poke the corners out gently with a chopstick.
Press it flat, and tuck the opening edges in neat.
Now topstitch all the way around, 1/4" from the edge.
That one pass closes the opening and finishes the edge.
Just like that, placemat number one is done.
Make the other three the exact same way.
If you want a little extra, add two straight quilting lines.
Run them lengthwise, about 4" apart.
Use stitch in the ditch thinking here, nice and simple.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Practical tips from my sewing table
Press every placemat before you call it finished.
A crisp edge makes a simple project look store-bought.
Keep your batting flat and low.
Thick batting makes glasses wobble, y'all.
Flat is what you want under a plate.
Chain-piece all four if you like.
Sew one, then feed the next right behind it.
It saves thread and it saves time.
And here is your permission beat, folks.
It does not have to be perfect.
If one corner is a tiny bit soft, that is okay.
You are your own worst critic.
Everybody else will just see a happy, sunny table.
Take your time.
It is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Go set that table and enjoy every bite.
Thanks for spending a little time with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Basics Yellow Polka Dots Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
