How to Make Place Mats With Interfacing

Colorful placemats increase the versatility of plain dinnerware.

Brighten your kitchen or dining room with a set of place mats made from fabrics that reflect your personal style and taste. Choose fabrics that change the mood of your table setting from formal to informal or vintage fabrics that compliment a collection of china or glass. A set of reversible place mats is a wonderful gift for a special friend.

Things You'll Need

• Top fabric - 1 yard
• Back fabric - 1 yard
• Medium-weight interfacing - 1 yard
• Pins
• Needle
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Fabric turner
• Scissors
• Iron

Instructions

1. Cut four 13-inch-by-16-inch pieces of fabric from the top fabric and four from the backing fabric. Cut four 12-inch-by-15-inch pieces from the interfacing.

2. Place a piece of interfacing on the back side of the top fabric with the fusible side down. Align the interfacing so that a one-half inch margin is left on all four sides. Fuse the interfacing to the fabric by ironing according to the package directions.

3. Lay the place mat flat, right side up. Place the backing fabric on top, back side up. Align the edges and smooth the fabric. Place several pins on each of the four sides to keep the pieces in place.

4. Machine stitch one-half inch from the edge of the place mat. Start in the middle of one end and stitch around. Leave an opening, stopping two inches short of the beginning stitch.

5. Turn the place mat inside out through the two-inch opening. Insert the seam turner and smooth the corners.

6. Pin the opening together. Hand-stitch it with tiny slip-stitches. Secure the thread and trim. Press smooth and flat.

Tips & Warnings

• A medium weight fabric will produce the best results.

• Avoid lumpy corners by trimming the fabric. Cut off the corner at an angle, carefully avoiding cutting too close to the stitching thread.

• Double stitching the corner makes it stronger.

• Heavy weight fabrics can create bullky edges and make a lump that will not iron flat.

• Stitching through the interfacing will cause the edge to roll and not be sharp.

References

• Absolutely Small: How to Make Placemats
• Sew4Home: Nature Brights Kitchen: Everyday Reversable Placemats