How to Mark Quilt Lines on a Placemat

Marking quilt lines on a placemat really is as simple as drawing a straight line. The secret is the right equipment and a bit of patience. The result will be straight quilted lines across the front of your quilted placemat.

Things You'll Need

• Chalk
• Quilting ruler
• Tailor's chalk or quilting marker
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Lay the placemat in front of you with the front of the placemat facing up.

2. Use a piece of chalk or a quilt marker to make a tiny dot on the top of the placemat, 2 1/2 inches from the left edge. Continue marking dots every 1 1/2 inches across the placemat until the last dot is 2 1/2 inches from the right side.

3. Make dots in corresponding places across the lower edge of the placemat, starting at 2 1/2 inches from the left edge and marking across at 1 1/2-inch intervals.

4. Place the quilting ruler on the two dots on the left side of the fabric and draw a line between the top and bottom of the placemat with a piece of tailor's chalk or a quilting marker.

5. Continue drawing lines across the placemat and stitch on the lines.

Tips & Warnings

• Use tailor's chalk on dark fabric, because quilt markers aren't dark enough to show up. When you're done stitching, just rub the fabric and the chalk will come off.

• Quilt markers are usually available in blue or purple. The blue will disappear when the fabric is sprayed lightly with water. The purple will disappear in a few hours.

• If you want to make a grid pattern on your placemat, simply turn the fabric, draw lines across as directed above and stitch the fabric.