How to Trim Strings on a Placemat

Creating your own placemat is an exciting way to decorate your own home or create a unique gift for a loved one. By now, you have worked on your front pattern and finished off the backside and are nearly ready to finish your work. However, there are always extra strings hanging from new mats, and if they are not properly trimmed, they can lead to fraying.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Inspect every corner you have miter sewn to see if there are any strings hanging. A successful miter corner can be peeled back to reveal the quilted portion, which is where a successful miter corner will have strings hanging.

2. Snip off the very tip of each corner where the strings are sprouting forth. Do not take much more than a sliver of the actual quilt off. This will prevent the edges from warping and puckering once you finish your corners.

3. Unroll the corners so they hang over the quilting again. Flatten each corner out by hand, as it will be too dangerous to attempt with an iron. The vinyl backing will not react well to the heat.

4. Fold each corner over to form a tight edge. A perfect miter corner will match up straight. Inspect each corner to ensure there are no loose strings that you missed. If you find loose strings, unfold that corner and trim more until the edge is tight and clean.

5. Clip each corner so the fold stays in place. You want to be able to sew it on your next step. Do not pin the corners, as this could cause a puncture in the vinyl backing and lead to spillage while the placemat is in use.