How to Make Fabric Placemats

Sew pretty or whimsical place mats for yourself or to give as gifts to friends and family. Make sets of four or more in even numbers such as six or eight. Create a variety of themed place mats such as birthdays, holidays, house warming party or for general use. If a gift, choose fabric prints, colors and designs that are aimed at the recipient's interests as well as when and how they will be used.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Measuring tape
• Marker
• Scissors
• Batting
• Double-fold binding tape, 1/2-inch wide
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron

1. Fold the fabric so that two 18- by 13-inch rectangular pieces can be measured. Mark with a marker and cut the rectangles with scissors.

2. Measure batting for one 18-inch by 13-inch rectangle. Cut with scissors.

3. Lay one piece of the place mat fabric right side down on a work table. Lay the batting on top and align it. Place the second place mat fabric right side up on top of the batting, aligned. With scissors cut a 1-inch diagonal snip off each of the four corners.

4. Use straight pins to secure the three pieces together. Place pins about 3 or 4 inches apart near the edges all around the place mat.

5. Hold the open end of the double-fold binding tape at one end of the place mat, so that it fits over the edge of the place mat, enclosing the three pieces. Note: the folded edges of the binding tape are not even; one side is shorter than the other. Place the shorter side on top to stitch on.

6. Sew a straight stitch close to the edge of the binding tape, slowing pushing the place mat fabric pieces and batting into the tape folds as you sew along with sewing machine, catching both the top and bottom parts of the binding tape with the stitch. Remove the straight pins just before stitching. Work slowly, especially when you reach each of the corners.

7. Overlap 1 inch of the binding tape over the place where you began stitching, tucking in the raw edge. Iron the place mat for a neat finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Double-fold binding tape can a contrasting or complementary color to the place mat fabric.
• Place mats can be sewn in a variety of shapes such as oval or round in addition to the standard rectangle.
• Add pockets to the front of your place mat to add eating utensils. If going to a picnic, add a napkin, roll the place mat up and tie with a ribbon.
• If you're in a hurry and don't have time to sew, you can make fabric place mats by bonding the edges of two pieces of fabric (right side out) with iron-on tape between the edges all around. If you include batting it needs to be cut 1/2-inch smaller than the place mat fabric.

References

• Placemat patterns
• Reversible placemats
• Themed placemat