Brighten Your Table with Patchwork Placemats
Placemats add a cheery note to your table which makes for more
pleasurable dining. Often you can make placemats inexpensively for your
table decorations and to give as gifts.There are various ways to create placemats - patchwork, knitting, crocheting, and braiding are among a few. Popular Patchwork PlacematsPatchwork ones are always popular, and you don't have to make intricate designs if you haven't done patchwork before or want to use quick methods.Cut four 4-inch x 18-inch strips of different fabrics. Sew these together, taking 3/8-inch seams, to make a rectangular placemat top; press. Then cut a piece of thin polyester quilt batting the same size as the top. Cut a backing that is 2-inches wider than the top all around. Fold the edges of the back up over the top to make a border, folding the cut or raw edge under slightly; miter the corners. Stitch along the border edge with decorative stitching to attach back and top. Then quilt the placemat by hand or with decorative machine stitching. You may add rick-rack trim, if desired. Batting Not NecessaryAlthough many people use polyester batting when making patchwork placemats, it isn't absolutely necessary. You can make attractive placemats without any batting. Simply fold the backing up over the top and stitch.Design of SquaresYou can use a number of designs for patchwork placemats. Cut 4-inch squares of fabric, sew them together in a pattern or randomly, using 3/8-inch seam allowances, in strips the length you want your mats.Then proceed as you did above, sewing the strips together and putting filling and a backing on. Traditional DesignsUse traditional patchwork quilt designs for placemats. If the patterns aren't the correct size for placemats, add border strips around the edges until the desired size is reached.Then proceed to finish the placemat as described above.
About the Author: Copyright 2000 Mary Emma Allen All Rights Reserved |
