BRIGHTEN YOUR TABLE WITH PATCHWORK PLACEMATS
By Mary Emma Allen
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 Placemats
Patchwork 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 Necessary
Although 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 Squares
You 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 Designs
Use 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:
Mary Emma Allen writes children's stories and authors books, in
addition to writing newspaper and magazine columns, and articles for
e-zines. She also teaches workshops for children and teachers who
encourage children to write. Check out her "Teacher to Teacher" column
at: www.writingcorner.com/rising/main.htm and view her author web site:
http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea.
Copyright 2000 Mary Emma Allen All Rights Reserved
