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To sew fabric placemats, you first need materials including fabric, interfacing, and a sewing machine. Choose a natural fiber like cotton for your fabric, and fusible fleece for interfacing. Pre-wash your fabric, then cut it into your preferred placemat size. Layer and pin your fabric together, right sides facing in. Sew, leaving an opening to flip the fabric right-side out. Always iron for a professional finish. Voila! You’ve got a homemade placemat. Stick around, there’s plenty more to explore, including advanced sewing techniques and personalization ideas, which can help you take your placemats up a notch.
Key Takeaways
- Choose durable, washable fabrics like cotton or linen, and cut them to your desired placemat size, typically 45 by 35cm.
- Use a medium-weight or Insul-Bright interfacing for structure and heat resistance, respectively.
- Assemble the placemat by layering fabric pieces with right sides together and sew around edges, maintaining a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
- After sewing, clip corners to reduce bulkiness, turn placemat right side out, and consider topstitching for a professional finish.
- Personalize your placemats with techniques like quilting, applique, monograms, or fabric paint for a unique touch.
Placemat Design and Dimensions
Let’s dive into the thrilling pool that is placemat design and dimensions, where some standard sizes are 45 x 35cm (18 x 14 inches) – but alternative, smaller sizes can also make sense.
For my sewing lesson, I’ll let you know that there is no hard and fast rule for sizes. Depending on the actual setting of the table, you may need to adjust slightly. For tiny tables, place mats that are 18 by 13 or 14 by 11 inches serve admirably.
But don’t limit yourself! Varied sizes can be an attractive look when combined. When stitching fabric placemats, think about the general look of your dining room. Your placemats’ design should coordinate with other things in the room.
Essential Sewing Supplies
What you’ll need to make these fabric placemats. Before we get stuck into sewing fabric placemats, let’s cover off the essentials- what you’re going to need Supplies Fabric, Interfacing, Scissors, Sewing Machine, and Matching Thread. And when I say interfacing, do not skimp on this – it’s a must! You will need a rotary cutter for accurate fabric cuts. I also find that clear rulers and cutting mats help with precision.
The interfacing not only helps your placemats maintain their shape, but it also makes them more stable. The thread you choose should complement the finished look of your placemats. Ironing matters more than you think. You need to press the seams and give them that professional look.
Fabric and Interfacing Selection
When you’re choosing fabric and interfacing for your placemats, opt for natural fibers like cotton, linen, or canvas (I used osnaburg) since they’re strong and wash up well. These natural fibre fabric options will get used and washed, so they are perfect for this primitive.
Fusible fleece or medium-weight interfacing could be added for strength. (If hot plates are a concern, you might even give Insul-Bright interfacing a try; it’s known for its great heat resistance.)
Choose interfacings and fabrics based on how you want your placemats to look, feel, and function. Here The fabric choices you make are really going to bring out the dining space, and with tailored chairs like these, we’re talking about a one-of-a-kind look that’s all yours.
Cutting and Preparing Materials
Now that we’ve picked out our fabric and interfacing, let’s move onto cutting and preparing our materials.
We’ll start with cutting our fabric into the right size and shape.
After that, we’ll talk about pre-washing and ironing it to guarantee a perfect finish.
Selecting Your Fabric
But the first thing to consider before starting on a sewing project is choosing the right kind of fabric, like those made of natural fibers — cotton or linen, for how durable and washable they are. I like using cotton or linen because they wear good with use and washing. For one thing, they’re easy to work with, even for novices.
It’s also important to pre-wash and press your fabric to avoid further shrinking and ensure a more stable sewing process. For a thicker placemat, try interfacing. It does provide some structure and prevents the fabric from being too floppy.
Cutting Precise Pieces
And when armed with a rotary cutter and clear ruler, I believe the most accurate way to go is trimming fabric for placemats. The see-through ruler ensures precision measurements, resulting in accurate cuts.
I begin by measuring and cutting rectangles of fabric to the size I want. For standard placemats, I usually try to hit something in the range of 18 by 14 inches.
After I’ve got my fabric rectangles cut, I will cut the interfacing slightly smaller than my rectangles. This will help avoid bulk in the seams and is also neater that way.
Before I turn the fabric, right side out, I take care to clip the corners. This also helps give a smooth flat finish.
When I turn them out, I press the placemats with an iron to make nice, sharp edges - a great prep for topstitching!
Prepping for Sewing
Once my fabric has been cut (19 by 13 inches), I wash it to avoid future shrinkage and iron thoroughly to make sure there are no wrinkles. I use a rotary cutter for accurate fabric cutting and a clear ruler to make sure everything is on point. With fabric prepped, I pair your pieces right sides together and apply interfacing or stabilizer for even more structure.
In a nutshell, here’s my fabric prepping process:
| Step |
Task |
| 1 |
Cut fabric into rectangles using a rotary cutter |
| 2 |
Pre-wash fabric and iron press to remove wrinkles |
| 3 |
Layer fabric pieces right sides together |
| 4 |
Adhere interfacing or stabilizer |
Assembling the Placemat
When you’ve cut your fabric pieces, stack them right sides together to ensure your placemat edges are nice and clean. You’ll want to keep a 1/4 inch seam allowance as you sew around the edges. That way, your job looks more professional.
After you’ve stitched all the way around, add a few clips to the corners. This easy little step eliminates bulk and keeps your corners laying flat.
Now it’s time to turn your placemat right side out. Trust me, a once-over with an iron and your love will be renewed!
Lastly, you can topstitch as well along the edges. This not only makes your completed placemat look fantastic, but it also adheres the layers together well.
Sewing and Finishing Techniques
Now, let’s move on to the heart of the project: sewing and finishing.
We’ll talk about choosing just the right materials and how to master different stitching methods.
Selecting Your Materials
Materials to Use for Sewing Fabric Placemats. For materials to use when sewing fabric placemats, natural fiber fabrics like cottons (or linen or canvas even), should be your best bet since they are washable and durable.
If you are creating reversible placemats, fusible fleece or medium-weight interfacing will bring stability and structure.
Make sure to prewash your fabric so that your placemats won’t shrink when you throw them in the first wash after you sew them.
If you’re serving your meals with hot plates a heat resistant medium like Pellon Insul-Fleece 975BX is also an ideal option.
Finally, feel free to get creative with fabric mixes! This can help your placemats become a statement piece and compliment the decor of your dining area.
Your choice of fabric will greatly impact your result.
Mastering Stitching Methods
Now that you’ve selected your fabrics for your fabric placemats, let’s master some different stitching techniques to ensure a clean, professional finish.
Starting with topstitching makes good sense. It not only helps keep the layers of fabric in place but also creates a crisp, tailored appearance.
As a reminder, nothing quite like straight seams to achieve a professional finish. The more you do it, the better you get.
Why not give your fabric placemats a unique twist by sewing some decorative stitches? They add personality and style.
It also allows you to practice understitching. It will make your edges lay flat and provide a finished, clean look.
Now, if you were making reversible placemats, hand-sewing techniques such as slip stitching are ideal for closing gaps.
Caring for Your Placemats
To care for your fabric placemats in order to keep them looking their best, a few maintenance tasks will need to be followed. Once you’ve hemmed fabric placemats, their colors will stay vibrant and you can machine wash them in cold water for laundering to avoid shrinkage. You’ll want to steer clear of bleach, which can degrade fabric, or anything too harsh.
Tumble dry on low heat after washing or lay them flat to air dry in order to keep wrinkling to a minimum. Should wrinkles occur, you may iron the placemats on a low setting, with a pressing cloth for added protection.
For storage, place the placemats in a cool, dry area to avoid mildew and fading. Finally, keep the fabric out of direct sunlight to prevent the color from fading.
Advanced Placemat Designs
Often, advancing your sewing skills means diving into more complex placemat designs, which can involve intricate quilting patterns or applique techniques. Piping or binding can add a polished edge, while unique shapes like ovals or rounds can create a personalized look.
Consider these options for your advanced placemat designs:
| Technique |
Description |
| Quilting patterns |
Adds texture and depth |
| Applique techniques |
Allows for detailed designs |
| Piping/Binding |
Finishes edges neatly |
| Unique shapes |
Makes your placemats stand out |
| Embellishments |
Adds a personal touch |
Fabric manipulation can elevate your design, while mixing and matching fabrics adds visual interest. The possibilities are endless, and you can create placemats that suit your style and home decor.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, folks! Who would’ve thought you’d newfound placemat-sewing pro just from reading this article?
You probably never thought that you would be spending your free time turning fabric and thread into masterpieces for the dining table.
As with all things, practice becomes perfect, so don’t be too discouraged if it’s not your best first try.
Armed with these little tricks, I have no doubt you’ll be whipping out placemats that would make the most high-end store-bought ones jealous in record time, though!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Fabric for Sewing Placemats?
I’d recommend natural fibers like cotton, linen, or canvas for sewing placemats. They’re durable, washable, and come in various prints. Chambray is also a great choice for its style and versatility.
What Is the Best Filling for Placemats?
In my experience, the best filling for placemats is fusible fleece. It’s sturdy yet soft, making it perfect for everyday use. For heat resistance, I’d recommend Insul-Bright, especially if you’re serving hot dishes.
How Do You Stiffen Fabric Placemats?
To stiffen fabric placemats, I’d use an interfacing stabilizer. I’d cut it smaller than the fabric, pin it to the wrong side, and sew around. It adds durability and maintains the placemat’s shape over time.
How Much Fabric Do I Need to Make Placemats?
I’d estimate needing about 2 yards of fabric for four standard-sized placemats. Of course, it’s dependent on your desired size. If you’re making reversible ones, you’d need a yard of each fabric per placemat.
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