Monday was just one of those days. All I wanted to do was sit and sew!
Something simple…..
Sew a few strips together and see what comes of it.
I rediscovered these batik strips from Island Batik in my stash. The strips were each about 3″ x 10″ and I thought the four groups of 5 strips would make a nice size set of placemats. So the strips were sewn. Wanting to try something new to me, I decided on making these placemats without binding.
Step 1: Put the placemat right side facing up on a piece of batting.
Step 2: Trim the batting to the same size as the placemat.
Step 3: Place the backing fabric on top with right sides facing. Pin the layers together.
Step 4: Sew along the edge of the batting using a 1/4″ seam. Be sure to leave a 4″ space unsewn for turning and backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.
Step 5: This is just to show how there was a space left unsewn for turning.
Step 6: Trim the backing fabric even with the edge of the batting.
Step 7: And trim the corners.
Step 8: Turn the project inside right and press the edges. Then pin the opening closed.
Step 9: Topstitch 1/8″ from the edge all the way around and quilt along the seam lines to finish.
I have added this post to my Tutorials page that can be found just below the blog header here.
The finished measurements of each placemat was approximately 9″ x 14″. I think I picked up the backing fabric as a remnant from my LQS a couple years ago. It was just the perfect size for these four placemats and is called The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini from the Elm Creek Quilts collection for Red Rooster Fabrics. I remember reading all of Jennifer’s books when I first started quilting. And really enjoyed her stories and the quilting characters. And am so glad to have my own online quilting crew! Thank you for being in my story!
23 Responses
Bindingless placemats? Brilliant! Quilted placemats are fun and great gifts, but the binding process for something so small (and when there are so many of them) is quite time consuming. Great idea and tutorial!
what a great idea makes life so much easier!
This is one I will have to make. So easy, so obvious…why haven't I done it already?
Nice! What a great idea, so easy too.
Very nice… we need quick and easy projects every now and then… okay maybe more often than that… lol…
What a great idea. They look fabulous. I forgot about the Elm Creek books. I have to hit up the library to see which ones I haven' read. THANK YOU for being on my online friends.
super cute and time saving, too. I need to make some of these. thanks lorna!
It's always nice to have a fun and fast project day of sewing! These placemats fit the bill! Great tutorial Lorna!
Beautiful batiks Lorna and these would also make a fast and easy gift for someone! Thanks for sharing.
Love it! This is how I've made a couple of mug rugs recently. I shall finish my placemats the same way! Thanks Lorna!
I have made several table toppers this way. Don't know why I didn't think of doing the place mats. Duh!Debbie
I've been wanting to make some of these. Thanks for the reminder. Your turned out awesome.
These are so cute, Lorna. My friends and I call this technique \”pillowcasing\” because it's just like constructing a pillowcase. I bet these look really happy on your table! And thanks for being in our quilty stories, too!
Great idea, Thanks !Colleen @ piecemakerquilts.wordpress.com
You did the \”birthing\” method so well Lorna – the placemats look great!
I've never been keen on batiks but seeing your placemats is softening me – they are very attractive. I've used this binding free method for table runners and it worked well, I've also seen it used for making a bed quilt – think that it might get tricky to get all 3 layers to lie flat without wrinkles and puckers on a big scale though.
They look brilliant – what lovely bright summery placemats!
Great idea! Before, the thought of making place mats seemed overwhelming because I'd want to make quite a few matching ones. Making them without the binding seems much more appealing because of the time savings! You could even sew a small different color border to get that little punch of color that a binding usually adds.
I love this idea.
Neat! I have never tried it this way. Thank you for sharing!
I have done something similar with coasters but now I want to try placemats to! Love the tutorial. Thank you Lorna.
I'm really happy that you shared this Lorna. I've been practicing fmq. on mats that I've been wanting to donate to my workplace. They've been sitting unbound for months.
Very cute! I have some “fruit and vegetable” fabric that I need to make placemats out of!Gretta HewsonSan Marcos Injury Attorney