Fantastically quick to sew, a set of these would make a lovely Christmas gift! Seriously, we’re talking a full set in less than an hour! I used different fabrics on the front and back and they can be used either way around. The size is based on the mats fitting our table either side of the table runner, but if you need smaller or larger mats, just measure up, add half an inch to either side and cut the fabrics to that measurement.
I’m still loving the Merry & Bright fabrics by designer Stuart Hillard and wanted the mats to go with the table runner I’ve been working on, so used them again.
Cut your fabrics using the measurements above. Fold one of the shorter edges of the 4×6″ piece of fabric over by just over 1/4 inch.Top stitch using a 1/4 inch allowance.Repeat for the other 4×6″ piece.Place the contrasting pocket piece 1/4 inch over the bottom right corner of the main piece.Mark the inside edge. Or eyeball it and flip the pocket piece over. Butt up to your mark and pin in place.Sew down the right hand side using a 1/4 inch allowance.Once folded back, it should pretty much sit right up to the edge (as you can see, I clearly overdid the seam a little!) Repeat with the other fabrics. Lay your two pieces of fabric right sides together and pin. When pinning, add a few pins 3 inches apart across the bottom. This is just to show you where to start and stop sewing as we need to leave a gap for turning the placemat right side out. Sew around the entire mat usign a 1/4 inch seam, backstitching at the start pins and at the end pins. This will reduce the chances of pulling your stitches out when we turn the placemat. Snip the corners to reduce bulk. Turn the fabric right side out, pushing all corners out. Then tug on either side of the opening so that the fabric folds inside. Pin. Alternatively, you can iron the placemat at this point and iron the raw edges to the inside. Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, top stitch around the entire mat. This will close the opening, reinforce all edges and give the mat a more polished look.
Voila! Told you it was simple…
And reversible!!!
I’ll update the main image for this post once I have the other items created for our 2020 Christmas table and can get a nice photograph.
