A good beginner project, these place mats can be made with any woven fabric. Buy something special (“Home Dec” weight works wonderfully), or recycle something from around the house (old clothes, sheets, table-cloth, etc). If the fabric is light weight, you can sandwich “interfacing” or another fabric piece within your place mat to give it more heft. Pre-wash your fabric if it is new to prevent shrinkage when the place mat washed.
These directions will make a place mat 18″ x 13″.
Here we go!
Cut out two pieces of pre-washed fabric 19″ x 14″.
Stack the pieces right sides facing. Pin together.
If you want to add interfacing or other filler fabric, stack it ON TOP of the outer fabrics. Don’t worry, it will end up between them in the end.
Sew the pieces together 1/2″ from the outer edge. Leave 4-5″ open for turning. Be sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end of seam.
Clip the four corners close to the seam, but not cutting the threads.
Reach into the opening and pull the place mat through until it is right side out.
If you used a filler fabric or interfacing, this is where it ends up on the inside. Fun, eh?
Gently poke out the corners and press flat.
Top stitch 1/4″ from edge around the entire perimeter of the mat. (Back stitch at end to secure.) This will close the opening and help the place mat keep shape.
And you are done!
Thanks for the tutorial!!! This was my first project, I made it tonight and it turned out great!! Thanks! 🙂
Wonderful! I would like to start featuring reader projects on my blog. So take a (well-lit) picture and send it in and you might see your project on SewFearless.com (with a link back to your blog). 🙂
Sent you an email 🙂