Prepare the pieces.
· Pre-wash your fabric. These placemats will find themselves in the washing machine so this will assure minimal shrinkage.
· Print 4 copies of the Foundation paper pattern.
Find pattern HERE
· Cut roughly around the outer dotted edge of the FPP pattern. I like to cut around ½” from the dotted line.
· Using the template HERE, cut 3 solid colored pattern pieces.
· Cut 6 - 9 x 3” multi-colored fabric strips for the foundation paper piecing
Time to get started
The Foundation Paper piecing
Make a plan for your FPP color placement.
1.Turn the FPP pattern piece upside down. Starting with your first color, lay the long straight edge ¼” over the first segment line of the pattern. You should be able to see the printed line through the paper.
2.Lay the second color RST with both fabric edges lined up.
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3.Pin in place or carefully flip the pattern piece over while holding the fabric in place.
4.Set the stitch length to 1.5. (I like to use Microtex needles for paper piecing )
5.Sew the first line, make sure to start and end a little past the stitch area.
6.Open out the fabric pieces and press well.
7.Flip the pattern piece back over, and using a ruler or piece of cardboard, fold back the next line between the A2 and A3. Cut away any excess fabric, ¼” from the fold line.
8.Open out the FPP paper piece and attach the next strip in the same way, making sure to line up the raw edges of the strip and already sewn segment.
9.Flip over and repeat the same steps as above. Continue doing this until you have completed the pieced segment.
10. Give everything a really good press.
11. Flip the piece over so the paper side is facing up and very carefully trim on the dotted line.
12. Very carefully remove the backing paper, it should tear away very easily. I often use a small pair of tweezers to get the fiddly bits.
Put the pieces together
1.Lay the FPP piece and a solid fabric piece RST to make the top half of the circle.
2.Sew with a ¼” seam allowance.
3.Sew the bottom circle half pieces RST to make the bottom half of the placemat.
4.Sew top circle and bottom circle pieces together.
5.Give everything a good press.
6.Make a quilt sandwich and quilt as desired. I like to use my Accufeed foot for this. I personally love a straight line or cross hatch quilting pattern.
7.After quilting, carefully cut out the circle and prepare pieces for binding.
The Binding.
1.Cut a 2” wide strip of bias cut fabric for binding. You may have to join 2 pieces together depending on the length of your strips. Make sure the strip is cut on the bias, it needs to be able to stretch around the circle.
2.Once you have your length ready, cut the starting end straight across.
3.Iron the strip in half.
4.Leaving a 7” section loose, pin and then sew the binding to the RS of the placemat. Make sure you are not stretching the binding. It should easily bend around the curve.
5.Stop sewing 10” from the starting point.
7.At the center point between the start and the finish, place a pin.
8.Take one binding end and extend it exactly 1” past the pin. (Our binding is 2” wide so to join the end we will need to cut 1” past the pin on each side for a perfect fit)
9.Leaving the pin in place, extend the other binding side 1” past the pin and cut.
10. Open out each end of the binding strip and pin RST.
11. Sew diagonally across the strip ends. Tim ¼” from stitch line and press open.
12. This should create a perfectly fitting binding. Continue sewing until the binding is attached
13. Press the binding away from the front of the placemat and then flip over and pin the binding in place.
Finish the edge as you wish, I always love to hand stitch my binding.
