coffeebreak

I am making Christmas placemats. I bought beautiful red/green tartan plaid with gold glitter thread in it.
Any suggestions on a pattern? I was thinking in the shape of a present...but can't figure how the bow would be. I thought just make borders of red (red will look better with it than green and I did buy some red with gold stars throughout it which looks great) But I wanted something a bit more than just a square. I don't like working with vertical/horizontal strips/lines..as you have to be so careful to keep them straight..one crooked line and the whole thing is a mess and for that same reason I dont' want to cut to many squares!

Any suggestions? I have a cute snowman print for the back so I can flip them back and forth...one for the kids theme and one for more mature theme

quilter711

This is a free pattern from Connecting Threads for a table runner. You could make adjustments for placemats. Hope this will help you out. Please post pics after you have them done!
http://www.connectingthreads.com/pat...__D991516.html

Tartan

A placemat with a present design would be pretty. You could piece in the ribbon and then appliqué a bow shape in the middle of the ribbon.

reneaunoel

You might look at some of the other new free patterns offered at Connecting Threads, such as this one, http://www.connectingthreads.com/pat...__D991509.html

This table runner would look great on a table, with matching placemats. Not that I'll ever get that organized. I'd have the set done in time for July 4th! hmmmm - no, no, not another new project!

coffeebreak

Thanks! I like this as a table runner...might just do this!

MimiBug123

The Connecting Threads pattern was the one I was going to suggest. I think we are all thinking alike right now!

kim_s

I am making a set of placemats for each of my SIL's. The first set I did I used a 12" block design and then added about 3" of fabric to each side. Then I quilted and added the binding and it took me so darn long that I said forget it. Now I just cut the same fabric for the front and back, quilt and then bind. It still takes some time but not as much as making a block design.

marymm

I saw your post yesterday and this morning an idea popped into my head. How about making simple squares or rectangles for your base, appliqueing wide strips of fabrics in a cross design . You could use wide washable ribbon or you could piece this (basically a nine-patch with wider corners.) Then at the center, top, put a loop of fabric, fold napkin square, then pleat, stick halfway through loop so napkin looks like a bow. (instead of loop you could just sew a strip the same width of ribbon, leaving enough open at both sides to insert napkins. I hope this makes sense. (In my mind it does, but it's kind of early!)

marymm

I saw your post yesterday and this morning an idea popped into my head. How about making simple squares or rectangles for your base, appliqueing wide strips of fabrics in a cross design . You could use wide washable ribbon. You could piece this (basically a nine-patch with wider corners) , but with plaid, I'd probably machine applique. Then at the center, top, put a loop of fabric, fold napkin square, then pleat, stick halfway through loop so napkin looks like a bow. (instead of loop you could just sew a small strip the same width of ribbon, leaving enough open at both sides to insert napkins. I hope this makes sense. (In my mind it does, but it's kind of early!) By the way, It's probably make pillow style, without binding.