Christmas (on a Shoe String) Placemats

Here's another quick and easy (not to mention frugal) idea for what to do with your scraps. These placemats work up really quickly, and have little cost involved. You will wow your friends with these!

Finished Size: 18-1/2" x 12" (46.25cm x 30 cm)

Finished Block Size: 6" (15cm) square

Fabric Required: Made from scraps and leftover strips of fabric. If purchasing new fabric, approximately 1.5m (about 1-1/2 yards) in total is required for a set of 4 placemats. Fabric strips should be cut in varying widths from 1" to 2-1/2".

.5m (1/2 yard) for end strips

.6m (5/8 yard) thin batting (cotton works well)

.6 m (5/8 yard) backing

.5m (1/2 yard) fabric to make straight grain, 2" wide binding

Foundation material (phone book or thin paper)

Directions:

As you will see, I am using last year's Aliant phone book for this project. Tear out 4 pages/placemat and cut them into 6-3/4" squares. Lay your first strip of fabric right side up diagonally across the paper, near the centre. Place second strip right sides together with this strip. Sew along the length, and flip to right side. Press. Continue adding strips in this manner, using random widths and colours, until foundation is covered. Trim block to 6-1/2" square. Your blocks will look something like this:

Or this:
Gently tear away paper foundation from back of blocks. Place blocks together in 2 rows of 2 blocks and stitch. Press seams to one side.

Cut 2 pieces end border fabric each 3-1/2" x 12-1/2". Sew one to each side of placemat; press seams away from placemat. Layer top, batting and backing. Pin baste and machine quilt as desired. Trim edges even; bind §

And that's all there is to it. Now...go make 3 more to match this. Don't forget to send me pictures of your finished placemats!