Log Cabins In The Cabin (Or Cottage!)

 

Remember these placemats from a few months back?  The pattern has been extremely popular: very quick and easy to stitch. Here's a way to coax another season from the same pattern.

On a recent trip to Mrs Pugsley's Emporium, I spotted these lovelies, and KNEW they would be fabulous in this pattern! The shop has them done up in half-metre cuts, so I chose 6 I liked.

Using Kona cotton Splash, Seascape, Blueprint, Sea Glass, Pool and Lagoon gave the mats a very modern look.

For added interest, I reversed the colour order in two of the four mats.

Simple waves are free-motion quilted on my Bernina around the central triangle using Aurifil 50 weight in a variegated blue and a variegated green. For batting, I chose Hobbs Thermore, a low-loft batting that shows the quilting off nicely.

These fit better on a square or rectangular table, but we don't have one here.  They will be perfect for the table at the cottage, and I look forward to trying them out when the weather warms. With the watery, seaside palette, they will look super there.

I also alternated fabrics used on the back.  These mats are a great lesson in the power of colour for creating a whole new look. 

The pattern is available from my website, in both print and download version.  If you are in the Fredericton area, you can also find lots of my patterns in stock at Ridge Machine Quilting Shed in Hanwell. 

Log Cabin Triangle Tree Placemats

The name might be a mouthful, but it gives the whole picture of what this pattern is about:  tree-shaped placemats made log-cabin style.  These clever mats are sure to be a hit on the table, and they go together really quickly. Because they are strip-pieced, you can easily sew a set in a day.  

The mats are sized to accommodate a dinner plate and cutlery. Because of their shape, they fit beautifully on either a rectangular or round table.

The need for binding has been eliminated, and the quilting is kept to a minimum: in the ditch between seams, and a squiggle down the centre of each strip. 

If you are more of a traditionalist and prefer a bound edge, instructions are included for that as well. 

There are also directions on how to make matching napkins which slip through the trunk of the tree.

We could all use a bit of fun and whimsy this Christmas, and these placemats will delight your family. Ask for the pattern at your local quilt shop, or find it in print form from my website, or downloadable at this link.