Projects

Contemporary Placemat

Created By:

Jane Spolar - Quilt Poetry

Skill Level: Intermediate

Jane Spolar of Quilt Poetry created this placemat and double sided napkin duet perfect for any time of year. The set pictured was made from the “Bollywood Bliss” fabric collection Jane designed for Northcott. A perfect project to use several coordinating fabrics you’ve wanted to use – and a great palette to play with a variety of thread and stitches!

Janome Supplies Required

Janome Supplies Required

  1. Any Janome machine: Jane used the Horizon MC 12000
  2. Zigzag Foot A
  3. Open Toe Satin Stitch Foot F2
  4. Free Motion Quilting Open Toe Foot QO
Fabric and Notions Required

Fabric and Notions Required

  • 1/2 yd print for background
  • 1/2 yd coordinating blender for appliqué
  • 5/8 yd coordinating print for backing
  • 1/4 yd coordinating stripe for binding
  • 3/4 yd fusible web
  • 1/4 yd non-woven lightweight fusible interfacing
  • 5/8 yd thin batting
  • Embroidery needle size 80/12 or 90/14, depending upon the decorative thread used
  • Two to four colors of decorative thread for appliqué and quilting
  • Temporary spray adhesive
Instructions

Pattern Instructions:

Click here for the Contemporary Double-Sided Napkins.

Print the pattern (click here) and tape the four pages together, using the cross marks to help align the pages.

Placemat Instructions:

  • Cut from the background print two rectangles measuring 13½" x 17½".
  • Cut from the backing print two rectangles measuring 17½" x 21½".
  • Cut from the batting two rectangles measuring 17½" x 21½".
  • Cut four 1¾" binding strips from the stripe.
  1. To create the appliqué, flip the pattern over to the backside. Trace onto fusible web, two large half spiral shapes and two small half spiral shapes. Cut roughly around the outside of the lines. Do not cut on the lines at this time. (The lines of the pattern should be thick and dark enough to trace through the back. If they are not, print another copy of the pattern in reversed mode and trace from it.)
  2. Following the web manufacturer’s instructions, fuse the templates to the wrong side of the appliqué fabric. Let cool, then cut out the shapes on the lines. Peel the paper backing off the shapes.
  3. Using the pattern as a guide for placement, place the half spiral shapes on the background and fuse in place. (The edges of the appliqué should meet the edges of the placemats.
  4. Remembering safety precautions adhere the placemat to the batting with temporary spray adhesive. Do not adhere the backing yet. (This is done so the following satin stitching doesn’t show on the back of the placemat.)
  5. Attach foot F2 to the machine.
  6. Using utility zig zag stitch 9 (middle) set at 2.5 width and .35 length, stitch around the edges of the appliqué with decorative thread. Pivot frequently, always when the needle is on the outside of the appliqué shape. (This is made so easy with the Horizon setting which lifts the foot every time you stop stitching.)
  7. Adhere the placemat, batting assembly to the backing.
  8. If you like, use another decorative thread and utility triple stitch 5 set at a length of 2.3, and stitch around either edge of the satin stitching. This is time consuming but I love the way it looks!
  9. Attach Foot QO to the machine. (I love using this foot with thin battings. It’s so easy to switch back and forth with normal sewing feet! – If you haven’t used it yet, try it!)
  10. Quilt the placemats. I used a pink thread and feather quilting inside the appliqué, then a green variegated thread to quilt around the outsides of the feather quilting. For the background, I used metallic thread and followed the outlines of the motif.
  11. Attach foot A to the machine.
  12. Sew two binding strips together for each placemat. Sew the single fold binding to the placemat. Turn under and pin the binding on the back. Using appliqué stitch 6 set at 3.5 width and 2.5 length, reversed so it stitches from the left instead of the right – stitch in the ditch of the binding from the front of the placemat using a decorative thread. So much more fun that stitching the binding to the back by hand! 

Everyone is Talking about Contemporary Placemat
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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