Thrifty Table Linens

Cutting Directions:
From each shirt:

• 20” square from the back panel
• 6 ½” x 12 ½” rectangle from the left breast (including button placket)
• (36) 2 ½” squares

From the cotton quilting fabric:

• (36) 2 ½” squares
• (1) 6 ½” x 12 ½”
• (1) 20” square
• (4) 16”X 22”

From the batting:

• (4) 14” x 20”
   

Sewing Directions:

1. Attach ¼” Seam foot O. Thread machine and wind bobbin with 50 weight thread.
2. Sew all of the 2 ½” squares together randomly, into rows of 6 squares. You will have 24 strips. Press seam allowance to one side.
3. Sew strips together so that you have 6 rows with the top strip having seams pressed to the right, the second row pressed to the left, third to the right, and so forth. After you have sewn, press seams to one side. You should now have 4 sets of patchwork squares in a 6×6 configuration.
4. Place the three 6 ½” x 12 ½” left breast shirt panels to the right of each 6×6 patchwork square, overlapping by ¼”. Topstitch the shirt panel onto the patchwork square sewing 1/8” from the edge of the shirt. You now have three placemat tops.
   
5. Place the one 6 ½” x 12 ½” cotton fabric, right sides together, with the remaining 6×6 patchwork block and stitch together using ¼” seam allowance. Press seam toward cotton print. This is your 4th placemat top.

Quilting Directions:

1. Attach Acufeed Flex foot.
2. Place your 16” x 22” cotton fabric wrong side up on the table. Spray the wrong side of the fabric with Web Bond. Center one of the batting pieces on top, adhering it to the fabric. Spray the top of the batting with Web Bond, and then center one of the placemat tops on top, adhering it to the batting.
3. Quilt straight lines ¼” from each side of the seams. Trim the extra batting and backing fabric from the placemats so that your quilt sandwich is the same size as the placemat top. Set aside until it is time to finish the edges.
   

Embroidery Directions:

1. Attach Embroidery foot.
2. Thread machine with embroidery thread and insert prewound bobbin.
3. Hoop stabilizer into the SQ14 hoop. Spray Web Bond on the stabilizer and lay the bottom right corner of your 20” x 20” shirt panel on the stabilizer.
4. Select the Embroidery Mode on your machine.
5. Select a font. Select the first letter of your last name. Enlarge it to two inches in height.
6. Embroider the design.
7. Repeat for the other two shirt panels and the 20” x 20”cotton fabric.
   

Serging Directions:

1. Thread serger with coordinating thread for 4-thread overlock.
2. Serge the edges of the 4 placemats.
3. Designer Tip: When you have sewn around the circumference of the placemat, carefully sew only a few stitches on top of the beginning stitches. You don’t want to cut any material, just the beginning thread chain. Then, serge off the fabric, leaving a 3” – 4” chain. Using a large eyed needle, thread the chain through the overlock stitch and trim remaining chain.
4. Change machine to a 3-Thread Rolled Hem. Refer to your owner’s manual for correct settings.
5. Serge the napkin edges.
   Serger Tip: Before using an Overlock machine on corners, first snip a very small piece of fabric off of each corner. When approaching the corner, slow down and stop the needles in the up position at the very edge of the fabric. Pull the thread very slightly to the back and pivot the fabric. Start sewing again. This will prevent you from having to sew off of each corner, trimming the thread chains and using seam sealant to stabilize the stitches.