About a year ago I was going to make a big cushion. I had strips sewn together. The pattern called for a paper-pieced design on top of those strips, but somehow I could never find the enthusiasm to get going on it.
One day I got brazen and cut the cushion square into four pieces. These would be the center of my replacement project, a set of placemats. I wanted a minimum of six placemats though, so I sewed a few more strips together and cut them in half to make two more center parts.
I added some filler strips on the sides to make a longer rectangle, and then decided on a border. Triangles in two bands, top and bottom, should add some interest. I hadn’t made triangles in squares for a while, and had to think about it.
Here they are below, right sides together. I drew a line from corner to corner and sewed a quarter inch from each side of the line, then cut along the line.
Open up and press. That gives you the squares with two triangles shown above.
I sewed the squares together in rows of eight and then sewed the triangle strips to the top and bottom of each placemat.
After putting batting and a backing on the flimsy (top), I did a bit of quilting in the center parts. Then I put binding around it, and voilà, a placemat made of a recycled cushion.
Don’t look too closely. It’s not perfect, but I feel good about having salvaged the remnants of one project, and used up many scraps at the same time.
January 25, 2019 at 6:55 am
Most folks underestimate the beauty nice placemats can bring to a dinner table.
These look luxurious while still maintaining their handmade character 🙂
Life is Good !
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January 25, 2019 at 7:55 am
I’m so glad to hear this, Hans. I was beginning to wonder if anyone used them anymore. We do, all the time, but so many people eat “on the run” I thought placemats were falling out of favour. I like having several patterns on hand and change it up once in a while.
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January 25, 2019 at 6:59 am
Beautiful design, Anneli! Congrats on the project!
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January 25, 2019 at 7:57 am
Tnx, Luanne. They are my practice placemats. I hope to make a different set at the upcoming quilting retreat.
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January 25, 2019 at 9:37 am
Maybe you can start to sell them!
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January 25, 2019 at 9:39 am
That would be nice except it would never be worth my time and expense. By the time I buy all the material, the cost is already close to what anyone would pay for placemats and then there are the HOURS and HOURS of time. It’s a labour of love, that’s all. But it was a nice thought to get something back.
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January 26, 2019 at 1:59 pm
I understand. If you want to sell your work as art (and get more money) it can’t be as functional as placemats, which are a really abused item.
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January 25, 2019 at 8:03 am
I love my placemats! Even if we happen to sit in the family room to eat dinner with a TV tray to watch the hockey game, I still use my cherished placemats! Love the ones you made for me, and thanks for sharing the creative process on your blog. 🙂
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January 25, 2019 at 8:04 am
I can’t even remember which ones I made for you, but I’m glad you have them. Good to know you use them.
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January 25, 2019 at 8:44 am
Those placemats are just fabulous! I love my placemats (made by Anneli) and we use them every day. When I have to wash them and wait till they are dry, the table setting looks so empty. The food tastes better if I have your placemats under the plates. I envy you for your talents!
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January 25, 2019 at 9:16 am
Thanks a lot, Ursula. I don’t know about talent, but it sure helps to have the expertise at the quilters’ guild available to me for help.
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January 25, 2019 at 9:40 am
Beautiful placemats, Anneli! They’re too pretty for someone to dribble on! 🙂
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January 25, 2019 at 9:43 am
Haha! I often think about that when I see food drop on the placemats, but most of it is harmless stuff that washes out. I’d hate to see a big blob of grease end up on them but we rarely eat the kind of stuff that doesn’t wash out easily.
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January 25, 2019 at 10:26 am
My breakfast room table is sporting “Anneli” made placemats at the moment! I also have a lovely runner to show off on special occasions.
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January 25, 2019 at 10:51 am
Good grief! My placemats sure do get around! So nice to hear that you feel they are happy on your table, Dawn.
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January 25, 2019 at 2:20 pm
I really like the colour and shapes. Nicely done!
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January 25, 2019 at 8:10 pm
Thanks, Belinda.
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January 25, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Those are so pretty and creative, Anneli. The colors are wonderful. I love working with scraps of fabric. Well done. 🙂
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January 25, 2019 at 8:12 pm
Feels good to accomplish something. Thanks for your nice comment, Diana.
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January 25, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Wow! Those are terrific!
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January 25, 2019 at 8:13 pm
Well, they’re not bad if you don’t look too closely, and I’m having fun making them up as I go along. Thanks, Terry.
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January 25, 2019 at 5:52 pm
Very pretty pattern. I love the earthy colors.
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January 25, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Tnx, Lori. I do tend to go for those earthy colours. I love bright colours, but I always come home from the fabric store with earth tones.
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January 25, 2019 at 9:26 pm
Nice work! They look fabulous. 🙂
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January 26, 2019 at 8:17 am
Thanks, Lynette. I feel encouraged to make more. Maybe some other design that I haven’t figured out yet.
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January 26, 2019 at 5:08 am
Looking at it closely, I can’t find fault with your placements. Wonderfully done, and they looks so seamlessly put together 🙂 The colours green, white and brown all go so well together, and there’s an earthly feel about this art you made. I take my placemats very seriously at home. They all have to be the same design so nothing looks like it’s out of place.
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January 26, 2019 at 8:21 am
Thanks for the kind comment, Mabel. I like placemats on the table too, and it’s fun to have “homemade” designs.
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January 26, 2019 at 5:21 am
What an impressive project, Anneli. I like that you recycled a project, but most of all, I love your clever craftsmanship and wonderful result. Enjoyed seeing and reading about the process.
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January 26, 2019 at 8:19 am
Thanks, Jet. I always wanted to do quilting but for years had no idea how to do it right. I made some clumsy quilts without guidance in the early days, but once I took some classes and joined the quilting guild I had so much more help and it has been more fun than frustration ever since.
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January 26, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Nice!
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January 26, 2019 at 1:37 pm
Thanks, Darlene.
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January 26, 2019 at 8:05 pm
The placemats are wonderful. You are so creative.
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January 26, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Thanks, Sheryl. I’ve almost finished all of them now. Long haul!
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January 27, 2019 at 2:48 pm
That looks so awesome!!
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January 27, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Thank you. I’m using them for the first time tonight. If the meal is mediocre the placemats will deflect attention from it. 😉
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January 27, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Lol
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February 8, 2019 at 12:59 pm
Lovely to see that you are so creative Anneli! I have a little ‘crafty corner’ on my blog too…maybe it’s a spaniel owner’s thing!!
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February 8, 2019 at 1:16 pm
I think you may be right. I’m going to a four-day quilting retreat on Wednesday. I love craftsy things.
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