Autumn is apple picking season, and this set of quilted placemats from Debbie von Grabler-Crozier would look darling on your kitchen table this fall. Designed for fat quarters, this quilted placemat pattern features a printable apple template and is completed with coordinating binding and leaves. This project is ideal for showing off gorgeous fall prints and its appliqued details add texture to this sweet sewn design.
Designer Notes:
- FQ = Fat Quarter
- Seam allowances are all 1/4″ and have already been added.
Materials:
- Fabric: (Note: All fabrics are by Art Gallery Fabrics. From the Heirloom collection by Sharon Holland for AGF)
- FQ fabric for one placemat front panel- Chasing Daisies Heirloom.
- FQ fabric for the other placemat front panel- Sweet Dreams.
- 1/2 yard fabric for the backing and stems for both mats- Prairie House.
- 1/2 yard fabric for the two leaves and the binding- Queen Bee Olive.
- Interfacing:
- 1/2 yard #279 80/ 20 cotton mix batting by Vlieseline
- 10” square Bondaweb by Vlieseline
- Scissors
- Fabric marking tools
- Extra feet for your sewing machine (walking foot, for example)
- PDF Template – This is located at the bottom of this page. See printing instructions below.
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS:
To download the PDF template, click on the download button at the bottom of the page. We recommend opening your download using Adobe Acrobat.
Cutting Instructions:
From the front panel fabrics:
- 2 pieces using template I (one from each of the front panel fabrics)
From the backing fabric:
- 2 pieces 17” wide x 16” tall
From the stem fabric:
- 2 pieces for the stems (template II)
From the leaf and binding fabric:
- 2 pieces for the leaves (template III)
- Binding cut 1 1/2″ wide on the bias and then joined as needed to make two pieces 45” long
From the interfacing (batting):
- 2 pieces 16” wide x 15” tall
From the interfacing (Bondaweb):
- 2 pieces for the stems (template II)
- 2 pieces for the leaves (template III)
Piecing Instructions:
PREPARATION:
Make the Binding:
- Fold the long strip of binding in half lengthways, wrong sides together, and iron to make a long center crease.
- Open out and fold the two long raw edges to the center crease, also towards the wrong side. Press again.
- Re-fold along all of the creases so that the raw edges are all enclosed and roll until needed. Repeat for the other piece of binding.
Make the Quilt ‘Sandwich’:
- Lay a backing panel face down and center the batting on top.
- The top (apple shaped) panel goes centrally onto the batting.
- Pin well.
- TIP: To allow for the stem, position the apple towards the lower half of the panel as shown.
Prepare the Appliqué:
- The Bondaweb has a rough (glue) and a smooth (paper) side. Trace the leaves and stems onto the smooth side and cut out roughly.
- Iron to bond them to the wrong side of the appropriate fabrics, glue side down.
- Cut the pieces out exactly.
- They are ready to use.
MAKING:
Quilt the Mats:
- Set your machine up for quilting (add a walking foot).
- Quilt one mat with a random wavy pattern beginning in one corner and working across the mat.
- Repeat for the other quilt sandwich to make the second mat.
Add the Appliqué:
- Remove the paper from the stem. Position the stem centrally onto the dimple in the top of the apple with the glue side down. Press with a hot iron to fuse the stem into place.
- Repeat for the other mat and then do the same with the leaves, which point down onto the actual apple body.
- Set your machine up for free motion embroidery (darning foot this time). Either drop the feed dogs or set your machine stitch length to zero and appliqué around the edge of the stems and leaves about 1/8” in from the edge. Snip off any thread ends.
Cut Out:
- Cut the apple shape, and start adding binding. When you get to the stem, cut around that, too.
Bind the Mats:
- TIP: The main body of the mat is bound, and the stem is left with raw edges, which will fray slightly with washing and use. The edge cannot fray beyond the appliqué line because of the tightness of the stitching.
- Bind the mats with the bias binding.
