It all started with the tumbler blocks that I talked about Monday. They are cut from strips of fabric that range from 5" to about 7" wide. That left a lot of 1 - 3" strips left over. You know I can't let that fabric go to waste! Placemats are always my first idea and I thought I'd share with you my lazy design process for placemats.
My placemats are usually about 15 - 17" x 12-13" and the size varies based on what I'm using or how I want them finished. In this case I knew I wanted to use my easiest method of wrapping the front fabric to the back and topstitching with a twin needle to finish them.
I decided on 16" x 13" and cut the backing and flannel (I use old flannel sheets for the batting) to exactly that size. Then I cut up my scraps. I cut as may strips as possible approzimately 15" long and left the rest as long as possible. I separated the blue ones in one stack and the gold and green ones into another stack. I didn't know exactly waht I was going to make but I started with foundation peicing the strips simply because it's easy and fast.
I used the widest strip on the edge where I needed at least 1/2" to hang over the edge. I started foundation piecing the strips to the base (flannel and backing). There's at least 1/2" hanging over the edges of the base all the way around. At this point I still don't have an idea of what I'm doing but I decided that I needed a few strips of gold/green.
I finished it off with a wide strip of blue. At this point I stopped to ponder. I considered leaving it as it is or doing some free motion stitching. I thought a leaf vine might be cool but I wasn't sure that a stitched vine would show up well enough against this heavily textured fabric.
But an applique leaf vine would work great! I put some Mistyfuse on the back of a chunk of hand dyed fabric and cut out leaves and vines free hand. I did some free motion stitching around all of the edges and added veins to the leaves. I know these will ravel a bit around the edges when I wash them but I think that will look just fine. I finished them off by ironing the raw edges to the back and topstitching. A twin needle would work but I set up the cover stitch in my serger and finished these really quickly.
You can see that I made 2 of the placemants with horizontal strips on the left side and 2 with vertical. That's because I didn't have enough long strips to do them all vertical. I like them all!
I still have all of these fabulous scraps! What should I do with them?
Sending those scraps my way would be nice...for me anyway! Love your hand dyes - and your finishing, leaving those raw edges to ravel as they desire.
Posted by: Marty Mason | July 21, 2011 at 01:28 PM
That is a very nice set of placemats. Looks like you have some scraps leftover to make postcards.
Posted by: Terri | July 21, 2011 at 02:20 PM
How attractive! Luv the vine!
Posted by: elle | July 21, 2011 at 03:30 PM
These are just the coolest! The leaves and vines are a great enhancement to your "scraps."
Posted by: Carol | July 21, 2011 at 03:38 PM
great placemats!
Posted by: Deb Levy | July 21, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Looks like you have enough scraps for matching coasters!
Posted by: Summerset | July 21, 2011 at 04:11 PM
love them!
Posted by: margaret gunn | July 21, 2011 at 04:55 PM
Gorgeous placemats. I love them! Your leafy vine was the perfect addition.
Posted by: Sue H | July 21, 2011 at 06:13 PM
Lovely placemats.
Posted by: Sandy Jandik | July 21, 2011 at 07:17 PM
Those are absolutely gorgeous! With the strips - maybe mug rugs? Or naplin holders?
Posted by: Alycia | July 21, 2011 at 09:27 PM
Love the viney placemats, Vicki!
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | July 21, 2011 at 09:38 PM
These are beautiful! The vines really make them special. You could use the scraps for coasters, journal covers, postcards, fabric frames, etc. Or maybe some crumb blocks....
Posted by: Peg | July 21, 2011 at 10:19 PM
That was definitely not waster, love how they came out.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie St.Germain | July 21, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Wow, another beautiful set of placemats! The vines really added the perfect touch. And lots more gorgeous scraps ...
Posted by: Gina | July 22, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Way to go Vicki...
Love the vine placemats!
LuAnn in Oregon
http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/
Posted by: LuAnn Kessi | July 22, 2011 at 07:16 AM
very pretty! gorgeous scraps!
Posted by: upstatelisa | July 22, 2011 at 09:01 AM
Your place mats are always great, but I really love these ones, so pretty!
Posted by: Angela | July 25, 2011 at 04:27 AM
Love these! Great idea!
Posted by: Joy Manoleros | July 28, 2011 at 02:20 PM