Christmas Place Mat

• 18x21" piece (fat quarter) print for place mat backing
• 9 assorted print 2-1/2x14" strips for place mat top
• 1/4 yard dot or print for place mat binding
• 14x20" piece thin quilt batting
• Quilt basting spray (optional)
• Water-soluble marking pen

Finished place mat: 18x12"

Sew this project with 1/4" seams. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated. Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

From backing fabric, cut:

• 1--14x20" rectangle

From binding fabric, cut:

• 2--2-1/2x42" strips

1. Lay backing fabric rectangle on work surface with right side down.

2. Place thin quilt batting piece on top. (If desired, use quilt-basting spray to secure the layers together.)

3. Using water-soluble marking pen, mark a line 2-1/2" from left short edge.

4. Align one print 2-1/2x14" strip, right side up, between the left short edge and the drawn line.

5. Place a second print 2-1/2x14" strip, right side down, atop the first strip.

6. Sew together along one edge through all layers.

TIP: Use a walking foot attachment on your machine during the construction to avoid puckers on the placemat front and back. With a walking foot, all layers of fabric move through machine at the same speed.

7. Finger-press the top strip open.

8. Continue adding assorted print strips in same manner, one at a time, finger pressing each open, until all nine strips have been added.

9. Finger-press ninth strip open. Press unit flat.

10. Centering strips, trim unit to make an 18x12" place mat top.

11. Machine baste around outer edges of place mat top about 1/8" from cut edges.

12. To bind and finish the edges of place mat use the 2-1/2x42" binding strips.