Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Summer Sensations Blog Hop

Welcome to my home on the internet.

I have an easy project to share that can be made from a set of 6 fat quarters. If you’re like me you pick up appealing bundles and then get home and don’t know what to do with them. Well, I came up with a set of placemats. I have no idea what the fabric I used is but I think it’s a Moda line from about 3 years ago.

I actually started off with a different project, made it, and then changed my mind. As I looked at the posts last Thursday and Friday I realized my project wasn’t summer at all. I think what I’ve got here fits much better.

My Summer Sensational Project

First, choose a focus fabric from your fat quarters. I am hoping that your fat quarter will measure 18” wide by at least 20” long. They do vary a bit, especially in the length. The cutting instructions are for the horizontal measurement to be 18”.

CUTTING:

Focus Fabric fat quarter:

From the fat quarter you have chosen as your focus fabric, cut 4 strips that measure 4.5” x 18”.

The remaining piece (grey) is scrap.


From EACH of the 5 coordinating fat quarters:

Cut 3, 2-7/8" strips. Cut these into a total of 14, 2-7/8" squares.

From 4 of the 5 coordinating fat quarters:
Cut 1, 4.5" x 8.5" rectangle.

Using the 2-7/8” squares, make half square triangle blocks with random pairs of squares.

Draw a line from corner to corner, shown by the solid line.
Sew 1/4" on either side of the drawn line, shown by the dashed lines.
Press the seam allowance towards the dark fabric.
(See the photo tutorial for making half square triangle blocks.)


Now, lay out your half square triangle blocks in a 4 x 7 grid. arrange the fabrics as random or as organized as you would like.

For Each Placemat:

Sew pairs together till you have 4 rows.
Sew rows together.
Add the 4.5" x 8.5" side piece.
Add the 4.5" x 18" piece to the long edge.


Here you can see I pressed the row allowances open because it was getting a little thick where the blocks joined.

Cut a piece of batting about 1" bigger than the placemat.
Place the backing fabric, cut 12" x 18", right side up, centered on the batting.
Place the assembled placemat, right side down, on top of the backing.
Sew all around the edges of the placemat at a quarter inch, leaving about a 4" gap to turn through.


Somewhere I learned that an easy way to mark your opening so you don't sew through it is to use 2 pins on either side to remind you.


To help make those corners turn easily, clip the point away, as shown here.


After turning the placemat, I used some long flower head pins to loosely hold it together.

I then sewed around the edge at a scant 1/4". Check the opening for turning and make sure it has been sewn closed.


Here is a photo of the finished placemat after quilting and washing. I love the way it came out! So 6 fat quarters made 4 placemats. I added 2/3 yard of Kona Cotton Ivory for the backings.

Thank you so much for visiting me today. Please take a look at my ongoing Block of the Week program based on Ruby Short McKim’s classic book, 101 Patchwork Patterns here: http://www.seacoastquilter.net/p/101-patchwork-patterns.html.

There are 2 other bloggers participating in today’s hop – please visit and enter the rafflecopter drawing after leaving a comment. We love feedback!

And our organizer and cheerleader, Marian, at
Seams To Be Sew.


Here is the Rafflecopter to enter the drawing:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for visiting.
Mary

33 comments:

  1. I really like the colors, wish I were at a beach.

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  2. Would love to make your project for the beach house I hope to have some day!

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  3. Love your idea for using the fat quarters. Might have to add this pattern to my must do list. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. I live a far way from the sea, but having pretty placemats like these to eat on would bring back sweet memories. They'd look so pretty on my table on the deck!

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  5. Great use of fat quarters and looks easy and fun!

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  6. Nice little place mat, thanks for the tute!

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  7. Very nice. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  8. nice cool soft summer colors lovely thanks

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  9. Thank you for doing this tutorial. Love it

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  10. What a fun placemat. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  11. Hi,love this tutorial>will save it! Thanks!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  12. Such a pretty place at. Great colors!

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  13. I love half square triangles and these placemats with such soft colors are fabulous!

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  14. Beautiful! I love your placemat. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  15. Lovely and simple placemats for summer. Thanks for sharing. raydeer@memlane.com

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  16. I like how you designed the placemat with it not being the same from one side to the other. Very nice.

    Your block of the week looks like fun too with all nice looking blocks so far.
    Thank you

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  17. Great placemat tutorial, thanks!

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  18. Great placemat tutorial, thanks!

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  19. Beautiful placemats! That gorgeous fabric is Clothworks Sea Cottage and does remind me of summer! Great choice.

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  20. Great way to use a set of fat quarters, thanks!

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  21. I like the seashell fabric in your little quilt. I am going to take a look at your Block of the Week.

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  22. Great placemats, Mary, they really make you believe your at the beach. I also enjoyed the tutorial, thanks so much for participating in Summer Sensations, this is a Sensational Summer project.

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  23. Crafty classy placemat. Thanks

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  24. I just love seasonal placemats. Yours are lovely.

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  25. Oh, great directions. Thanks. I may have to use your pattern for a Christmas present for a friend. I appreciate your Summer Sensation!

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  26. I love the seaside look of your placemat. Thanks for sharing the tutorial!

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  27. Nice placemat. I love the seashells.

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  28. Great project. I love the sea shell fabric.

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  29. what a lovely place mat. how fun to have these on the table sitting and looking so pretty

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  30. Great tablemat, the sea shell fabric is lovely.

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