Scallop Placemat - Free DIY Sewing Tutorial

What better way to decorate your table for Easter than with these very pretty (and very on-trend!) scalloped placemats. Easter will look a little different again for us all this year, but add some homemade charm to your table setting this year to create a special day. I have used one of our new Liberty Piccadilly Poplin fabrics for the bias binding and Essex Linen for the main part, these are a cotton/linen mix and work so well for a huge range of sewing projects. I'm so excited for our kitchen renovations to be finished so I can create some beautiful tablescapes using these placemats finally! 

Click here to download the placemat template. Be sure to print full size-A4. I have included a 1" square for reference, so you can check you have the correct scale. No major drama if it's a little out, your placemat might just turn out a little smaller/bigger. 

Supplies

1/2m of fabric for the main section (I have used Essex Linen, Seafoam).

55" x twice the width of the finished Bias Tape Maker (cut on the bias) for the binding. (I have used Liberty Canyon Clover B, Poplin)

Hera Marker

Bias Binding Maker (I have used 3/4", but a wider 1" would be more of an impact and easier to work with)

Fabric Marking Pen

505 Temporary Spray Adhesive (optional)

16" x 16" cotton wadding/batting

Assembly

1. Print and cut four copies of the template provided. Stick them together (with no overlap) using Cellotape to make one finished scallop shape.

2. Cut (2) 16" squares from your background fabric, and (1) from cotton batting. It doesn't have to be exact, just so long as you are larger than the finished template. I have used regular cotton batting here, but you could also use special heat protective wadding that's used in oven mitts or double up on the layers if you prefer a more lofty look. 

3. Layer the batting between the two outer fabric squares. Use 505 spray adhesive to sandwich them together, or quilting pins. I chose the spray on the occasion for speed. I've not tried spray basting a quilt before, so this might be a good way to road test it before taking the plunge.

4. Line your quilt sandwich straight on your cutting mat, and mark 45-degree straight lines with a Hera Marker along the square with a 1" spacing. To find the 45-degree angle ready for marking, place your ruler so the 45-degree markings on the ruler line up straight with the edge of your cut square. Use this first line as a guide, and measure 1" out and so on. 

5. Sew on your Hera Marker lines. Increase the stitch length for a neater finish (and it goes without saying for most I'm sure, but don't forget to put your walking foot on your sewing machine! I totally forgot, and then wondered why my lines were looking warped!).

6. Flip the square around and mark lines in the other direction, and sew on the straight lines.

7. Place the paper template over the quilted square and draw around with a fabric marker pen.

8. Cut out on the drawn line. 

9. Cut the correct width of bias binding required for your bias tape maker. I have used an 3/4" (18mm) maker, however I think the 1" (25mm) would look better and make more of an impact - I just used what I had on hand. You will need to cut strips on the bias (just how you did when marking out the quilting lines) and join together to make a length of 55", or thereabouts. Run the fabric through the tape maker, sloooowly to make sure you have it nice and centered. 

10. Simply place the bias tape onto the placemat, leaving a tail of approximately 3" and pin at various points, especially at the corners. Very unhelpfully of me, I forgot to photograph this part, but I will add some photos when I make the next placemat this week. Though I found it helps to have the pins placing inwards. Stop sewing when you are about 4" away from the starting point. Join the bias binding together with your fingers to the finishing point and press it firmly. Press this with the iron and then mark a line. Carefully have these unruly ends pinned, so you can sew along the straight line you have just made. Trim off the excess tail. Continue sewing the binding in place as you were. Finished!

Luckily I only have 1 extra one to finish in time for the big day, but I'm planning on a set of 6 matching ones and I should be finished in time for when I might actually get to use them (post-lockdown!). You could also make mix-and-match colours for a unique, homemade look too. Or go to town with coordinating napkins to add charm and set the table for a special day. 

Fabrics and supplies all available from Sew & Quilt.