Turning the Corner

Coordinating Place Mats & Napkins

MATERIALS
Materials given are enough for two place mats and two napkins.

• 1 1/4 yards of background fabric (place mat and napkin backs; also frames the front fabric)
• 1 yard of feature fabric (place mat and napkin fronts)
• 1/2 yard of 45"-wide fusible fleece

Place Mats

Cut two 13" x 18 1/2" rectangles of feature fabric and two 13" x 18 1/2" rectangles of fusible fleece. Fuse the feature fabric to the fusible fleece; trim each rectangle to 12" x 17 1/2".

Cut two 15" x 20 1/2" rectangles of background fabric. Fold under and press a 1/4" hem on all edges.

Make a 1" x 6" template from card stock or tag board. Cut a 45° angle at one end (6).

At each background fabric corner, fold the fabric diagonally right sides together, aligning hems; use the template to mark the miter stitching line (7). Sew each corner, using a 1.5 mm-long stitch to avoid backstitching. Repeat to miter each corner. Trim the seam allowances to 1/4", tapering into the points. Press the seam allowances open. Turn and press a 1" hem to the wrong side on all edges.

Slip the fleece-backed feature fabric into the background fabric, tucking it under the background fabric's pressed hem (8). Trim and adjust the feature fabric if necessary. Fusible fleece thicknesses vary and may require additional trimming.

Edgestitch along the hem edge through all fabric layers. Use a walking foot for even feeding. Optional: Add additional parallel rows of topstitching on the feature fabric.

From the May 2005 issue of Sew News magazine.