These unique and fun to make placemats will be a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving table. They are designed as a part of a set with my Handstitched Napkins which you can find at this link.

Materials

To make four 17-inch by 13-inch placemats and four 16-inch napkins:

• 1/2-yard of Echino Solid in Bright Pink
• 1/2-yard of Echino Solid in Chartreuse
• 1/2-yard of Kona Cotton in Bright Pink
• 1/2-yard of Kona Cotton in Mustard
• 1-yard of Nani Iro Linen Blend in Brown Print
• Embroidery Thread in Light Brown Black
• A small embroidery needle

If you want to make more than a set of four placemats and napkins you will need 1/2-yard of solid for each napkin and placemat set. You will get two placemats out of each 1/2 yard of the brown print.

You can find my Handstitched Napkin Project Journal at this link.

Cutting and Prepping

Cut one of the solids to a 19-inch x 15-inch rectangle.

Cut the brown print to a 17-inch x 13-inch rectangle.

Using a pair of pointy, sharp scissors cut a short slit in the fabric, about 2 to 4-inches long.

Cut five more slits emanating out like flowers petals.

Cut a few more of these 6 petaled flower shapes in random places around the brown fabric. If you look carefully at the picture above you can see the cut slits. I also cut a three petaled half shape near the edge.

Feel free to cut as many or as few of these shapes as you like.

Center the brown fabric on the solid so there is an inch of solid beyond all four sides of  the brown fabric. Measure this as exactly as possible  because it will make the finishing step a lot easier.

Baste the two pieces together by pinning them together with safety pins.  Make sure to pin down each corner and the sides.

Sewing the Reverse Applique

Tuck one raw side of one of the slits under itself, towards the wrong side of the fabric, hiding it's raw edge. It will automatically make a curved shape. Finger press the edge down so it lays flat.

Starting from the back of the fabric (and thus hiding the knot) sew the folded fabric down to the solid using a very small running stitch right along the folded edge.

When you get to the next side of the slit turn around and fold the second side in on itself just like you did the first one.

Once you sew all the way around each slit you will have a little petal/almond shaped bit of the solid fabric peeking though. Sew around all the slits in this way.

Once you've reversed appliquéd all of the cuts remove safety pins and press the placemat.

Finishing

Fold the 15-inch raw edges 1/2-inch to meet the raw edges of the brown fabric, press into place.

Fold and press the 15-inch sides 1/2-inch once more, this time overlapping and encasing the raw edge of the brown fabric. Pin to secure.

Starting at the edge of the brown fabric sew these folds down with a small running stitch at the very edge of the fold. Stop at the opposite edge of the brown fabric.

Fold and press all four corners in a right angle triangle towards the raw edge of the fabrics as shown above.

Fold and press the 17-inch sides of the solid 1/2-inch towards the brown fabric so their raw edges meet as pictured above. Make sure to keep the triangle of the corner folded down during this step.

Fold and press the 17-inch edges down 1/2-inch once again, encasing the raw edges. Your corner should miter neatly as you do this. Pin these folds into place.

With a small running stitch sew the long sides down using a small running stitch a the edge of the fold (hide your knot inside the mitered corner). 

Repeat for with the three other solid colors and then, if you want, make some Handstitched Napkins as well! Happy Thanksgiving! --Molly