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How to Sew Holiday Placemats

Placemats can be a great way to add a special touch to your holiday table. They’re simple to sew, and you can make them from any type of holiday fabric, including cotton novelty prints, pre-quilted holiday fabric or elegant home-decor fabrics in burgundy, green, gold, silver, deep blue or any holiday color you choose. Most holiday fabrics need interfacing to help the placemat keep its shape, but you can leave out the interfacing for thick or pre-quilted fabrics.

Things You'll Need

1/2 yard holiday fabric
2 yards holiday ribbon (unwired, at least 1 inch wide; or use double-fold bias tape instead)
Matching thread
Fusible interfacing
Scissors
Straight pins
Iron
Ironing board
Sewing machine

Instructions

Sew a Holiday Placemat
- 1
  Cut two pieces of holiday fabric, each 15"x20" (or the size of your choice). Round off the corners of the fabric if you desire.
- 2
  Use the fabric as a pattern to cut one piece of fusible interfacing the same size and shape as the fabric. Place the bumpy side of the interfacing on the wrong side of one piece of fabric. Press the interfacing onto the fabric.
- 3
  Place the pieces of holiday fabric together, with the right sides facing out and the interfacing in the middle. Pin the layers together.
- 4
  Fold the holiday ribbon in half lengthwise, with the right side facing out. Press the ribbon flat.
- 5
  Wrap the ribbon around the edge of the holiday placemat, so that the fold of the ribbon covers the edge of the placemat. Pin the ribbon to the placemat, making sure to catch the front and back of the ribbon in the pins. Fold the ribbon over in the corners, then press and pin the ribbon corners in place.
- 6
  Cut off the excess ribbon, leaving about 1/2" extra. Tuck the ends of the ribbon under and press the end flat.
- 7
  Sew the holiday ribbon to the placemat, close to the inner edge of the ribbon. A zigzag stitch will make it easier to catch both sides of the ribbon in the stitching, but it will also show more.

Sewing