Thursday, November 22, 2012

more improv piecing

You know how I was planning on making some place mats, right? Well, it seems I really, really wanted to make them because that's what I did right after I finished writing up my post. And then I got some very nasty cold + flu that kept me in bed, and not sewing at all, for 2 days straight. Totally going crazy here!

So, I thought I'd just show you the two place mats I managed to finish. Hopefully more of them will be coming soon.


 This place mat was 100% inspired by the ones Chase made a while ago. I really loved all that improv patchwork combined with the white solid fabric she used, but I was being realistic here and decided to use darker fabric that will definitely be able to hide some stains.


I first quilted the patchwork part - almost in the qayg style since I attached it to the batting and quilted.


 I then added the backing and the two dark strips around the patchwork and quilted those using straight lines. I really love how the quilting looks on the back, too.


I decided to back it using my new favorite fabric I found at Joann - a very soft, inky colored jeans fabric. I found it in the pants section but it's so much softer and drapier than any other jeans fabric I came across before. (I'm thinking it would make a very practical and stylish backing for a picnic quilt.)

I then trimmed the place mat to 13" x 18" and bound it as I would a quilt, cutting my binding fabric to be 2" wide, instead of my usual 2.5" I use for quilts.
I followed the same process for making the second place mat, too.


 Here it is, very similar, yet not the same as the first one. That's what I like about them.


Wishing you all a wonderfully creative day. And to all my US friends, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

15 comments:

  1. Really cute. I love the Joel Dewberry for binding. I've got such a hoard of those herringbones. Love them.

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  2. Oh, cool! Love them, and love Chase's beauties, too!

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  3. I saw them on flickr & loved them!! I really wanted to make some placemats this summer but didn't get to it...still hope to. Hope you are feeling better!!

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  4. Hope you feel better soon. The placemats are beautiful! Jxo

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  5. Love the improv, and the darker fabrics are perfect for placemats!

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  6. Lovely that they are all similar but individual. Hope you are feeling better soon :-)

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  7. I love these, hope you're feeling much better soon!

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  8. Great placemats! And smart thinking with the dark colors!

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  9. Hope you are feeling better! These placemats are really beautiful! The dark fabric is perfect for hiding stains and I like the thinner binding. Plus, those Oh Deer deer are the cutest. I will never be able to get enough of them. I wonder what kind of plates you have. My guess is white;)

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  10. These are great! Seen them on Flickr, love the black background and the Madronna Road text!

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  11. Really cute and love the method you used for making them.

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  12. great tute! am going to love this blog hop!

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