Patchwork Breeze

Folded Geese Placemat

These instructions are for ONE placemat. In ( ) are the fabric amounts if you plan to make 4 placemats. 

Use 1/4” seams throughout.

 

Supplies:

 

Main top fabric:  fat ¼   (2/3 yard)

Left Side Bar:     2-1/2” x 12-1/2” (fat 1/4)

Background for geese:  1/8 yard (1/3 yard)

Geese:  1/8 yard (1/3 yard)

Flat piping:  1/8 yard (long ¼ yard cut)

Backing:  fat ¼ (2/3 yard)

Batting:  one piece 20” x 14” (2/3 yard)

Cut:

1 Backing fabric 18-1/2” x 12-1/2”

1 Main top fabric (right side section) 12-1/2” x 10-1/2”

1 Left side section strip 12-1/2” x 2-1/2”

2 Piping (no cording in this piping) 1” x 12-1/2”

Background for geese blocks: 8 pieces 3-1/2” x 3-1/2”

Folded geese pieces: 4 rectangles 6-1/2” x 3-1/2”

Assembly:

Make the flying geese blocks first.  Fold one rectangle in half WST (Wrong Sides Together) with short ends touching. (It will now measure 3-1/2” x 3-1/4”).  Place this folded piece between two background squares so the right sides of each background are touching the folded piece, making sure the raw edges of ALL pieces are aligned.  The folded piece will be 1/4" short of aligning with the raw edges of the background squares.

Diagram at left shows folded piece on bottom background square.   The square at right  is right side up and has to be flipped right side down on top of the folded square.

Sew a 1/4" seam from the corner where all raw edges align, down the edge, ending at the corner below the folded edge of the flying geese piece.  Turn the sewn piece 90º.

Open one background piece flat.  Press seam.  Open the folded section so that bottom corners match and a triangle is formed.  Press flat.  Pin corners in place.  Repeat for 3 more flying geese blocks.  The point of the triangle will be ¼” below the raw edge, this is the space for the seam allowance when sewing the blocks together. Sew the 4 blocks together into a column that measures 6-1/2” x 12-1/2”. 

Fold the two piping strips in half lengthwise with Right Sides Together (RST) and press.  Lay one piping strip on the left side of the flying geese unit so raw edges align and the piping is covering the corners of the triangles.  Place the left side strip over (right side covering) the piping strip.  Pin along the 12-1/2” edge and sew all layers.  Press open so the seams are all under the flying geese side of the piece.

Place the other piping strip over the flying geese unit on the right edge, raw edges aligned.  Place the Main front fabric on top of these pieces so the right side is down.  Pin the long 12-1/2” edge and sew through all layers.  Press open so all raw edges are under the flying geese unit.

The flying geese triangles have a long diagonal bias side which is open.  This can be left open, topstitched down, or you can do as I did:  Roll the bias edges toward the center of the triangles, hold in place with a bit of Roxanne’s Glue Baste It and then topstitch in place.

Quilting the placemat:   I am not working with the backing yet!  I put the top of the placemat on the batting, spray basted it in place, or you can pin it.  I used the walking foot to sew some straight lines down the main fabric piece of the placemat top and the side strip on the left.  I then sewed in the ditch under the 3 top triangles.

Finishing:  Trim the batting to the size of the placemat top.  Place the backing on the placemat top, RST.  Begin sewing at the middle of the main fabric of the placemat, 1/4” around the edges and stopping about 4” from where you began.  Trim the corners so when the piece is turned right sides out they will make a nice point.  After turning it inside out, press all edges and sew the opening closed.  Topstitch around the edges 1/8” or 1/4" from the edge.

Tip:  To help me keep the top and bottom of turned items well aligned so the backing doesn’t show on the front, or vise versa, I dampen my fingers and roll the seams so they are aligned and iron immediately.

I hope you try this project, or change it up a bit with colors or designs.  Happy Sewing!