by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 7, 2015
I love having a theme with a deadline to sew for, it brings out all kinds of crazy-creative in me and today’s project is no exception. I’m thrilled to be part of Making Merry with Janome today! Since Janome Canada is my sewing machine sponsor, they’ve let me borrow a beautiful Skyline S5. (Squeee!)
This Janome machine truly makes my sewing more merry all on it’s own. But this blog hop is about Making Merry by sewing at Christmas, so I decided to create a Christmas-themed table runner, since our family didn’t have one yet. Now we do and I love it! The tutorial with printable pattern pieces is included below so you can make one too.
These quilted 14″ placemats can be used for a table setting or laid out in a row as an interchangeable table runner. I prefer to use them in table runner style to save myself the mild heart attack of letting my kids eat cranberry sauce over them! Of course, you could make just one to decorate a small round side table as well. If you are a little bit adventurous, you could even turn the circle applique into a round pillow. How cute would that be?!
All of the fresh and pretty fabrics I used for this project were provided by my blog sponsor, Country Clothesline. Their uniquely curated fabric selection is full of gorgeous florals, vintage reproductions, dots and stripes. Plus you never know what else you’ll run into! Apparently I like dots, since three of the 4 fabrics in this project have them. Find them all here: Red Dot, White Dot, Grey Dot, Wintery Blue.
As usual, please feel free to use my patterns/tutorials for your personal projects and gifts and for charitable fundraising events. Please do not sell anything sewn with this pattern. If you are interested in making this item for sale, please contact me and I will set up a license for it in the shop. Thank you!
Materials:
- 1/2 yard each of 3 pre-washed fabrics (to make 3 placemats)
- 1/4 yard (or fat quarter) for hanger applique
- one 14.5″ square of quilt batting per placemat
- fusible web for applique (this one is my favorite!)
- 1/2 yard backing fabric (enough for 3 backing pieces)
- matching thread for applique
- removable fabric marker
- fusible interfacing to layer under applique if colour shows through (I used this between blue/white stripe)
- optional: walking/even foot is desirable for quilting
- optional: basting spray (or pin baste)
- CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Christmas Ornament Placemat Pattern Pieces, 5 page pdf
Printing the Pattern:
- Download the Pattern Pieces using the link in the Materials listing. Print out all 5 pages of the pdf on letter size (8.5″ x 11″) or A4 paper. Important: Do not select “fit to page” when printing, make sure you print at the original size. Once you have printed the pages, measure the 1″ test square to ensure the pattern is the correct size.
- Cut the pages on the outer gray lines and tape/glue the pages together, matching the letters in the gray half-circles. Once you are finished, cut out each pattern piece.
Cutting your Fabric:
- Use the cutting layouts below to cut each pattern piece. ** Be sure to cut as indicated to leave room for the bias cut binding strips.
- Cut 3 bias-cut binding strips to match each main ornament fabric (as shown below)
- Cut one 14.5″ square of low loft batting per placemat
- Cut one 14.5″ square of backing fabric per placemat
- Cut fusible web for each stripe and hanger pattern piece you need
- If desired, cut fusible interfacing to place between the stripe and the main ornament fabric. This helps a darker main colour not to show through a lighter stripe.
Preparing to Sew:
- Piece the three bias strips together to make one long strip. Fold the bias strip in half lengthwise and press well. Set aside.
- Layer your main fabrics. Place the backing right side down, layer the batting on top, layer the main ornament circle over the batting right side up. Spray baste if desired, or pin baste later on.
Sewing the Applique:
- Place the stripe and hanger correctly on the ornament circle following the red/dashed lines on the pattern piece. Adhere the fusible web.
- Pin baste layers together (if not spray basted earlier)
- Use an applique/blanket stitch to stitch around both fused pieces. (Skyline S5 Stitch #37: 3.5 wide, 3.0 long, AUTO tension)
Quilting the Placemat:
- Mark all light grey quilting lines from the pattern piece onto the ornament and hanger, including the hanging loop. I found that my hera marker worked well – I placed the paper template over the fabric and marked each line, then traced them with a water soluble fabric marker for better visibility. You can also use dressmaker’s carbon and tracing wheel, or even cut the pattern pieces on each line and trace around them to mark each one.
- Stitch the Quilting line on the hanger with the applique/blanket stitch.
- Quilt all other lines with a straight quilting stitch, leaving hanging loop to the next step. (Skyline S5 Stitch #01: 4.5 wide, 3.5 long, Tension at 3)
- Use a contrasting thread and small zig-zag to stitch hanging loop. I had some grey-tone embroidery thread on hand that I used. (Skyline S5 Stitch #11: 2.0 wide, 0.2 long, AUTO tension)
Binding the Placemat:
- Trim excess backing and batting, following the edge of the main ornament circle.
- Apply the bias binding as desired. I like to machine quilt my bindings and use this tutorial as a guide. ((Skyline S5 Stitch #01: 8.5 wide – brings needle to 1/4″ from edge of even foot, 3.0 long, AUTO tension)
Remove all fabric markings, press if desired, and you’re done!
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I’d love to see your project! You can share photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (links below) using the hashtags #alongforthreadride and/or #threadridinghood. Thank you!
Disclaimer: Janome Canada is my sewing machine sponsor, you can read more about why I love Janome machines from earlier this year. Country Clothesline is a blog sponsor and provided the fabrics for this project. I truly love each of their products and always give my honest opinion. Thank you for supporting this blog’s amazing sponsors.
by Sherri Sylvester | Dec 4, 2015
It’s that time again, I got to choose fabrics for the Monthly Sparks December subscription bundle from Fabric Spark!
This bundle is quite different from the one I chose in June. I started out with the idea to have a rainbow bundle, and it turned into a bundle with a low/high volume fabric for each colour. (Is high volume even a thing?!) It was fun perusing the Fabric Spark collection for hours a while choosing my favorites. There were so many of them! Once I sent over a few options, Daryl worked with me to substitute in a few choices that worked better with her stock and here it is!
I have been wanting to create a rainbow quilt of some kind for a while now – and so this bundle will join the Fabric Spark Cotton + Steel FQ bundle I bought last year. It might be a while before I get around to working on it… but it’ll happen. Until I get the perfect inspiration, this rainbow is #tooprettytochop. I can’t wait for it to arrive in my mailbox!
The Cotton + Steel Fat Quarter bundle is sold out, but wait, there’s good news! Daryl just started a new monthly subscription bundle – the Monthly Rainbows Subscription! A rainbow in your mailbox every month. Perfect for stash-building. Or that amazing rainbow quilt you’ve been planning?
What do you think? My favorite in this month’s bundle has to be the orange Sherwood animal outlines, or maybe the Morris Jewels floral reproduction, or…. Ack. I can’t choose! Which is your favorite?
Disclaimer: Fabric Spark is a sponsor of this blog and I was given the December Monthly Sparks fat quarter bundle. As always, my opinion is honest and my own – thanks for reading and supporting this blog’s sponsors!
by Sherri Sylvester | Nov 30, 2015
Happy Monday! This is the 17th shop I’ve interviewed for our continuing Canadian Online Fabric Store interview series! Today’s feature is Flare Fabrics – Marlene’s shop is “where to go” for batiks and bold contemporary cottons. Plus she stocks lots of other fabrics, yard dyes & linens, tons of notions and bag hardware and patterns. Don’t miss her gorgeous Lecien giveaway bundle, or the month-long discount code at the bottom of this post. (Good until Dec 31!)
** PLUS: Don’t miss out on the Flare Fabrics Cyber Monday Sale – Nov 30th ONLY! Save 22.2% on everything in the shop with code FF2015! **
“I started the store with a focus on batiks, a traditional fabric that is handmade in Indonesia. In the last few years as the “modern” quilt movement has grown, I love to mix and match batiks with solids and modern fabrics. It’s an exciting blend of old and new. I’m always on the look out for the unusual – a new fabric artist or a line that people haven’t seen.” ~ Marlene, Flare Fabrics
I was re-introduced to Flare Fabrics when I talked to Marlene this Spring at Creativ Festival. I worked with her Cory Pepper shot cotton in my Indiesew spring collection post. It’s gorgeous cotton and I’m still hoarding my leftovers. Here are a few favorites of mine from the shop – click to find out more! You’ll have to check out the bottom of this post for the most gorgeous Marcia Derse Bookends – she has created really amazing, unique and beautiful fabric.
Thread Riding Hood: Why did you decide to start Flare Fabrics?
Marlene: Like every quilter, I was always looking for that “one” perfect fabric for my current design. Online shopping opened numerous doors, so when I couldn’t find what I wanted in Canada, I kept turning to the U.S. Why not have these fabrics in Canada, I thought? And so Flare Fabrics was born.
My professional career was concentrated in communications. I’ve been a journalist, a photographer, a marketing consultant, a graphic designer, a web developer…to name a few. When I started Flare Fabrics in 2010, I was working full time so an online fabric store was a perfect fit with my skills, interests and availability. Or so I thought. Busy, busy, busy! Last year I left my “regular” job and took the business full time. I’m really enjoying having the time to experiment with the fabric we sell.
Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite type of sewing project? Quilting, Apparel… ?
Marlene: I’m partial to projects that can be sewn in 2 weekends – or less! I don’t sew anything larger than a decent size lap quilt and I prefer simple patterns where the texture of the fabric shines. That’s one of the many reasons I love batiks. Lately I’ve become enamoured with bags and purses and I have a large extended family so lots of people to sew pouches and totes for 🙂
Thread Riding Hood: What is something coming up in the near future that you are especially excited about?
Marlene: Flare Fabrics is moving! I have completely outgrown my home space – both the small outside studio in our Toronto backyard and the basement of the house. And so now I can finally combine my love of fabric with my love of the country. Our new home-based studio is rural – outside Perth in Eastern Ontario – and hopefully we won’t outgrow this one too quickly!
Thread Riding Hood: Thanks Marlene! My postage-stamp of a suburbian backyard can’t compete with your new place. Wow! Looks amazing!
Check out this super-generous gorgeous L’s Modern Basic by Lecien 12 Fat Quarter Giveaway! The cool blues and grays are fantastic blenders for your projects, and I think they’d make a fabulous wintery quilt all mixed together!
This giveaway is open to readers in Canada & the US, from today (November 30) until midnight December 7, 2015. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address. There’s a “click to enter”, no social media login entry too!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much to Marlene, we can use the discount code “THREAD15″ to save 15% on your order at Flare Fabrics from December 1-31, 2015! (Christmas shopping anyone?!)
Here are a few of my favorite Marcia Derse prints to get you going!
Thanks for reading. Don’t miss a post – Follow along below!
Disclosure and Privacy Policy: I asked Flare Fabrics to be a part of this series. I will never recommend or highlight a shop that I do not love, and my opinions will and have always been my own. Thanks for reading!
by Sherri Sylvester | Nov 27, 2015
I’m so excited to offer links to all these Black Friday Sales from my amazing sponsors today! These online shops sell everything from fabric to patterns and notions. They’ve provided amazing deals for you this weekend. If you’ve been eyeing something special, don’t wait! I know I’ve got my favorite things picked out and ready to go. (P.S. These are all Canadian Online Fabric Stores, most of which ship internationally. If you are in the US, the $ exchange is amazing!)
For the sake of fairness I have listed the shops in alphabetical order.
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10% off your entire order with Promo Code: thx2you10
from Friday Nov. 27 – Sunday Nov. 29
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25% off everything in store for the full 4 days of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday week-end! Promo Code: bfcm
from Friday Nov. 27 – Monday Nov. 30 |
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There is a different 50% off sale happening each day! To find out what is on sale today, click over to the Dinkydoo sale page.
from Friday Nov. 27 – Sunday Nov. 29 |
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All fabrics 50% off, both in-store and online. (Yes! ALL fabrics! No exceptions!)
One day only – Friday Nov 27, 2015
Plus we also have a Cyber Monday deal. Free Shipping* on all orders over $79.99 (* Promotions excludes deliveries to USA, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and some very remote areas.) |
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35% off EVERYTHING in store! Promo Code: BLACK15
from Friday Nov. 27 – Monday Nov. 30 |
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20% off everything including new collections, sale fabrics, patterns, kits and bundles! Promo Code: woohoo
from Friday Nov. 27 – Monday Nov. 30 |
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Visit to see all of our amazing deals! Specially priced for Black Friday through Cyber Monday, no coupon code necessary!
from Friday Nov. 27 – Monday Nov. 30 |
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Madiba’s Range on sale for $16.00 per metre (20% discount) For every metre sold, we make a donation of $1.00 to Grandmothers to Grandmothers.
from Friday Nov. 27 – Sunday Nov. 29 |
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15% off everything in store! Promo Code: blackfriday
from Friday Nov. 27 – Monday Nov. 30
PLUS Find doorcrasher deals throughout Friday on Facebook only! |
by Sherri Sylvester | Nov 26, 2015
Turns out I’m still here. (of course!) Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today. I am drooling over your mashed potatoes and turkey pictures on Instagram!
I wanted to write a quick note to say you should watch out early tomorrow for my Black Friday Sale post! You will not believe how generous these amazing Canadian shops are being with their sales this year. Charge your devices people – you’ll be shopping for a long, long while!
As for the crazy unplanned week and a half break? It was forced by 7 days of fever and rest, leading to me being diagnosed yesterday with Pneumonia of all things! Craziness. Thankfully antibiotics are fast working and I’m feeling better already today. On a brighter note, though, we did manage to put up our Christmas things on Saturday. And all this forced resting has allowed me to get my Christmas Making fabric yardage list ready for the sales tomorrow. It’s not all bad!
by Sherri Sylvester | Oct 21, 2015
Many times I scroll through an online fabric shop‘s stock and see licensed fabrics – Princesses, Avengers, even Dr Who – and I scroll right past.
It happens every time. Not sure why? Maybe it’s the cartoon-y look, or the overabundance of princess gear everywhere? If my kids are with me they immediately notice, “Mommy, go back! Up there! I think I saw – insert character here -.“
Last month, an email from The Fabric Society showed up in my inbox. They asked if I’d like to work with them. I clicked over to their site and sat scrolling through their huge stock of licensed fabrics – sitting, for once, with no other option. I realized the reason I don’t use licensed fabrics is not immediately clear to me. I realized it’s not all about me, I may not generally use licensed fabrics, but my kids LOVE them!
Going forward, there will be more stopping and less scrolling.
Since I love making my kids happy I changed my mind. I wrote back to The Fabric Society saying, “… I’m sure one or both of my girls (or even my husband!) would love to have something made with your fabrics.” #truth And that is how my youngest ended up with a My Little Pony and Marvel Immortals reversible skirt – with pockets. (Pockets are super important!)
“It’s not all about what I think, I may not generally use licensed fabrics, but my kids LOVE them!”
The perfect pattern to use for these (non-sleepwear) fabrics is the Potato Chip Skirt from Tie Dye Diva Patterns. I bought this pattern last year, I think, and have made it twice already. It comes with or without the all-important pockets and you can make it unlined, lined or reversible. I love that it will last you a long, long time because it comes in sizes 12-18 months through 13/14!
The instructions are well thought out and easy to follow. The finished skirt looks professional and so cute! I love the a-line shape and the fact that the elastic back does not need fasteners for dressing. I can see using it a lot more – maybe making a denim one with back pockets or adding front patch or inseam pockets to a linen version. Honestly, I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything I didn’t like about this pattern. I followed all the instructions exactly each time. The only thing I changes was to lower the front rise by 1″ – which seems to fit my kids better with most patterns.
“Honestly, I’m not sure if there is anything I didn’t like about this pattern.”
When I sat down to look through fabric options with my kids, it took 45 minutes for them to decide on their favorites! We linked and saved and scrolled back, over and over (and over) again. After much (much) debate, my youngest chose My Little Pony and Avengers. My oldest has some Cinderella and Star Wars fabric waiting in my to-do box as well! The girls didn’t want to leave my husband out, so they chose something for him too – not sure what for yet, but I’ve added it to the stash. It will likely turn into another pair of pajama pants.
Join the conversation! Do you sew with licensed fabrics? Why or Why not?
One day soon I will post about the other two skirts. For now, I’m still recovering from my weekend away at BlissDom – a social media and blogging conference. It was amazing and I’m hoping to write and tell you about it later on this week.
Follow #alongforthreadride!
Disclaimer: The Fabric Society provided the fabric for this skirt at no charge in exchange for a mention in this post. My opinions are my own and I will not support or write about anything I do not love or believe in. Thanks for reading! (Privacy Policy)
