Emily Herrick « modafabrics

For each placemat you will need:
1/2 yard Ombre Solid by V and Co. for Moda Fabrics
6″” x 42″ of Moda Bella solid white
1 fat quarter coordinating print

Embroidery floss and supplies

Press your 1/2 yard ombre fabric and lay out on your cutting mat horizontally.

Trim the selvedge from the darkest end and cut a strip 4 3/4″ wide.

(Your piece will be 4 3/4″ x 18″)

Next find the lightest part of the fabric. It should be right on the fold. With the lightest color of fabric in the middle, cut another strip 4 3/4″ wide.

Using the fabric between the two strips you just cut, find the area of fabric with the biggest color difference. I eyeballed this and then cut two 4 3/4″ strips- one from each area.

(There was anywhere from 1 1/4″ to 1 3/4″ between each each strip)

Trim each strip to 14″ in length then lay out your 4 strips in order from darkest to lightest.

From the white fabric cut (2) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips and (1) 1″ x WOF strip.

Set aside the 2 1/2″ strips for Binding. Cut the 1″ strip into (3) 1″ x 14″ strips

Begin sewing a 1″ white strip to the right side of 3 color sections as shown above. Use a 1/4″ seam. Press towards the Ombre fabric.

Making sure the colors stay in order, continue sewing sections until all are together.

After the placemat top is together you can add “color names” if you want. I designated a placemat for each member of my family and then chose color names that fit that person. My daughter has the pink placemat so I used color names such as “Lip Smacker” and “Pinkalicious” to personalize it for her. Use your creativity or find color names online from a paint store.

Write the names in the bottom left of each section using a Frixion pen (the kind that disappear when ironed). Layer with a 80/20 batting and embroider using a backstich and thread of your choice.

(I used white thread and the color names are hard to read in the lighter colors)

Finish the placemat by sandwiching the placemat top, 80/20 batting, and coordinating fat quarter for the back. Baste or pin then quilt. I used not-so-straight line quilting in each section.