With this DIY Placemats tutorial, you can create your own placemats perfect for a wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or dining table! This step-by-step tutorial will teach you how to make beautiful placemats easily.

The right placemat can be the perfect addition to dress up your dining table. Whether that be for a special occasion or simply to use for supper.

Sadly, placemats have been somewhat left in the past, and their designs are often outdated. With this tutorial, however, you can learn to make these elegant and on-trend placemats perfect for any event!

In this post we will discuss the materials needed and exact steps I used when making my handmade table mats.

By the end, you will have a great knowledge of how to sew placemats and hopefully be ready to make your own!

Elegant & Easy DIY Placemat Tutorial

If you’re looking for placemats for your wedding, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or dining table, this DIY placemats tutorial is perfect for you!

Yield: 1 Placemat

Equipment

Pair of scissors
Sewing Machine
Measuring Tape
Iron
Pins

Materials

1 piece Top Fabric Any color or pattern of your choice
1 piece Back Fabric Use a fabric such as cotton or canvas that has little-no give in it.
1 spool Thread Complementary or matching color to your top fabric

Instructions

Cutting out your pieces

Begin by cutting your back fabric to size. The measurements are 36cm Wide x 46cm Long.
Using the rectangle you just cut as a pattern, cut the same-sized rectangle from your top fabric.
Now to cut out the pieces for our frills. Cut 2 long rectangles, sized 92cm Long x 12cm Wide from your top fabric.

Putting it together

With the right sides together, line up and pin the long edges of your top and back layers to each other.
Sew down both pinned sides with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Turn right sides out and set aside.
To create the frills, begin by taking your long pieces and folding them in half lengthwise, right sides facing inward. Pin in place at the short ends.
Sew down each short edge.
Iron flat your placemat base, making sure it’s right side out. Do the same for your 2 long rectangles, remembering you want them right sides out.
Now to make the frills, change your sewing machine stitch length to between 3-4.
Taking your frill pieces, sew all the way along the cut edge with a 1cm seam allowance. DO NOT backstitch at the beginning and end.
Stitch another straight line the same way with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Remember to leave long tails for your thread.
Repeat this step for both pieces.
Now to gather. Taking the 2 top threads in your right hand, holding the fabric in your left, gently pull away. Turn around and gather from the other side as well.
Repeat this step for both pieces until they are gathered to the length of 34cm long.
With your placemat base turned inside out, pin your gathered frill in between the top and back fabrics so raw edges are aligned.
Make sure your stitch length is back to a smaller setting Sew along the pinned edge.
Turn right-side out and iron flat if needed. Top stitch 1cm away from the seam you just sewed.
Turn inside out and repeat step 11, except leave a small opening about 2 Inchs long.
Sew the pinned edge, remembering to leave the opening.
Using the opening, turn your placemat back to right side out.
Carefully fold and pin the opening seam shut, then top stitch the side shut, again 1cm away from the seam.
Do one last iron if necessary, and you’re done!

Elegant & Easy DIY Placemats

Equipment & Materials

Scissors
Sewing Machine
Measuring Tape
Iron
Pins
Top Fabric
Bottom Fabric
Thread

Choosing The Fabric

For this tutorial, I used a thick cotton fabric, recycled from a bedsheet for the backing. I then used muslin for my top fabric and the frills. I would not recommend using any fabric that is likely to shrink, warp or stretch (I wouldn’t use muslin for this again).

Cotton therefore is a great choice. And keep in mind it’s easier to avoid see-through fabrics as with that your inner seams are visible.

Cutting Your Pattern

From your top fabric you will cut one large rectangle 46cm L x 36cm W. Cut the exact same-sized rectangle from your backing fabric.

For the frills, cut two long strips 92cm long x 12cm wide.

See the diagram above for clear measurements.

Sewing Your Placemat

Step 1:

With right sides together, line up and pin the long edges of your back and front layer to each other.

Using a 1.5cm seam allowance and setting “2” stitch length, sew together the long edges of your placemat.

Step 2:

Taking your frill pieces, fold them in half lengthwise and pin the edges together. Sew the edges together.

Repeat this on both sides of each piece.

Step 3:

Turn your main placemat and frill pieces right side out and Iron flat. This is an optional step but one that is very helpful to keep your project looking crisp.

Step 4:

Adjust your stitch length to between 3-4. Taking a frill piece, stitch gather stitch 1cm from the edge. Remember to leave the thread tails long and do not back-stitch at the beginning and end.

Stitch another straight line exactly the same way but with a 1.5cm seam allowance.

Repeat this step for both frill pieces.

Now to gather. Taking the 2 top threads in your right hand, holding the fabric in your left, gently pull away. Turn around and gather from the other side as well.

Repeat this step for both pieces until they are gathered to the length of 34cm long.

Step 5:

With your placemat base turned inside out, pin your gathered frill in between the top and bottom fabrics so raw edges are aligned.

Making sure your stitch length is back to a smaller setting, sew along the pinned edge.

Another helpful step is to trim your corners to help get sharp corners.

Step 6:

Turn right-side out and iron flat if needed. Top stitch 1cm away from the seam you just sewed.

Step 7:

Turn your placemat inside out and again pin the raw edge of your frill, sandwiched between the front and back pieces.

This time when pinning, leave a 2-inch opening where you will not sew. Sew together the pinned area.

Step 8:

Using the opening you left, turn your placemat right side out again. Carefully pin the opening shut with the raw edges pointing inside.

Top stitch over where the opening was and all the way to the end, again sewing 1cm away from the seam. After doing this your opening should be stitched closed and you’ll have an even top stitch just like the other side.

Finishing Touches!

Lastly, I always like to iron my placemats, so they look beautiful and new, ready for use! These placemats could have so many different uses and even look cute when draped over the edge of the table with one frill at the top and one hanging down.

Elegant & Easy DIY Placemats Perfect For Any Occasion