My local quilt shop's yearly collection of placemats for Meals on Wheels is wrapping up this week. I hadn't made nearly as many as in the past, so it was time this month to make a quick batch.
If you read my last post, you'll know that I struggled a bit with one I made last month based on the Loving Garden pattern by Bethanne Nemesh White Arbor Quilting. I needed to prove to myself that I could quickly make another without any challenges. So I did.
I chose a gray background for this one with candy pinks and greens. (That little floral print is from the '80s or '90s.) To speed things up, I quilted with a stipple (a pale turquoise that read as mint green) and discovered that my treadle really likes stippling with a 100/16 needle. Who knew? I made a minor trimming mistake, so it's a bit off-kilter, but that's okay. I think it's fun.
During a recent trip to our local library, I came across a pile of quilt magazines in the exchange bin. After flipping through them, I snagged a couple with patterns that intrigued me. I don't usually use magazine patterns, but anyway, one is going to be my next quilt. The other had a placemat. It's Stretched Nine Patch by Connie Kauffman in the November 2014 issue of Quilting World (Quilting for the Holidays). I have some fat quarters of Australian Aboriginal prints that didn't work out for a quilt a few years ago, and I thought they'd work well for placemats.
I mixed them with some scraps and used one striking one for the back. I used orange for the stipple this time.
The next placemat was a variation of a free pattern I came across online: Square Scramble by Kate Colleran for American Patchwork and Quilting. I used a different Australian fabric this time along with scraps.
I used a blue variegated thread for stippling.
I chose to make the next placemat from the four blocks of the Confetti pattern by Rachel Hauser (LaBour). I used a floral background and pulled scraps in some of the colors. To keep the placemat the required size, I needed to trim some off at the top and bottom and add a bit of background to the sides. This placemat was surprisingly time consuming, and although I like the pattern for a quilt, I would have been better off just doing improv piecing.
I had plenty of the floral print (wideback cut-off) for the back. I used white thread for the stippling.
Time was running out, but I really wanted to make another placemat. I found a wideback cut-off and pieced a scrap strip in complementary colors.
Together with three placemats I made since last spring's collection, I had an even ten to donate this year, fewer than usual, but that's okay. I've learned a few things that will make it easier to make them quickly for the next round. And for sure I'll make more of those whole cloth ones with the colorful strip. So satisfying. Here they all are again.
I still enjoy making throw quilts to donate, but placemats are quickly becoming a favorite project. I've struggled with world-weariness this year, and it's sometimes hard to get going on something big--but these give me a creative outlet in a short amount of time. Here are some of my thoughts on making placemats:
1. Someone asked me if people still use placemats. Based on the fact that these are requested for a program makes me think that they are appreciated (even though my own placemats are folded dishtowels), so I think they are worthwhile to brighten someone's day.
2.They are a great way to use up bits of fabric. I had everything I needed for them at home.
3. They are a good way to try out a pattern, if I wish, instead of making a whole quilt.
4. I found that I like using leftover cuts from widebacks for background or backing and coordinating with scraps.
5. If a pattern takes long, I've enjoyed it, but I'm not very likely to repeat it--I prefer something fast.
6. I usually try to make placemats "food friendly," staying away from really light fabrics (but not always).
7. I try to vary patterns and colors to appeal to a wide range of tastes/preferences.
8. I've done various kinds of quilting but am quickly choosing stippling most because it's easy and (you know I'm going to say this) fast.
9. I cut my binding before I start quilting so I can sew it on right after I finish quilting. It keeps the momentum going. I still enjoy sewing the binding down by hand in the evening.
10. Leftover thread works great for quilting these placemats. It helps me use up thread that isn't plentiful enough for a whole quilt--although there is an element of suspense in playing thread chicken.
I brought my batch of placemats to the local store collecting them yesterday and bought the background fabric for a quilt. (I say "bought," but I actually had enough dollars in their rewards program to "pay" for it. That was a surprise to me as I hadn't bought much lately. I feel kind of bad that I walked out without them making any money on my purchase.) I'm already starting another project that is great for this season of my life--blocks for Many Hands and Many Hearts requested by Cynthia at Quilting is more fun than Housework. You can find the directions for the block drive here. I've started sorting and cutting my batiks.
And THEN I will start the quilt I found in the free magazine at the library. Woohoo. It's good to have a plan for a manageable bit of sanity-saving sewing.
I'm linking up today with Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl for Favorite Finish, and on Sunday with Cynthia at Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap.
In these hard, heart-breaking, maddening times, keep sewing for your sanity; keep sewing for humanity. Sewing is resistance and restoration.
