Fast Placemats

Oh, boy.  I should work on my photo editing skills!  The actual color of the Timeless Treasures Denim fabric is somewhat inbetween the color of the blues in the two photos.  I could spend more time making them look better, but, the weather outside today is BEAUTIFUL and I need to exit the studio and get some fresh air!  I did want to show you, however, how cute these placemats are!  I got some of the denim print fabric from Sew Complete in Eau Claire, and my friend, Kim, gave me some cool red fabrics that I thought would be perfect with the blue.  I used the self-binding method talked about in this You Tube tutorial.   I have used this method for burp cloths and baby blankets, and it works just as good for fast placemats.  The secret ingredient?  Soft and Stable!  Yep, again.  Love that stuff.  Right before you stitch the seam that you used for turning the fabric right side out, you stuff in a layer of the Soft and Stable.  It is very similar to putting a pillow case on a pillow.  Smooth in place, press, stitch.  I used two rows of straight stitching using Jean Stitch thread in the Levi Jeans color.  I thought it was a good choice.  For a 18" x 12" placemat, you cut the main fabric 24.5" x 18.5" and the accent fabric 12.5" x 6.5".  The Soft and Stable is cut 18" x 12".  Follow the You Tube tutorial, leaving an opening in one long side, about 4 inches long, to insert the Soft and Stable once the placemat is tuned right side out and pressed.  Turn under the open edge and topstich in place.  A decorative stitch would work great, too.  Yee haw!  Jerilynn

Ready to Travel

My new Ditty Bag!  It's one of ByAnnie's newest patterns and uses Soft and Stable to give the bag structure.  Very fun pattern to make!  The fabric I used was Hometown by Sweetwater, and while I was making this bag, I was smiling the whole time as I ran across towns that I had visited over the years.  Somewhere in the fabric there is even Chippewa Falls, where we used to live, but I didn't locate that name in the piece of fabric I was using.  I made the medium size (the pattern has instructions for three sizes) and it should be just right for my make-up.  I didn't line it in plastic, but, all the fabric and components are machine washable, so I should be good to go.  Some people have big  maps on their wall with push pins marking the places they visit.  I could just whip out my lipstick and make a mark on my bag.  Clever.  Jerilynn  P.S.  Thanks for all the comments lately.  It really is so much fun to get a message!  Almost as much fun as sewing.