Petite Placemats
What is a petite placemat? It’s larger than a mug rug, but smaller than a normal placemat. I made mine petite when I cut the circle too small so we had something for those evening snacks on the deck.
Over the weekend, I took the Island Batik scraps from my current project and began sewing them together, creating two large improv pieces. Today I cut them into circles 12-inches in diameter. I’ve been on a little kick with placemats recently. You can see the other pair I made here.
Once the placemats were cut, I used two other pieces of scraps for the backs and scraps of batting to create the quilt sandwich. I quilted them using my walking foot to make a wavy line using Aurifil turquoise (#2810).
The quilting was done quickly and then I added bias binding. I love how easy this is to stitch to the placemats. I stitch the binding to the back, flip it over and stitch it down using my walking foot.
My Janome machine has an auto pivot foot which I use often. It’s great for curves. As I stitch, if I need to stop to adjust the placemat under the needle, the foot automatically lifts up just a bit, allowing me to move the placemat into position. When I’m ready to sew, I just start stitching and it drops down again. I don’t know if you can see it clearly enough in the photo, but the foot is just a bit above the fabric.
I was hoping to get them done in time for some quick outdoor photos, but the rain came before I was done. Here they are on my bed, with Wilbur looking on.
They look really small in that photo, don’t they? Here’s another photo, with one of my small 5″ cereal bowls.
I think they will work really well for those evenings when we are just enjoying small plate dining on the deck.
Spring Planting
On Monday, BigJ and I spent the day buying our spring flowers and getting them planted before the rains come for the rest of the week. Here’s my chicken planter by the front door.
It’s one of the planters we bought while in New Mexico. I think it’s fun.
I had seen a planter with solar lights somewhere on social media and thought it would be fun to try, so we picked up a couple lights at Menards. They were $5 each, so we figured if we didn’t like them it wasn’t too much of a loss. We added them to the other planters we brought back from New Mexico.
Later that night, BigJ noticed that one of them turns colors. We must have chosen two different lights, because the other one just stays white. Clearly we didn’t read the labels too well. I posted a little video on my Instagram feed (@piecefulwendy) if you want to see it.
Quilt Market Goodies
So, I promised a little peek at some of the goodies my brother brought me from Quilt Market. Here’s the first one, a fat quarter bundle of Whatever the Weather from Lewis & Irene. I’ve not heard of this designer before, but the fabrics are so cute. I have very few novelty fabrics in my stash, so I’m already pondering what fun projects to make with these.
The overcast skies are making it difficult to get decent lighting for my photos, but they are a bright little bunch of fun. Here’s a closer photo so you can see the designs.
Snowmen, ladybugs, mushrooms, rainbows — so many cute little tiny designs! He did good, huh? What would you make with a bundle like this?
We’ve made it to mid-week, so what have you been up to in your sewing room?
Wendy
22 Comments
Cindy Pieters
Adorable placemats! My machine has the same foot function. Your brother did good indeed.
Lisa
both the placemats and the fabrics are lots of fun! This past weekend was a long weekend for us and it’s the weekend we are supposed to do the planting…but was so cold I haven’t planted the annuals yet. Some people are calling it Mayvember…also not a lot of sun but at least we are getting some.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! You’re on the cutting edge, as usual. Petite placemats will be all the rage this summer for those times when you just want a smaller sized placemat – dessert plate size. Yes! I say we should all have dessert first anyway. Cool feature about the foot lifting slightly! I thought it was so slick when they gave me a knee bar with my Elna – but that sounds even more cool. It’s like it can read your thoughts next. You guys were lucky to beat the weekend rush – I had plans to do that as well for picking up flowers after work one day. If it would ever stop raining it just may happen. Rumor has it it’s supposed to be sunny today although it rained all the way to work. Whatever. There may be flowers this weekend or there may not – who really cares?! Oh to enjoy my rocking chair out back though – dare to dream. ~smile~ Roseanne
Karen Goad
I love your planters and the placemats and the fabric – your brother did good it looks like!
Vicki in MN
Great use of your leftover IB fabrics, such fun cute placemats! Your new planters look great! I saw many of those kind of pots in Mexico and wished I had room to get one, and one of their beautiful metal flower decorations for a flower garden.
Sherry @ PoweredByQuilting
Love the improv circles, they are so much fun!
My Sewful Retirement
Hi Wendy, your flower arrangements look fantastic! I too have worked on a few improv projects this week. I watched a few classes and decided to give it a try. Your placemats are super cute and very practical! All of my machines have the auto pivot function and I absolutely love it!
Barbara
Your little placements are very cute. It’s making me want to do the ones I have sitting only in the planning stage. The planters look great! Looking like a nice day here today. I might get out for a walk.
Louise Hornor
Chicken planter!! I love it!
Tiny placemats would work so well on our tiny, round outdoor table! Unfortunately, the risk of a gust of wind blowing them into the water is very real. So I’ll just admire your perfectly sized, happy pieces. The pivoting foot sounds like a really neat feature on your Janome.
Your brother did a great job choose fabrics! You know I love the darling novelty prints and bright colors. In my studio, they’d end up in a whole variety of quilts for kids 🙂
Needle and Foot
I love Lewis & Irene! I have carried a number of their fabrics in my shop and they are always very sweet (plus they are a nice quality fabric). He made a good choice. Love that feature on your machine. Mine doesn’t have that and it is a pain to lift and adjust and try not to get a bit of a jog in the stitching. The mats are super cute Wendy.
Diann Bottrell
I love your little placemats! Bright and colorful and summery – something we all need right now. The new planter is so fun, and I love the light that changes color. That was a great surprise purchase! Your brother brought you some great fabric, too – I think I would just enjoy petting it for awhile!
gail
You made me chuckle at how you got the “petite” placemats! So cute and so very pretty!!!
Happy Quilting! “-)
Sandra Walker
We’ve had such gloomy weather here too, seems like forever. A part of me keeps thinking no, it’s a good thing, because it means it’s not so hard to have to keep Rocco inside, as he recovers from his knee surgery, but still, I need the sunlight for good mood, and for warmth! I love your little placemats; you inspired me last year (with an unfinished squirrel) to make some patio décor, and I need to get back at it! Wonderful fabric from your bro-curer. 😉 Now I need to go find that IG post, as I missed it.
somethingrosemade14
Why didn’t I maybe not remember or did not know you have a brother with fabric connections? Your Bee name Shopping Sista was well chosen.
Preeti Harris
Well Wendy, when one avoids a burger because it is too big and is too filling and has too many calories, I suggest they eat sliders. So all you have done is respond to that health-conscious population. How appropriate!!! All you need is a salad made from microgreens 🙂 to go well with your petite cuties!!!
Kathleen McCormick
Those are fun little placemats – actually this whole entry is tons of fun! I love the plantings you did as well as seeing some of the gorgeous fabrics that were purchased for you. Looks like some great projects will be feasting our eyes soon.
Jocelyn Thurston
Wendy, love these little placemats in gorgeus summery colours.
I love your planters with coleus, New Guniea Impatients (I think) and my all time favourite, geraniums. All these should flourish.
Yes, that new fabric is very cute.
thedarlingdogwood
What adorable fabrics!!! I have seen Lewis & Irene a few times, I have a great fairy print of theirs from a few years ago. Love your petite placemats! Perfect for a snack outside!
treadlemusic
Hello! Those mats are so perfect! I do prefer the look of “round” but that always requires bias binding and usually it just doesn’t work. The chicken planter is adorable and your plant choices couldn’t be better!. A couple sunny days then back to the rains. Kinda getting old!!!!!
Smiles from Kate
What lovely little placemats. I find dinner plates now are too big, they encourage us to add extra food to fill up the plates, not good for the waistline. I need to find smaller plates and make some of those lovely placemats, it’s a great way to use up bits and pieces. I like the foot too, what a great idea.
laughinggasquilts
Those placemats are just adorable, and a fabulous way to make the most of your beautiful scraps. They will bring joy to your evening light meals and even make it look like you’re eating more, in the way small plates do. Winning all round!
piecefulwendy
Thanks! They are getting plenty of use!