Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Summer of Sewing: Iris Garden Placemat Tutorial

Welcome back for our second Summer of Sewing tutorial here at Inspired by Fabric! 

We'll be featuring regular tutorials as part of our Summer of Sewing series, all using our newest fabric lines that you can find at your local quilt shop! Our tutorials will include a chance to win a bundle of the fabric line being used, so make sure to enter each time! 

This week we're featuring Ro Gregg's beautiful floral line, Garden Rendezvous. This placemat design is so much fun to sew--measuring is optional! Adding tonal strips to a large piece of the focal iris print creates a trellis effect. We've even included instructions for making a simple pieced back so that these placemats can be reversible! Such pretty prints for a garden-themed summer table setting!

 Let's get started!
You'll Need:

(to make four placemats)
7/8 yard focal iris print
14 yard or fat quarter each of five coordinating tonals (we used purple, magenta, rose, yellow, and green)
5/8 yard lavender tonal
1/2 yard iris stripe (for optional pieced backing)
1 yard beige tonal (for optional pieced backing)
Thin batting (optional)

**If you opt not to piece the backing, you'll need 1 yard of backing fabric, which you'll cut into four 14" x 19" backing pieces 

Cutting: 
From the focal iris print: 
Four 13" x 15" pieces

From each of the five coordinating tonals:
Four 1-1/2" x 20" strips

From the lavender tonal: 
Eight 2" x 11" strips and eight 2" x 19" strips

Optional pieced backing: 
From the iris stripe:
Fussy-cut four 3-3/4" x 14-1/2" pieces, centering the stripe

From the remaining magenta tonal:
Four 1" x 14-1/2" strips

From the beige tonal:
Four 14-1/2" x 15-1/2" pieces

From the batting:
Four 14" x 19" pieces

Making the Placemat:
Note: You can make your cuts wherever you like on you focal iris piece; just stay at least 2" away from all four edges so you'll have room to trim when you've finished. We've included measurements for our cutting lines as a guide. 

1. Cut the focal iris pieced vertically 6" from the left edge. Sew a 1-1/2" x 20" magenta strip between the two pieces. Tip: To avoid fabric stretching, don't press until after you've sewn pieces to both sides of thin strip. 




2. Cut the focal iris piece horizontally 9" from the top edge. Sew a 1-1/2" x 20" green strip between the two pieces, making sure that the two magenta strips will align after you add the green strip. (Don't worry about extra strip length or about the outer edges of the iris focal piece not lining up exactly--we'll trim this when we're done.)


3. In the same way, add the purple strip after cutting the focal iris strip 4" from the right edge. 


4. Continued, adding the blue strip 6" down from the top edge. 


5. And finally, the yellow strip, 3" from the left edge. 


6. Trim the pieced unit to measure 16" wide x 11" tall. 
7. Sew 2" x 11" lavender tonal strips to the sides and press. Sew 2" x 19" lavender tonal strips to the top and bottom and press. Your placemat front is now complete.

8. To make the pieced back, sew the fussy-cut stripe strip, the 1" x 14-1/2" magenta strip, and the 14-1/2" x 15-1/2" beige tonal pieced together as shown. Trim to measure 14" x 19". 

9. Layer the batting piece, backing right side up and placemat top right side down. Pin around all four edges and sew around the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a 6" opening for turning. Clip the corners, turn the placemat right side out and press. Press raw edges in and topstitch 1/8" from placemat edge to close the opening and create a finished edge. Add another line of stitching if desired. 
10. Repeat steps 1-9 to make three additional placemats. 


Finished front:

Finished back:

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Garden Rendezvous collection, make sure you follow us on the blog (options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you do, as well as telling us your favorite print from the Garden Rendezvous fabrics. Giveaway is open through Sunday, June 19 at 11:59 pm CST. We'll randomly draw a winner and announce it on the blog next week. Make sure we have a way to get in touch with you if you are selected as the winner!  This giveaway is now closed! 

Congratulations to the winner of the Happy bundle: Kira
We'll contact you for your mailing information! 

42 comments:

  1. I follow your blog, and like the panel in the garden series, thanks.
    cork at pa.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I follow Inspired By Fabric by email. My favourite fabric is 120-11611. I love the soft colours and the overall design.

    lin.web.28 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the sweet little yellow flowers #120-11651. I follow by email. basaran.family@rogers.com Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow Inspired By Fabric via email and often on Facebook. While the focal overall prints are gorgeous, I really like 120-11643, the blue print on cream. But I love the tonal prints 120-11662 (purple) and 120-11663 (blue) iris prints. Really, too hard to decide!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Follow by email. Like print 120-11612. Thanks for sharing. Really like the placemats. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  6. I follow via google reader and my favourite of the fabrics is 120-11643. Thanks for the tutorial on the placemats.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Follow via email. I like the tonals especially to teal blue.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I receive your emails and also like you on facebook. Thanks for the placemat tute. My favorite print is 120-11631. We have irises in our yard that shade.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So cute and love the fabric combo.My favorite print is 120-11642.

    Follow by email.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I follow by email! Lovely fabrics like this are so hard to chose a favorite because it is so easy to get lost planning quilts with each and every one of the fabrics. This time I will choose 120-11663. It is such a fabulous color and the way it just stood out from all the others for me. Thank you for the opportunity to win this great prize! Have a fantastic creative day!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I follow by email. I love the iris panel. Stands all by itself. So Pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such a pretty line! The placemats would each look so different, depending on which fabric was the focus print. I think my favorite is #120-11643, the plan cream with blue filigree. I think that is really a lovely pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I already follow you thru Email, Bloglovin & Pinterest too... :)

    Love your Placemat! My fave print is the yellow background floral (120-11612) But LOVE them all! Thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way too! :D

    ReplyDelete
  14. I follow by email. I like the teal floral tonal 120-11663.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I follow by email. My favorite print is 120-11632. I think the blue background really sets off the print.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a fun and clever way to make a placemat! I follow via GFC. I like the Iris print with the blue background #120-11632.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow by email. I really like the border/stripe print #120-11671.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I follow by email. Thanks for the tutorial and giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I follow via email. I love the colors of the flowers, it is a gorgeous collection. I really like 120-11671, it has the flowers and a strip that could work in so many ways. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Pretty collection, 1201161 is my favorite. Nice placemat. I follow via email. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow you via e-mail. My favorite print is 120-11611, I love how the two hues of purple in it make the blue pop. Wow. Thank you for the giveaway. janie(dot)mccombs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I follow your blog via email. Thanks for the great placemat tutorial. It will make quick and easy gifts this year.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I follow the blog by email.
    My favorite is the stripe 120-11671. Love those colors

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am a follower w/ Bloglovn! I love the bright yellow solid the most!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Following on Bloglovin'. My favorite is 120-11652. 24Tangent@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow your blog/email newsletter.
    Love the Iris prints ,especially the aqua background print 120-11632. Thank you.

    bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I follow by email. I love the focus iris print.

    ReplyDelete
  28. i follow on blog lovin' and my fave print is 120-11671.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I follow via email. I love the blue print - 120-11632.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This collection is absolutely beautiful! I like the panel 120-11681 the best. I follow on Bloglovin. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com
    I follow via blog lovin. I love this fabric : 120-11632

    ReplyDelete
  32. I follow on instagram and by email. Thanks for the chance to win such a great package.
    gandn74@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I follow via Bloglovin. What a great placemat tutorial. Thanks for providing it. My favorite fabric from the collection is 120-11632, the blue floral.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I follow you on bloglovin, and like 120-11632 best, but there are some really great blenders in the fabric line as well.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I am a Bloglovin' follower of your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  36. 120-11624 (it doesn't seem to have a name) is my favorite fabric from this collection. I am a life-long lover of purple and this one is just the perfect shade!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love the purple ditsy floral 😊 And I follow with bloglovin x

    ReplyDelete
  38. I like the teal floral tonal 120-11663. I follow by E-mail.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I follow the blog by email. My favorite fabric in the line is: 120-11612, but they are all beautiful, just my style!
    My email is: bestbelle2010@aol.com
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I follow by email. Love yellow, so 120-11651 is my favorite, but they are all beauties!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Oh my gosh, what a tough choice to pick a favorite! I really like the one on their page, in the upper right hand corner...with a variety of flowers on a yellow background (120-11612) . Sooo pretty! I am following you on Blogloving...have been for awhile. Thanks and God bless! ILuvTheEucharist (at) aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow the blog by email. Fun placemats.

    ReplyDelete