How to Make a Placemat

Share this article:

Learning how to make a placemat is easy and here I will show you how to create 4 different methods so you can individualize your table settings. Placemats protect your table surfaces from stains and marks as well as adding a pop of color to your dining room. They make great gifts and are perfect for seasonal and special occasions.

Table of Contents

A placemat is essentially a piece of fabric larger than your place settings that is designed to protect your table. They are typically rectangular in shape so all you need to do to learn how to make a placemat is to choose which edge finishing method you would like to use.

If you are an absolute beginner, the reversible placemats are the easiest and will only take you 10 minutes or so to make. Less time if you make a batch!

The 4 types of placemats are:

Hemmed Placemats – These have a double-fold hem and corners folded on the diagonal.
Reversible Placemats – One of the easiest placemats for beginners, these have the seams hidden inside and can be made in 2 separate fabrics.
Bias Trimmed Placemats – Bias tape can be used to add a pop of color and is perfect for thicker placemats where you can’t turn over the edges.
Self Binding Placemats – These use the underneath fabric to make an attractive border. While it looks similar to the bias trimmed placemats on top, they are a little quicker and easier to sew.

Best Fabrics for Placemats

The best fabrics for placemats are cotton and linen. These natural fibers will absorb any spills and protect your table. They are also easy to sew and economical to purchase. Look for medium weight fabrics such as quilting cotton and decorator fabrics.

Style #1 – Hemmed Placemats

This placemat pattern has a simple double fold hem with mitered corners. Mitered corners are a square corner with a diagonal join and are neat and attractive.

Cutting Sizes

Cut 1 piece of fabric in the following sizes:

Placemat Size	Fabric Cutting Size
13×13″ (33x33cm)	14.5×14.5″ (37x37cm)
12×18″ (30.5x46cm)	13.5×19.5″ (34×49.5cm)
14×18″ (35.5x46cm)	15.5×19.5″ (39×49.5cm)
14×20″ (35.5x51cm)	15.5×21.5″ (39×54.5cm)

How to Make a Placemat with Mitered Corners

Sewing

Read more about how to sew mitered corners.

On the wrong side, press over the edges by 1/4 inch (6mm).
Press over the edges again by 3/4 inch (2cm).
Open the pressed edges.
Cut across the diagonal in the corner as shown below.
Press over the corner through the inner crease point
Fold the pressed edges back up and pin the corner in a diagonal.
Stitch the hem.

How to Make a Placemat with Mitered Corners

Style #2 – Reversible Placemats

I love anything reversible. Not only can you double up on looks but all your edges and any messy sewing are hidden making it the easiest style for beginners.

Supplies

Fabric for the top and bottom of the placemat. This can be matching or contrasting.
Optional – Interfacing

Cutting Sizes

Placemats can come in any size so measure the size you would like and add 1/2 inch (12mmm) seam allowance all the way around.

Here are some suggested sizes. The most common size is 14×18 inches (38x48cm) but you may like to go bigger or smaller.

Placemat Size	Fabric Cutting Size (Cut 2)
13×13″ (33x33cm)	14×14″ (35.5×35.5cm)
12×18″ (30.5x46cm)	13×19″ (33x48cm)
14×18″ (35.5x46cm)	15×19″ (38x48cm)
14×20″ (35.5x51cm)	15×21″ (38x53cm)

How to Make a Placemat that is Reversible

Sewing

For thin fabric, press some interfacing on the back of one of the pieces. If you are using a fabric like quilting cotton this is not usually necessary as the double layer is thick enough to mop up any spills.
Place your 2 pieces of fabric with right sides together and pin the edges.
Stitch all the way around leaving a 3 inch (7.5cm) gap on one side
Clip the corners at a diagonal
Turn the placemat to the right side through the gap and give it a good press making sure the corners are poked out well. The seam allowance at the gap should be pressed to the inside.
Topstitch all the way around the placemat close to the edge. This will close the gap so you don’t have to hand sew it.

And there you have a reversible mat!

How to Make a Placemat that is Reversible

Style #3 – Quilted Placemats

You can use plain fabric and then quilt it or create a patchwork design and then cut it to size.

Cutting Sizes

Choose the size of placemat you would like and then cut 1 top, 1 bottom and 1 batting. The batting should be low loft or fusible fleece also works well

Placemat Size	Fabric Cutting Size (Cut 2 fabric, 1 batting)
13×13″ (33x33cm)	13×13″ (33x33cm)
12×18″ (30.5x46cm)	12×18″ (30.5x46cm)
14×18″ (35.5x46cm)	14×18″ (35.5x46cm)
14×20″ (35.5x51cm)	14×20″ (35.5x51cm)

Cutting Sizes for Quilted Placemats

Sewing

If you are using fusible fleece, fuse it to the wrong side of the backing. For batting that is not fusible, use some long tacking stitches to hold it in place.
Put the front and back wrong sides together.
Use quilting stitches to sew through all layers. This can be in a grid formation or diagonal.
Baste around the edges.
Bind the edges with a contrast fabric. Learn how to bind a quilt.

Style #4 – Placemats with SElf Binding

Self binding placemats look very similar to bias tape ones from the top. The difference is that instead of using a separate piece of bias tape, it uses the backing fabric to fold over and create an attractive border.

Bias Tape Placemat and Self Binding Placemat

Cutting Sizes

Here are some standard sized placemats and some cutting sizes for the front and the back. If you wish to use interfacing, cut it the same size as the front and fuse to the front fabric.

Placemat Size	Fabric Front (Cut 1)	Fabric Back (Cut 1)
13×13″ (33x33cm)	13×13″ (33x33cm)	17×17″ (43x43cm)
12×18″ (30.5x46cm)	12×18″ (30.5x46cm)	16×22″ (40.5x56cm)
14×18″ (35.5x46cm)	14×18″ (35.5x46cm)	18×22″ (46x56cm)
14×20″ (35.5x51cm)	14×20″ (35.5x51cm)	18×24 (46x61cm)

How to Make a Placemat with Self Backing

Sewing

Decoration Ideas

Sew some ric-rac or lace into the seam. Embroidery can elevate your placemats to something truely unique and personalized.

How to Make a Placemat – 4 EASY Styles for Beginners