How to Make a Machine Embroidered Paneled Placemat

This tutorial shows how to assemble the paneled placemat using any size of the design.

Cut a piece of medium cutaway stabilizer and a piece of the main fabric that are both bigger than the embroidery hoop. Spray the cutaway stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive and smooth it on to the wrong side of the fabric piece.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together. Make sure everything is hooped tightly and there are no wrinkles or puckers in the fabric.

Load the first embroidery file on the machine, and attach the hoop onto the machine. Embroider the entire first design.

Once the embroidery is finished, unhoop the embroidered fabric, and set it aside. Do not trim the fabric or stabilizer yet.

Repeat the previous steps to embroider all of the panels that will make the chosen placemat. For example, the bird placemat we are making is made out of four panels.

To prepare the embroidered panel, iron it with a pressing cloth on top. Try and remove any wrinkles, and make the sides as straight and flat as possible.

After pressing, it is time to cut the seam allowance around the four edges of the first panel. Select the seam allowance you would like to use based off the width of the bias tape you are using and what you are comfortable sewing.

Then measure outwards from the rectangular box sewn around the panel, and cut that seam allowance around all four sides. The easiest way to measure and cut the seam allowance is by using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter. If preferred, you can also measure and draw the seam allowance with a fabric marking tool, and cut it with scissors instead.

In our example we cut a 1/4in seam allowance on all four sides to go with our 1/2in bias tape. You can use any seam allowance you would like. You can also cut a different seam allowance on the inner two sides that will be sewn together versus the outer edges that will be sewn into the bias tape if preferred.

Repeat the previous steps to press all of the embroidered panels so they are straight and flat. Then cut the seam allowance around all four sides of each panel as well.

After all the panels are pressed and cut out, carefully arrange them on the work area to show what panels will go next to each other once they are lined up. Looking at them like this while you assemble the placemat will help you see what sides need to be sewn together. It will also help prevent them from being mixed up or sewn together in the wrong order.

To begin assembly, take the top two panels, and lay them on top of each other with right sides together. Match up the edges of the fabric, and then pin or clip them together along the side that needs to be sewn together.

For best alignment, carefully look between the two panel pieces and line up embroidered rectangles on each panel before pinning.

The trick to perfectly lining up the panels is to pay close attention to the outer embroidered outer rectangle on each panel. Like mentioned in the previous step, take extra care while pinning to match up the embroidered rectangles of both panels as best you can.

Sewing right on top of the rectangle border will look best and leave no gaps, as well as help maintain the correct seam allowance.

Place the piece on the machine with the wrong side of either panel facing up, and sew the panels together along one side. Make sure to sew carefully on the embroidered line, and use your chosen seam allowance.

After sewing the seam, press the seam open so it lays nice and flat using a pressing cloth. Using a pressing cloth when ironing protects the stabilizer and fabric from the iron.

After the top two panels are sewn together, repeat to sew the bottom two panels together as well and press them using a pressing cloth.

Then lay the sewn top and bottom sections on top of each other with wrong sides together. Match up the edges of the fabric, the seams, and the embroidered rectangle border on the panels. Then pin or clip them together along the side that will be sewn together.

Place the piece on the machine with the wrong side of any panel section facing up, and sew the panel sections together along one side. Make sure to sew carefully on the embroidered line, and use your chosen seam allowance.

Then also press the seam open using a pressing cloth on top to protect the stabilizer and fabric.

Now that the panels have been sewn together to create the front of the placemat, we can cut out the other pieces. Measure the entire sewn front piece including the seam allowances. Then cut a single piece of fabric to that same measurement to make the back piece. You can also lay the front piece on the back piece fabric and trace or cut around it like a pattern if preferred.

Then repeat the previous step to cut the cotton batting to the same size of the front panel piece and back piece.

If using bias tape, layer your three fabric pieces with the back piece on the bottom, the cotton batting in the middle, and the panel front piece on top. Make sure the wrong sides of both the front piece & back piece are against the batting. Match up the edges, and pin or clip them all together.

If you are not using bias tape skip this step and the next two steps, and continue onto the step below about alternate ways to finish the edges of the placemat.

If using bias tape, baste the three layers of the placemat together along all four sides. You can baste right on top of the embroidered rectangle border or just outside of it in the seam allowance.

If you want to quilt the placemat layers together to add an extra personal touch, do that instead of basting the edges before continuing.

If using bias tape, then line up, pin, and sew the bias tape around all four edges of the design.

If you do not want to use bias tape, you can instead finish the placemat edges however you would like.

For example, you can finish the placemat off using the stitch and turn technique, then top stitching along all four sides to close the opening and help all edges lay flat.

The Paneled Placemat is finished! Sew multiple placemats to create a whole set for your dining table.