First, prepare the fabric for the embroidered center block. Using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, draw an 8 1/2" by 8 1/2" square on the solid- colored cotton fabric. Leave a couple of inches of excess fabric around the shape.

Measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks. Where the marks meet is the exact center of the shape.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software. Poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center point on the fabric.

Make sure the design fits well within the shape. There should be at least one inch of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

Spray a piece of medium weight stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

After the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

Cut out the shape.

To prepare the fabric for the inner borders, cut two pieces of the solid-colored quilter's cotton to 1 1/4" wide by 8 1/2" high. Align the pieces with the side edges of the embroidered block, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges only.

Press the back seams open with an iron.

Cut two pieces of fabric to 10" wide by 1 1/4" wide. Align the pieces with the top and bottom edges of the embroidered block, right sides together. Pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges, and press the seams.

To prepare the fabric for the outer borders, cut two pieces of print quilter's cotton to 2 1/2" wide by 10" high. Align the pieces along the side edges of the inner borders/block section, right sides together, pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges, and press.

Cut two pieces of fabric to 13 3/4" wide by 2 1/2" high. Align the pieces with the top and bottom edges of the inner borders/block section, right sides together, pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges, and press.

For each end of the placemat cut the following pieces from the print cotton fat quarters: two squares at 3 7/8" by 3 7/8" and two squares at 4 3/8" by 4 3/8". Then, cut the larger squares (the 4 3/8" by 4 3/8" squares) in half diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.

Align the smaller squares together, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. Press the seams.

Align one of the short ends of one of the triangular pieces (large square halves) with the top edge of the assembled small squares with the angled long edge of the triangular piece facing to the right.

Also, align one of the short ends of one of the triangular pieces with the bottom edge of the assembled small squares with the angled long edge of the triangular piece facing to the right. The opposite short edges of both triangular pieces will align with the left side of the assembled small squares.

Pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges, and press.

Align the remaining triangular pieces together, right sides together, with the angled long edges facing to the right. Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the top edge only. Press the seams.

Align the assembled pieces together, right sides together, by aligning the seams together and with the long edge of the triangle pieces aligned with the right side of the first section.

Allow about 1/2" of the tips of the triangle piece to extend out past the edges of the fabric. Pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge, and press. Repeat this process for a total of two end sections.

Lay the assembled center block section flat with the right side facing up. Align the end sections on top, right sides together, with the long edges of the end sections aligned with the side edges of the center block. Allow about 1/2" of the tips of the end sections to extend out past the edges of the fabric. Pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges, and press.

To prepare the fabric for the back of the placemat, lay the assembled front panel on top of the fabric, pin, and cut out the shape. Also, cut a piece of the batting just as you did for the back. Lay the batting flat and align the back fabric on top with the right side facing up.

Align the front panel on top of the back fabric with the right sides together (wrong side of the front panel faces up). Sew a 1/4" seam along the top and side edges. Leave the bottom edge open for turning.

Turn the placemat right side out between the front and back panels (the batting will end up inside the placemat), and press the seams. Turn the fabric of the opening in 1/4" and press. Hand-sew the opening closed by hand stitching with needle and thread.

With nylon monofilament in the needle and matching thread in the bobbin (thread that matches the back fabric) quilt through all the layers by stitching along the existing seams of the front panel. Top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edges of the placemat.

Embroidered placemats are a terrific way to add a dash of holiday spirit to any table. Stitch a set for yourself, and a set for a friend!