Over a Dozen Placemat Patterns to Sew

Are you a placemat person?  Maybe you prefer a table runner or a tablecloth.

I fall into the placemat person category.  I feel like my table looks warm and inviting with placemats, as opposed to the more formal look of a tablecloth. 

And to me, my bare oak table looks, well, bare!

We have some great tutorials on how to make placemats below. The free placemat patterns are full of ideas to make your table look unique.

Before we get into the placemat patterns to sew, let’s talk about some of the nitty gritty of making placemats.

What Fabric Is Best for Sewing a placemat?

Actually, any woven fabric can be used to sew a placemat.  Fine quilting fabric will give you many designs to choose from, and the placemats tend to hold up longer than cheaper fabrics.

One of the projects below uses upcycled denim from jeans!  Check out the Denim DIY Placemats.  They can be made as simple or complex as you prefer.

Easily patchwork large pieces together, or you can use denim strips of various widths. Use tweezers to fray the seams, and you have a very unique placemat!

One of our projects below uses corduroy as a backing fabric. I had not seen that used before, but I can see how it would make a sturdy placemat. 

Look at the Fabric Placemat project below.  It’s an easy project and can be made in no time at all.

When Sewing a Placemat Do You Need Batting?

When sewing a placemat, this is really a personal preference.  If you are comfortable with a thin and flimsy placemat, no batting at all is required and makes for a simple and easy project.

It does help to add a layer of fusible interfacing. This will stiffen the fabric, minimize wrinkles after washings, and make the placemats last longer, especially if they will get daily use.

Fusible fleece adds a nice padding if that is what you are looking for.  Take a look at our Easy Placemat Pattern which uses the fusible fleece as batting.

Keep in mind that fleece or other battings are not heat resistant.  

If you are going to need insulation from the heat or cold, you will want to use Insul-Bright, which will definitely do the trick for you.

How Do You Make Fabric Placemats Waterproof?

You can simply brush a layer of Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge on the placement.  Once it is completely dry, add another coat of the Mod Podge. 

Repeat this process until you have about three or four layers on top.  Be sure to let it dry overnight before putting it to use!

What Size Are the Free Placemat Patterns?

Placemats are usually between 12”x16” and 14”x20", but of course, you can make them any size you’d like.

Many of the free placemat patterns below are 12”x16” and call for one yard of fabric for the top and one yard for the backing in order to make four placemats. 

Check out our Reversible Placemat (Beginner Sewing Project).  You can use this free placemat pattern to make one quilted placemat from just two fat quarters!

If you decide to sew our Pocket Placemats, you will need more fabric, as these placemats with pockets are just right for using outdoors.  They have one pocket for the utensils and napkin and another for the plate!

You will find that homemade placemats are very easy to make, and these free placemat patterns will give you a professional-looking finish.

Think of how you can make DIY placemats that match for a themed birthday party or for different seasons and holidays.

Use your imagination with your fabric choices, and the possibilities are endless!

Do you want to sew potholders, table runners or other kitchen accessories?  Check out these pages for free potholder tutorials, and table runner tutorials, or other kitchen stuff tutorials.