Sew It Yourself: Autumn Dresden Placemats

Materials: for 4 placemats

• EZ Quilting® Easy Dresden Quilt Ruler
• 4 Packages Wrights® Bias Tape Wide Single Fold in a coordinating color
• 1 Packages Wrights® Bias Tape Maxi Piping in coordinating color; cut to four 12” lengths
• 1 ½ yards of 45” cotton fabric for the front background and center circle
• 1 ½ yards of 45” cotton fabric for the backing
• ¼ yards of 6 different patterns of 45” cotton fabric for the wedges
• 1 ½ yards Fusible Fleece
• Matching Thread

Instructions Made Simple:

Courtesy of Simplicity Creative Group

1. Lay the front background fabric out on a flat surface and cut four 23” x 15” pieces. Using the same fabric, cut two circles measuring 5 ¾”.
2. Lay the backing fabric out on a flat surface and cut four 23” x 15” pieces.
3. Lay the fusible fleece out on a flat surface and cut four 23” x 15” pieces.
4. Adhere the fusible fleece to the backing fabric pieces following the package instructions. Set aside.
5. Lay each of the ¼ yard wedge fabrics out on a flat surface and cut forty four 8” Dresden wedges using the Easy Dresden® quilt ruler.
6. Follow the instructions on the ruler to make four half Dresden plates.
7. Align the bottom edge of the half Dresden plate with the bottom edge of the front background fabric, having the right sides facing up. Pin in place and loosely baste.
8. Lay the backing piece on a flat surface with batting facing up. Place the front of the placemat on top of the batting with wrong sides facing. Pin the layers together and set aside.
9. Cut the 5 ¾” circles in half. Stitch the maxi piping around the round edge of the circle. Press the seam flat.
10. Pin the piped center circle in place. Mark ¼” around the outside edge of the center piece. Stitch along marked line.
11. Stitch straight lines to follow the rays of the wedges; beginning with the center wedge. Place starting stitch at the edge of the center circle stitch and 1/8” from the wedge seam. Stitch a straight line to the outer edge of the placemat. Work around all wedges.
12. Stitch along the outer edge of the wedges in one continuous line.
13. Remove basting stitches.
14. Match center circle piece with center of placemat and stitch in the ditch between the piping and the fabric. Trim all seams and press.
15. Square off all sides by trimming to make everything even.
16. Add wide single fold bias tape around the edges.

Hancock Fabrics

Founded in 1957, Hancock Fabrics is committed to nurturing consumers’ creativity. We are the inspirational authority in fabric and sewing with a complete selection of fashion and home decorating textiles, crafts, sewing accessories, needlecraft supplies and sewing machines. Hancock Fabrics currently operates 263 retail stores in 37 states, along with our web site, HancockFabrics.com.