Springtime Switch-Up Placemats {Tutorial}

Hi there! For those of you that are looking for the weekly Moda Sampler Block Shuffle post - I will be posting it on Saturday! :) 

Today, Trina is here sharing these darling Placemats with us!  

I'm obsessed with switching up all kinds of things around the house right now to lighten up for spring. This placemats tutorial is a perfect quick project. Pick a few different fabrics in some of the fresh new prints and in just a few hours, you have a new look for your kitchen or dinning room.

What I love about these placements for spring is aside from the fresh fabrics, they are also lightened up because there's no batting in between the front and back fabric. It makes them less heavy, visually, and that works for me for this spring season.

For my springtime switch-up placemats project, I chose this fun line from Melba by Emma Jean Jansen for Ella Blue!

This project requires a half yard of each of the following:

• Melba Tram Grey Ella
• Melba Magpie Mustard Ella Blue
• Melba Subway Grey Ella Blue
• Melba Banksia Mustard Ella Blue

Popular vote on the correct size of placement tends to vary depending on preference. I decided I wanted a bit of a larger placement and went with a finished size of 14 x 22. If you like a smaller placement, you can also make these 14 x 18 

To make four placements, from each half yard of fabric cut the following:

• 1 - 14 x 4 1/4
• 1 - 14 x 14 1/4 (cut this to 14 x 10 1/4 if you want the smaller size)
• 1 - 14 x 22 (or 14 x 18 if you want the smaller size)

From the remaining fabric, cut up a selection from each of the prints that are 2 inches in width and that vary from 1 to 2 1/2 inches in length.

To start, piece together the 2 inch width selections in a random pattern. You'll need to create four separate sections that are at least 14 inches long when completed.

Press your seams open when finished. 

Now we get to have some fun and mix up our prints for the top of our placemats.

Select 1 - 14 x 4 1/4 piece, 1 - 2 inch wide pieced piece, 1 - 14 x 14 1/4 piece. Once you pick how you want to lay them out, sew together using a quarter inch seam. Press open seams.

Trim your top to 14 x 22. Lay one of the 14 x 22 pieces you cut out earlier right sides together to your pieced top (the whole cloth 14 x 22 piece will become the back of your placemat). 

Sew around all four sides with a 1/4 inch seam, leaving a two-inch opening. 

Turn right sides out (using the two inch opening). Be sure make sure your corners are turn out to a nice point. Press your seams (including the section you left open) and then finish by topstitching around all four sides with a 1/8 or 1/4 inch stitch.

I guess I need to plan a dinner party sometime soon!

What do you switch up for spring in your home? 

-Trina