Waste Canvas Leaf Place Mats

Sew up four easy place mats in a plain fabric with a different cross-stitch leaf on each. These elegant leaf place mats from Dimensions are great for autumn entertaining. Waste canvas helps you to cross-stitch on any fabric. These place mats match the cross-stitch Leaf Table Runner.

Materials:

• one Leaves of Autumn kit #35014
• one package 14 count waste canvas: 12" x 18"
• 1 yard of medium weight fabric for the place mats
• 1 yard of lightweight fabric for the lining
• 8 yards of coordinating piping
• sewing thread
• permanent fi ne tip marker
• zipper foot for all machine stitching
• Patterns and Diagrams [pdf]

Instructions:

Wash and dry the fabrics to preshrink them. Wash and air dry the thread from the kit to preshrink it. Mark four 20" x 15" rectangles on the place mat fabric with a pencil or the permanent marker. By not cutting your fabric right away, you can use a hoop to stitch if you like.

Print one copy of the pattern sheet (pdf). Use diagram (pdf) to identify the leaves on the chart from the instruction sheet.

To transfer the leaf shapes to waste canvas, place the pattern under the canvas. Align the edges of the pattern with the blue threads of the canvas. Trace edges of the pattern and the black outlines with the permanent marker. The lines do not have to be perfect; you will be using them as a guide only. Cut out the pieces of waste canvas and save the patterns.

Using the color picture above, place pieces of waste canvas in the desired positions. When you are satisfied with the position of everything, baste the waste canvas in place with sewing thread. Start to stitch each leaf at the point marked with a blue arrow on the pattern. Stitch only the Cross Stitches, not the Half Cross Stitch shadows. Work the Cross Stitches over two canvas threads horizontally and vertically. Be careful not to pierce the canvas threads as you stitch and remember it's OK that your stitching does not match the outlines, you will be removing the canvas.

When you finish the Cross Stitches, remove the basting. Dampen the canvas with water until the canvas softens. Pull out the canvas threads one by one with your fingers or tweezers. In tight spots, you can cut the canvas threads for easier removal. Add the Back Stitch details after you remove the canvas. Cut out the place mats. Cut the lining pieces to match. For each place mat, pin the piping to place mat, placing the piping stitching 1/2" in from the edge of the place mat. Clip the piping fabric at the corners to make it lie flat. Allowing a 2" overlap at the end, trim the excess piping.

To finish, remove the stitching from the last 2" of piping. Trim the piping cord so it abuts the starting end. Trim the piping fabric so you can turn it under about 1/4". Reposition the fabric around the cord.

Baste the piping to the place mat, working along the piping stitching. With the right sides facing, sew the place mat and lining together with a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave a 6" opening in one side. At the corners, trim the seam allowance almost to the stitching line. Turn the place mat right side out and press the edges. Slip stitch the opening closed.