Difficulty level
Intermediate
Time to Complete
Weekend
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Stage 1
Cut a heart shape in paper to the size of place mat you require, I've cut the heart on folded fabric. I used a heart that measured 30cm at the widest point horizontally and 27cm vertically. Use this as your pattern to cut 4 hearts of main fabric. Remember to add ½ inch seam allowance when cutting.
Cut a smaller heart shape in paper to the size of embellishment required. I used a heart that measured 9.5cm horizontally and 8.5cm vertically. Use this as your pattern to cut 2 hearts of contrast fabric.
Stage 2
Cut 2 x 1¼ inch width diagonal strips of contrasting fabric to a length of 1 metre (you may need to join 2 strips to achieve the correct length).
Stage 3
Fold the strips of the contrasting fabric in half, wrong side together, and sandwich the piping cord on the inside of the fold. Using presser foot #12, stitch length of 3.5 and needle position of 5, sew a straight stitch to secure the piping cord within the fabric. The edge of fabric concealing the piping cord should run through the grove underneath the presser foot and the raw edge of fabric will lie to the right.
Stage 4
Snip the raw edge of the fabric, at 1cm intervals, almost to the stitched line. The piping is now made and ready to be attached to the placemat.
Stage 5
Apply Bondaweb to the reverse of the two smaller hearts of contrasting fabric. Remove the backing and, using an iron, fuse to the right side of 2 hearts in main fabric. Pin a layer of wadding to the reverse side of the 2 large hearts.
Stage 6
Pin the piping to the right side of the fabric, place the rolled edge towards the middle of the heart and match the raw edges together. Begin and finish at the bottom point of each heart and make a tuck in the excess piping fabric at the middle top point. The snips in the piping will allow for smooth, eased positioning.
Stage 7
Using presser foot #12, stitch length setting 2.5 and needle position 2, sew a 4 inch seam along the outer edge of the piping on one of the longer straighter sides of the heart.
Stage 8
Place the remaining 2 hearts of main fabric face down on the hearts with piping (right sides together) and stitch around but remember to leave a gap where the piping has already been sewn. This gap will be used to turn the placemat inside out.
Stage 9
Trim down the seam allowance of the wadding to lessen the bulk, clip the remaining seam allowance and turn inside out.
Stage 10
Using presser foot #10 and stitch #1309 sew around the fused decorative heart to secure and embellish.
Stage 11
Slip stitch the opening together. Press well.
Stage 1
Cut 4 x 5 inch squares of the main fabric and 2 small hearts of the contrast fabric.
Stage 2
Apply Bondaweb to the reverse of the two hearts of contrasting fabric. Remove the backing and, using an iron, fuse to the right side of 2 of the squares of main fabric. Pin a layer of wadding to the reverse side of the two squares with the contrasting heart attached.
Stage 3
Cut 8 x 1¼ inch widths of contrasting fabric to a length of 5 inches. As the piping for the coasters is not being fitted around a curve shape the fabric does not need to be cut diagonally.
Stage 4
Using the same technique as Stage 3 for the placemats, sew the 8 lengths of fabric into piping.
Stage 5
Pin a length of piping to each coaster on opposite sides and then pin an additional 2 lengths to the remaining 2 sides.
Stage 6
At each corner draw back the fabric of the piping to reveal the piping cord and trim the cord to the seam line ie. ½ inch from the seam line.
Stage 7
Using presser foot #12, stitch length setting 2.5 and needle position 2 sew a 2 ½ inch seam along the outer edge of the piping on one of the straight sides.
Stage 8
Place the remaining 2 squares of main fabric face down on the coasters with piping (right sides together) and stitch around but remember to leave a gap where the piping has already been sewn. This gap will be used to turn the coaster inside out.
Stage 9
Trim down the seam allowance of the wadding to lessen the bulk, clip the remaining seam allowance and turn inside out.
Stage 10
Complete the coasters in the same way as the placemats for pressing and slip stitching.
Your placemats and coasters are now ready to use! Time to set the table for that romantic meal...(sorry we can't help with the cooking!)
Can you feel the love?
We certainly hope you can...and that your home is feeling it too with it's fabulous new placemats and coasters!
So now that you've mastered the piping technique and have transformed your dining room into the perfect setting for a romantic date night...we're ready to tell you what's in store for next month!
...Next month our wonderful sewing expert Hannah is back with another webinar session.
We will share the date and registration details with you very soon - watch this space!
As these sessions are very popular, make sure that you do pre-register if you would like to attend.
Bernina UK webinar...coming to a screen near you (once again) this March!