Leslie333

Everyone - thanks for all the compliments!

Pollytink - The inset strip on the left side of the top is a paper piece pattern from A Very Special Collection by Cindi Edgerton. It's from a set of 6 different placemat insets called Simply Strips Placemats; there are 4 of each pattern. http://www.averyspecialcollection.co...bits/page5.htm The inset for this pattern is 12" high and 1.5" wide (finished size).

I changed their placemat design a bit and used 1/2" (finished) strips on either side of the inset piece. They recommend (I think) 3/4" and it seemed to overpower the braid since I was using red on the sides.

Here are the finished widths of the pieces I used. On the top, the piece to the left of the braid is 2", then the 1/2" strip, then the braid (1.5"), then another 1/2" strip, then a 13.5" piece. The backs are 4" wide on the side pieces, then a 1/2" strip, then 9" in the middle. With the binding they finish to 12.5" x 18.5". All the heights are 12.5" cut, 12" finished.