It is a personal preference. One of my friend uses flannel but I just think that it looks so flat. I am using my scraps of Hobbs batting. If someone spilled something on you nice table, just think how much the placemat with batting with suck up the liquid helping to protect your table.

Was wondering if you could use Felt in the middle? Sometimes that is on sale really cheap at Joann's Fabrics and it's very wide so one yard would go a long long way?????? Just thinking of things to use. I have never made any, but was thinking of making some nice ones for my daughter. :-) Rachel

I prefer felt for placemats, table runners, signature wallhangings, and rugs (use it for the backing and batting). I even put some in the 10 minute table runner, so that the runner has some body. It's flatter and firmer than batting, 72" wide, comes in a variety of colors (if you use it for a rug backing), made from recycled bottles (environmental friendly, no shrinkage problems), quilts beautifully, washes and dries nicely, too. Oh, yeah, and it's cheap w/50% off coupon from JAF.

I've been making and selling placemats and table runners for years and I've always used Warm & Natural, with no issues. I've even made a longer table runner with Insul-Brite for my DS and DDIL as they requested something that they could set their coffee maker on and not damage the top of their buffet, it worked well.

I like iron on fleece - it stays in place and gives a neat finish.

I also like using iron on fleece. It makes for a bit heavier placemat. But to each his own I always say so what makes you happy.

I really like using Insul-brite I use it in ALL of my table runners and Placemats. I have an antique wooden table that use to be great grandparents and quite often use an extra placemat like a pot holder to set hot things on from the oven and this way I know no harm will come to the table. I haven't had any problems with tipping glasses since it is pretty stable. I think you really have many choices of what to use and just need to decide which will work best for you With the situations they will be used in. I enjoy making placemats and using my walking foot to do them.

Someone suggested interfacing instead of batting, and that's a really good idea. I'd use a medium pellon, and that would give some body to the placemats. (no iron-on interfacing - that tends to create puckers in the fabric after a number of washings.)

I use Fat Boy it's thin. I used it in my placemats and table runner. Pretty cheap 2.50 a yard very wide. Go to www.debsflyingneedle.com... I know they have it.

I have used the poplyester fel. It is easy to quilt and lies flat.