Placemats
 

I am sewing placemats, line with fleece and of course a backing. After sewing them all around leaving an open space to turn right side out, I am having the most trouble with the backing showing up all around. Is it possible to cut the backing slightly smaller then the top and how would you sew the layers together. My mind is a blank as to a possible solution. Thank you in advance.

Place your top face up, then your backing facing the top, and your batting/fleece on top of that (on wrong side of the backing). Sew all round, leaving a gap for turning through. Slipstich the gap closed, and top stitch all round the edge. It will be easier to check that the backing is not too large doing it this way.

Good Luck ....

Sorry, no help here, but I will empathize with you.
The challenge of doing that turn and getting it all smooth and even is
exactly why I prefer to put bindings on placemats and quilts!

Could the fleece lining be a bit stretchy? Perhaps flannel or a thin cotton batt would be easier to control. I admit I love the turning method as it does away with the need for binding.

Do you have a picture to post so we can see the issue? You can iron the open part of the seam line to get definition. Turn right side out. I use steam a seam to close and then top-stitch.

You can use batting and cut a little smaller than placemat. I like fusible batting or just fuse the batting. Stitch the two fabrics WST, turn and top stitch.

One last option for you. Grade out the excess batting around the seam line before you turn.

Hope that helps!

I recently made a placemat with fleece instead of batting and didn't like it at all. I found it didn't lay as flat as my placemats made with cotton batting. I didn't intend to use fleece, just grabbed it by mistake while rooting through my scrap batting bags. I'll be more careful next time.

Yes to charley26's method. Putting the "batt" next to the top fabric will essentially curl that around the seam when turned right side out. That will somewhat push the back under and it isn't as likely to show.

I like sewing the backing in two parts, closed at the edges and open in the middle. Batting 1/4 smaller. Sew all around, then turn and use fusibles to close opening, then press and topstitch 1/8 from edge. Then quilt - sometimes you can plan quilting that goes right down the fold in the back.

I make lots of placemats and they come out very nicely turned...I do not like putting binding and turning is so much faster. First of all..I would never use fleece as a batting...I use Pure and natural 80/20 batting. It stays put while sewing and I do not have to do much basting. I do the same method as described by Charley26...I top stitch all around once it is turned with 1/8" allowance. I do a lot of straight line quilting on these placemats ...many small lines as -per Jaque Gerhing...or even lines one inch apart depending on the design. This batting shrinks a little when you wash the placemat which is good because it gives that crinkle effect we are looking for.

When you stack your face fabric , backing and fleece, make sure that when you sew, that the fleece is down first, then face fabric turned right side up, then backing facing toward the face fabric, and sew around the outer edge. The reason your backing wants to show on the front, is when you birth it, the fleece creates a padding effect along the edges, and makes it show all around. If you stack it the way I said, (it does not matter whether you sew with the fleece on top or bottom) the face fabric will curl more to the back. Problem solved. The fluffiness of fleece or batting creates a “chubby” edge along which ever fabric it is sewn closest to or touching it. It is a physics issue I cannot scientifically explain, but there you have it in quilting terms.

another thought...make sure to trim batting close to edge and corners...makes a difference when turning..

I Hate birthing quilts/placemats, that's why I do separate bindings.

I use fusiblefleese and it makes a big difference.

Fleece does not like to take a sharp crease, and that's where your problem is. My projects using fleece have just two layers, top and fleece, and then binding.

I realize that it's probably too late for this, but I found this tutorial very helpful for making placemats and other small quilts bringing the backing fabric to the front to make a narrow border, so I thought I'd share it, at least for future reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfv1_vbrJB4&t=756s

Also, although I like sewingsuz's suggestion of fusible fleece, I imagine it's too late for you to use it on this project. But perhaps there's still a way to unstitch the seams and cut your fleece off inside the stitch line. Then use a washable glue stick to attach it just inside the stitch line. After you turn the placemats you should then iron and topstitch them. Ironing over the washable glue does not release it, as long as you do not use steam. Experiment first with scraps because I have not tried glue stick on fleece, and it may just absorb too much of the glue. Liquid school glue might work. If that fails, hand baste with large stitches near the edge. The idea is to keep it lined up right to the edge but not caught in the stitches. Keep in mind that poly fleece can't take as much heat as we use on our quilter's cotton.

When you turn them (or anything that needs a sharp edge) use a bamboo point turner to run along the seam inside as you iron. It can take the heat and helps to keep the edge neat.

If all else fails, you could just forget about turning and bind them instead. But binding a set of placemats is a big project involving quite a lot of additional time and fabric. I feel for you.

If the current situation with the fabric rolling over a little doesn't result in the entire placemat curling, I think I might just leave it. Pretend you intended it to look like that. A little contrast is not a flaw but a feature.:thumbup:

This is a little correction to my post, I had used fusible fleece, not the fleece as in blankets. I made a sample using the replies you kind quilters made. I used thin cotton batting, which I put down first, top fabric facing up next and then right side of backing down facing top. I sewed all around, closing the opening for turning, but stitched on back of the placemat. I had been sewing the layers together stitching on the top fabric. This seemed to help. Just a little backing showed in some areas. Hope I made myself clear,