Murphy224

When I make placemats for my grandaughter, I use either batting or fusible fleece. I do use the binding method and all over grid straight stitching works great for keeping the three layers together. It should work with the birthing method too. Just turn, iron the edges as flat as possible, then do straight stitching with a walking foot. You can do straight side to side, top to bottom, or on the diagonal. Spaced however you want, I use a walking foot. The edges could be done with a decorative stitch or that serpentine stitch that is on most machines. This method keeps the placemat flat and no lumps to cause problems.


Had not ever thought of using decor bond, but a great idea.

jeanneb52

I use flannel..lies nice and flat..

MargeD

I have made lots of placemats and I've found that using fusible fleece, I got the look I wanted as it makes them flatter, in my opinion.

annette1952

I have always just used my cotton batting that I use for my quilts. They lay very flat & nice. I have used fusible fleece for mug rugs & those also lay flat. I have never used fusible fleece in placemats though so don't know about that. I don't think I ever birthed any of them at least not in a lot of years. I always put binding on them now but when I did birth them I don't ever remember a problem with them laying flat

klswift

I always use the 'wine glass' test for placemats and table runners. Would a wine glass be tippy on it? For this reason, I often use the thinnest of batting or just flannel as batting. I often do a birthing method and like to do 2 rows of topstitching. One very close to the edge and one in about an inch. I like to use a decorative stitch for these rows and it creates a very nice 'border' edge. Another option is the self-binding edge in which the backing is 1 1/2" bigger than the front and you fold it over to the front and stitch. (I also like to use this when making baby quilts so the baby can not chew the binding off.)

cassiemae

I found using flannel works best for the ones I make. Good luck finding the one that works for you.

sewmuch

I use WN batting for runners and placemats, works well for me...

cashs_mom

I usually use whatever I have leftover (often Warm and Natural) and have never had any problems with mine laying flat. Of course, I like mine to be soft so I can store them folded over if needed.

Bree123

I haven't made placemats in a number of years, but when I did, I used June Tailor's fusible batting (best of both worlds). I like that it's fusible because then I don't need to worry about pin basting such a tiny area & trying to deal with quilting without removing too many of the pins.

Interfacing would give you a stiffer placemat. I used it once for a table runner back before I knew better. I was not happy with the results.

Daffy Daphne

I put fusible interfacing in a set of coasters, thinking it would help them hold their shape. The coasters don't absorb very well (which kind of defeats their purpose!), and I think it's because of the fusible.

Daffy