Kwiltr

Hi. I’m making placemats that will have fused letters on them. I plan to just straight stitch the perimeter of the letters to support the fusible. Do I do that stitching before quilting the placemats or can it be done in the quilting process? What do you recommend? Thanks in advance. Last minute Christmas project

Rhonda K

I would stitch the applique letters first.

Then layer the place-mat with batting and backing.

Then quilt it all together.

I wouldn't want the letters to show on the back as they will be backwards.

Tartan

​If you are just straight stitching the outline of the letters, you can stitch and quilt all in one go but the letters will be in reverse on the back.

Doggramma

I’ve always regretted not quilting the background first.

juliasb

I learned the hard way that you do it first. You want your letters secure on all lines. Quilting first you could easily miss some of the lines of the applique.

Jeanette Frantz

I agree. I would definitely stitch the letters down I quilt. Otherwise, the fusible you're using could come loose and your letters be placed where you don't want them. if you stitch the appliqued letters first, you won't be revealing that stitching on the back side of the placemat -- I think that's previously been pointed out.

Kwiltr

Thanks for your advice on this. I think I went against the majority vote, but am happy with the results. I stitched around the appliqué in the quilting process to save time and here’s a couple of pics. I quilted them on my domestic machine and am I bit rusty having a Longarm now, which was already loaded with a big quilt. Merry Christmas everyone! [ATTACH=CONFIG]621065[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]621066[/ATTACH]

P.S. pattern for table runner adapted to placemats from Polka Dot Chair online.