Flying Geese Christmas Placemat or Mini Table Runner

Christmas time is upon us and it is time to get into the festive spirit! These Christmas pieced flying geese placemats are perfect to decorate your dining table. If you use the AccuQuilt GO! Cutting system, it makes the cutting process incredibly easy!

Requirements List:

• White fabric: 20cm
• White and Red Striped Fabric: Fat quarter
• Turquoise fabric: Fat quarter
• Red fabric: Fat quarter
• Co-ordinating thread
• Batting: 12” x 24” (31 x 61 cm)
• Backing: 12” x 24” (31 x 61cm)
• Bias Binding
• Sewing machine
• Quarter-inch Foot
• Optional: AccuQuilt GO! Cutter
• Optional: AccuQuilt GO! Flying Geese -3 ½” x 6 ½” (3”x6” Finished) (AQ55456)
• Rotary Cutter
• Ruler

Cutting:

Using the GO! Flying Geese – 3 ½” x 6 ½” (3” x 6” Finished) (AQ55456) or using your rotary cutter and ruler adding a ¼”seam allowance cut:

• 8 x White 3” Finished half-square triangles
• 6 x White Finished quarter square triangle
• 12 x Red and White striped 3” Finished half square triangles
• 20 x Turquoise 3” Finished half square triangles
• 6 x Red Finished quarter square Triangle

Construction:

Seam allowance is ¼” unless otherwise stated.

1. Pin and sew 1 red and 1 white 6” Quarter Square Triangle (QST) as shown. Repeat until you have 6 units. Press to the dark side.

2. Lining up the triangle points, pin and sew the units created above to create a square as shown. Repeat until you have 3 complete squares.

3. Nest your seams when aligning the points, pin and sew these squares together as shown in the diagram below. This will create the center of the placemat.

4. Here, you can have some fun with the directions of the stripes. Pin and sew 1 x red and white striped 3” (HST) and 1 x Turquoise 3” Finished (HST) Repeat until you have 12 x squares created.

5. Pin and sew these units together with Striped sides together.

6. Pin and sew 3 of these units together. Repeat so you have x 2 strips as shown below.

7. Pin and sew the strips created in step 6 to the middle of the placemat on the long side.

8. Pin and sew 1 x white striped 3” (HST) and 1 x Turquoise 3” Finished (HST) Repeat until you have 8 x squares created.

Pin and sew these squares together, matching white sides.

10. Pin and sew 2 of these units together. Repeat so you have x 2 strips as shown below.

11. Pin and sew the strips created in step 10 to the middle of the placemat on the short side.

Quilting and Finishing:

1. Layer batting between placemat top and backing.
2. Pin or baste layers together.
3. If necessary trim back to 12“x 24“ (30 x 60cm) size and Quilt as desired.

Binding:

1. Line up the raw edge of the binding to the raw edge of the placemat, with the back of the placemat facing up. Start attaching the binding about ¾ of the way down a long side.

2. Start sewing with a ¼” seam allowance, leaving about 4” (10cm) from the end of the binding.
3. Stop stitching ¼” away from the corner and backstitch.
4. Remove the placemat from your machine
5. Rotate quilt to the next side.
6. Fold binding up at a 45-degree angle. The raw edge of the binding should stay in line with the raw edge of the placemat.

7. Fold binding back down keeping the folded edges in line.

8. The fold should line up with the corner of the quilt.
9. Whilst holding the fold-down, sew down the edge. Start ¼” in from the corner.
10. Continue sewing around the placemat repeating steps 3-9 for each corner. Stop when you are 4” (10cm) away from the beginning of your binding.
11. Trim one of your binding tails to the halfway point of your placemat.
12. Overlap
13. Using a ruler, mark ½” (1.3cm) past the trimmed edge and cut on this mark. Make sure this cut is ½” (1.3cm) past the cut tail.

14. Join two sides together with pins and sew a ¼” seam allowance.
15. Press seams open.
16. Finish attaching the binding to the placemat back.
17. Flip binding over to the front of the placemat. Pin or clip into place.
18. Increase your stitch length to 3mm. Using the edge of your binding, bump your needle over to the right by 2-3 stops. Follow it right down the center with your presser foot. Your stitch will be just inside the edge.
19. Stitch up to ¼” from the corner of the placemat.
20. Back-stitch and remove the placemat from the machine.
21. Fold corner and pin in place.
22. Rotate quilt and stitch down next side. Repeat for each corner.
23. Continue stitching the binding all the way around the quilt. Back-stitch in place where you finish.