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are we sewing just the tops of each row or each pile?

Qf..., you are sewing one complete placemat from top to bottom.

Or as Nicki said it better:

Top fabric A to top fabric B, then A & B to C, then A & B & C to D to make one placemat. And that to the last row E.

Mary

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fishingwidow,

Sew the top strips rogether from each stack for one placemat, then the 2nd strip down from each stack for the 2nd, etc.

Be back in a while, time for dinner. Hope DH picked a place close to home. Maybe I can talk him into take out!

I've got my ripper right by my side. Patty you can use it any time I'm not! hehehehe ---- I'm really trying to understand this so I don't have to have it.

Thanks Nicki I used your seam ripper already. I picked up 2 pieces of the second row. I got down about i/4 of the way before I caught the mistake. Miracle workers those seam rippers. I will try not monopolize it tonight.

Mary Anne

I had to change my needle and my top thread, Didn't want to play nice with my bobbin. Now I'm up to speed. Pat

I've just finished sewing all 4 of mine...now I'm off the ironing board.

I can't do any cutting and sewing tonite, so I'm just taking notes and copying photos for my album for later. Maybe I can get to mine tomorrow.
In the meantime, I'm watching and learning.
Good teaching job so far fishingwidow.

Thanks Quiltbea, I like this pattern a lot, going to make 4 sets with Chr*stmas fabrics. After you do one set, they really are easy.

Mary

OK, here is the next steps. After you get them ironed, you will need to stack them up again, just like when you started.

When you do that, you will see that they may be slightly out of sinc (at least mine were). So after I lined them up I trimmed the 4 sides so they were again even.

Now we will cut for the vertical strips.

1. Measures 3 inches from the right side and cut thru all layers.

2. Measure 2 inches over from the first cut and cut thru all layers.

3. Measure over another 2 inches and make another cut.

And here is my fabric when I did the vertical cuts.

o.k. I've got my verticle cuts made.

Hi from Sister Sue- just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Patty J this is just like doing the puzzle. LOL. Sue

Hi Sister Sue. Are you sewing along? Are you trying to tell us that Patty is not good at puzzles? Heartmania, PASS THE RIPPER TO PATTY!

Sue, not nice, I don't \need the ripper....yet!LOL

my cuts are done

Gosh Nicki, you are keeping me on my toes. I can't even rush out and get some wine and chocolate and you are done.

OK so next we are going to flip the layers again, but this time is sooo easy.

Flip as follows:

1. Move the top 2 layers of stack # 1 to the bottom of that stack.

2. Move the bottom layer of stack # 2 to the top of the stack.

Note: you will not lmove the outer 2 strips so those fabrics will be the same on your finished placemat.

After you do this flipping, then you sew these layers together just as you did when you did the horizontal stacks.

Just like a puzzle and No I don't do them well at all. Now if Sue was a really good sister she would come down and help me put this back together again. LOL

ok, now I'm confused. Isn't stack 1 considered an outer strip? You said the outer 2 strips will not be moved.

Good question Nicki, I was just going to ask that.

stack 1 is the big piece, right?

I'm not even sewing on these and I need a seam ripper!

Is stack #1 the furthest on the right or on the left?
The first stack was cut from the right so it seems it would be stack #1 but if you aren't moving the 3rd stack at all, maybe I'm wrong.

never mind, I just went back 2 pictures ago and found the answer

Sherry, I think you are going to have to stand in line for the ripper...we're getting into complicated areas now.

When everyone gets their placemats all sewed together, you can finish them as you want. But this is how I did mine.

I finished them using the pillowcase method. I put the right sides together ( top and backing fabric) and I used a thin batting. I used the batting from Joanne's - a rose cream batting, I think they called it. Then I flipped them right sides out, and hand stitch the opening. Then I pressed them good and sewed almost a half inch all around the edges. After I did this I did some quilting following where the seams were but added some quilting in the larger areas. I will do the pillowcase method again, but thought I might add about an inch of fabric around the 4 sides and then do the pillow case method as it will have a border.

And I just realized that I didn't take a picture of the finished placemats I did. So will do that and post pics of that tomorrow.

Nicki- I am not sewing along, but I did complete another ruffle scarf while I watched the basketball game from Army base in Germany. I am still waiting for my carpet to dry from water main break this AM. looks like everyone is making progress. Keep going. Sue

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sister sue,

If I move these wrong I won't be able to move them back the way they are supposed to go, I'm waiting for Mary for advice. Pat

Teacher, don't go away yet. We don't understand about the stacks.

Sorry, I was typing and didn't see the question on which were the stacks. But in the drawing I made, stack 1 and 2 are the two inside strips.

Mary

Hi everyone! I've been following quietly. I think I've caught up with everyone now.

This is my first time to join a PJ party. I usually just read them through later. I must say this group is amazingly well-behaved!!

Pat

ok, then we just sew all the strips together again. The big one is not cut anymore???

Maybe I'll have time to work on a set Monday - holiday for me.

I REALLY like these! And I think if I wanted to make 8 for my table, I just use the same four FQs and make another 4.

Perhaps those needing only 6 could do the same, then somehow sew the final strips together but in tablerunner form???

TY fishingwidow!

Yea Sue, did it go better this time?? Faster?? Which color did you use. DH sleeping, can't call.

Patty,

Yes you sew all the strips together. No more cutting.

Quilted magnolia - YES!! They are really well - behaved. Everytime I wanted to get some wine and cheese, someone was ready to go on to the next step. Teacher had no recess time.

Mary

? So we move the outer 3" strips & the outer 13" (approx) strip & leave the inner 2 strips alone? Is that right?

Patty , do you have the right stacks???? Hope so, because I will want one when you finish. LOL Sue

I'm also watching basketball, Kentucky and Maryland, but I'm here at half time to see what you ladies are doing!

Looks like an easy technique, but I'll be back tomorrow to read more thoroughly!

Nicki, I think that is wrong. We move the 2nd cut stack and the 3rd cut stack The ones that measure 2 inches wide. I think.

Sherry, you know you probably could do 6 with 6 coordinating "FQ's, but that would involve more math than I want to tackle. And I think it easy just to do 4 more.

And I think you can change widths when you slice the layers. Anyway I think there are lots of options. I think the biggest problem would be not to get confused.

Mary

NICKI,

You don't move the outer layers, you move the inner 2 stacks. The stacks that are 2 inches wide.

Mary

Patty, thanks for the info on that.

ok, teacher. I'm off to move my stacks & then sew.

nicki, scroll up to the diagram where she showed the cuts , stack 1 and 2 are labeled(they are the 2" strips) and you'll see which is which

I was typing the same time as Patty, lol

The vertical strip in your picture that says "3rd cut" is stack #1 and the vertical strip that says "2nd cut" is stack #2.

Also, I think I will re-iron two of my vertical strip sets so that the seams go the opposite direction to help with sewing them back together (does that even make sense?!?!)

Is everyone sewing or just thinking about sewing??? I want to see pic's please when they are done. Sue

Ang, that sounds like a really good idea. Looking forward to see some pics of the finished placemats.