Fall, that time of the year when we start spending more time in our sewing studios working on projects for the holidays. This week our project is how to do a form of mitered corner binding.

Supplies:
– A 12” x 18” placemat center – The one shown was made by using the stitch and flip technique we did in the December 13, 2011 blog for the mug rug.
– Backing fabric 16” x 22”, or 4” wider and longer than a center size of your choosing.

Instructions:
1. Create the center for the placemat. This could be just a beautiful piece of fabric. Set aside.
2. Cut backing fabric 4” wider and longer than the center.
3. With the backing fabric wrong-side up, fold and press a side hem 1″.
4. Fold and press the next side 1″. The second hem will overlap the first hem at the corner. Repeat this process on remaining sides so every side has been folded once.
5. Fold and press each of the side hems again, 1”. The hems will overlap at each corner.
6. Unfold all the hems to reveal the pressed lines.
I added the pencil lines to make it easier to see the folds.
7. Starting at any fabric corner, fold the fabric right-sides together to create a 45 degree point.

8. Place one edge of a wide ruler along the fold and the ruler corner at the point where the inner-most pressed folds touch the just created fold. Use a fabric marking pen to mark a stitching line from the intersection of the pressed folds along your 45 degree fold line to the pressed fold line closest to fabric edge.

9. The point where the pressed lines intersect is where you will begin to sew the corner hem.
10. Stitch along the marked line, back tacking at each end.
11. Trim the point of the triangle off, leaving a 1/4” of fabric past the stitch line.
12. Press the seam open. Repeat for all corners.
13. Using the previously pressed guidelines, fold the hems back into place. Push out all the corner points with a point turner.
14. Pin the folded edges, if necessary.
15. Press.

16. Insert the placemat center on the backing, tucking raw edges under the folded hems.
17. Using a straight stitch, sew along the inside folds to secure the inside to the binding.
18. This is a finished top corner with edge stitching.
19. Finished backside of placemat.