Question. When you embroider placemats do you put a back on it or leave it. I made 2 dozen last year and I put backs on all. It took me forever! Plus lining the hems too match up. I read from a cutie that a rolled hem on the serger would be faster. Can you sandwhich the two materials together and do the rolled hem then? Thanks... any suggestions? :0)

Thank you cuties!! I love ALL the suggestions> Now to make up my mind on what to try first. :0)

Wow great answers! I like the store bought suggestion the best! However - I did not know my serger could do a satin stitch! Of course it Can! Yeah! I'm gonna try that - however the quilt binding method always works, though it takes a little more time. christine Live Laugh Download Stitch!

I have taught serger classes for many years..and I would tell you that that many layers would not give you a good rolled hem. You can do a "satin" stitch by using only one needle and both loopers. Widen your stitch and shorten the space between stitches. Practice on scraps of your fabric, adjusting by bit until you get a nice flat satin stitch. Then sew around your placemat. By using only one needle it is easier to do your corners, by stitching right to the end, turning, and setting your needle back down at the edge. Gently pull up the slack on all of your threads, make sure you put the foot back down and continue sewing. This way you only have one "tail" to tie off. HTH

I have made placemats in the past from scratch and a lot of time is involved. If you are using a decorator fabric to match window treatments or chair cushions, the time is worth it verses paying the decorators price. I no longer put this much effort and time in placemats if I plan to sell them. I just watch for clearance of ready made and embroider something on them. Some times there are only 2 matching placements and they are perfect for casserole carriers. Ann the Gran had a free " Enjoy " design in one of her blogs a while back. Kay

This is a suggestion. I made a cover for my coffee table you could use the same idea. Did the embroidery I wanted on the top fabric and finished the the sides by turning them under and sewing them down. Then I cut a piece of fleece alittle larger then my top piece...centered the top on the fleece sewed the top to the fleece and cut around the fleece with pinking shears leaving the fleece showing about a inch to an inch and ahalf around the edge. It came out nice and washes great. Oh I forgot you could quilt before cutting the edge of your fleece. Hope this gives you something to think about and that you understand what I am trying to say. H&*

If you are looking for shortcuts, you could try embroidery on a heavier fabric and covering the back (embroidery part only) either with a piece of fusible for applique or, apply a decorative stitch. Then you could do the rolled hem. I've also bought plain readymade placemats to embroider on, that is even faster.

I embroider on the top fabric , sandwich thin batting with another piece of fabric on the bottom - then I quilt together, cut to size and apply bias binding edge with my machine. This is the only way that I have ever made them.
If it too thick to apply the binding with my binding foot on the machine - I fold the binding in half, stitch the raw edge onto the back fabric and fold over the edge to the front and neatly machine stitch down. As you would with a quilt, except that on a quilt you put the doubled edge to the back and hand stitch it down.
Does this make sense ?