How to Sew a Patriotic Placemat with Bandanas

Enjoy this lovely free patriotic placemat pattern!

Are you gearing up for all the summer patriotic holidays? 

Spruce up your dining room (or picnic) table with easy-to-sew flag-inspired 4th of July placemats.  They're perfect for Fourth of July celebrations as well as all those other summer patriotic holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Typically, when we think of a placemat we think of using it on a dining table. This decorative patriotic placement can also be used as a wall decoration or table topper.

Our Flag-Inspired Bandana Placemat is a simple and super-fast quilting project that you can whip up in less than an hour using the quilt-as-you-go technique. It's a fun and easy way to transform budget-friendly bandanas (from Dollar Tree) into a functional item for the home.

Not only are we sharing our latest Red, White and Blue craft – this Bandana American Flag Placemat – BUT if you head on down to the end of this post you’ll also find links to other amazing Red, White and Blue crafts.

In addition to sharing the full written photo tutorial below, we've created a YouTube video showing how to make this patriotic bandana fabric placemat.  Simply click on the link below to go to our YouTube video tutorial.

This fabric placemat uses the quilt-as-you-go quilting technique. Quilt-as-you-go is a fun technique that allows you to simultaneously piece and quilt a project. Once you've completed the top, only the binding remains!

how to sew an American flag placemat with bandanas

WHAT YOU NEED for the bandana placemats:

• 3 Bandanas ( 1 red bandana, 1 white bandana, 1 blue bandana)
• Some fabric for backing (scrap patriotic fabric worked well)
• Fusible batting or fusible fleece
• 1/4 yard blue binding fabric
• Rotary cutter, ruler and mat
• Scissors
• Sewing clips
• As with most sewing projects, sewing machine, thread, iron and ironing board

TIP:  While you are purchasing bandanas, pick up a few extra to use as napkins or make your own with our homemade everyday napkin or rolled hem napkin tutorials.

Finished Placemat Size: 19" x 14 1/2"

Seam allowance: 1/4" unless otherwise specified.

instructions for making a patriotic placemat :

STEP 2: preparing batting and backing

For this placemat, the quilt-as-you-go method is used as mentioned.  

To get started, lay your fusible batting/fleece on the ironing board with the fusible side facing up (the bumpy side); place the backing fabric directly on top with the right side facing up. Take a little extra time here to make sure everything is lined up nicely.

Use the instructions provided by the manufacturer to fuse the pieces together.

The reason fusible batting is being used is it holds the backing and batting fabric together while you are working on the placemat top. 

STEP 3: attach short strips to backing/batting fabric

You've got the backing + batting ready.  Flip the piece over so that the fabric side is down and the batting is facing up.

Grab one short red strip.  Align the strip, right side up, in the top right corner with the raw edges aligned with the top edge and right side edge.  You may want to use a few pins to hold it in place.

Take the short white strip and place it on top of the first red strip.  You'll want the right sides together and all the edges to line up. 

Go to the sewing machine and sew along the bottom edge of the strips using a 1/4" sew allowance through all four layers.

After sewing these two pieces together, remove the placemat from the sewing machine, fold the top piece over and finger-press or iron it open. 

Add another red strip.  Grab the second short red piece and again, line this strip up on top of the white strip aligning bottom, right and left raw edges. Sew,  finger press or iron.

Three strips of the flag placemat are sewn together.

STEP 4: sew blue rectangle fabric to placemat

After sewing the first three short strips together, it's time to add the blue fabric.

Place the blue fabric on top of the red/white stripes making sure to match up the two raw edges.  Sew together.

After the blue piece is sewn on, continue to sew the top of the placemat by repeating the same process, sewing on the bandana long strips in a flag pattern (white, red, white, red).

step 5: Trim placemat  

After you have pieced the entire placemat, iron it well.  It’s time to trim it if necessary. 

If you see any fleece or backing,  place the placemat on your cutting mat and use rotary cutter and ruler to trim the edges where needed.

When I trim I used the backing fabric as a guide, aligned the quilter's ruler with the backing fabric and removed the necessary fabric.

STeP 6: stitch around outside

Before adding the binding to the placemat, stitch 1/8" from the edge all the way around the perimeter of the placemat.

Below is a close-up look at the stitching around a portion of it.

Here is a photo of it completely stitched.

STEP 7: how to bind the placemat

We are now ready to sew the binding to the placemat.

There are lots of binding methods. You can make and attach the binding using your favorite method.  If you’d like some help with binding you can check out these sew binding to quilt tutorials. 

My favorite method for sewing binding to a placemat is to use the very quick and easy method of sewing the binding to the front, folding it to the back and machine sewing it from the front. 

So follow along with me by watching the video and following these instructions.

To bind and finish the edges of the placemat, you will need a binding strip that measures 78" long.  To make it cut 2 1/2" strips of fabric and join the strips together using a diagonal seam.   

With the binding wrong side facing up, fold over 1" at one end of the binding strip; press. Then press the binding in half lengthwise with the wrong side inside.  The binding strip sure measure 1 1/4" wide.  

Take the placemat and binding to the sewing machine.  

With the placemat facing up, beginning somewhere in the middle (never in the corner) on the right side of the placemat, place the binding strip (the folded end) along the raw edge of the placemat.    

Begin sewing the binding to the placemat, 1/4" from the edge, leaving a 2 - 3" tail from the folded end unsewn.

To go around the placemat corners, a mitered corner will be created.  Stop sewing when you're 1/4" from the corner. Raise the presser foot, pivot the placemat, lower the presser foot, sew diagonally toward the corner  and backstitch a stitch or two as pictured below.

Remove the placemat from under the sewing machine presser foot, clip the threads, fold the binding strip back on itself, forming a diagonal 45-degree fold and finger press.

Holding the diagonal fold in place, fold the strip to make a horizontal fold that aligns with the placemat edge already sewn and the binding raw edges align with the placemat's raw edges on the next side as pictured.  It can be pinned in place.

Start sewing the next side at the top of the horizontal fold, stitching through all layers and backstitch to secure the binding in place.

Sew around the placemat, mitering each corner in the same manner.

When you return to the starting point, cut the binding strip shorter, encase the binding strip's raw edge inside the folded end and finish sewing to the starting point.  Don't forget to backstitch a couple of stitches here.

STEP 8: fold the binding over the raw edge

Press the binding away from the placemat top.

Place the placemat on a flat surface so the back is facing up.  Turn the binding from the front side around the raw edge to the back; pin binding in place or use sewing clips.

Make sure the binding extends past and completely covers the previous stitch line on the back of the placemat.

Finished clipping the binding to the back of the placemat.

STEP 9: sew binding into place

For this quick binding, the binding will be sewn in place with a sewing machine.

Thread the sewing machine and bobbin with thread that matches the binding.

With the front side of the placemat facing up, stitch close to the inside edge of the binding to secure the front and catch the binding on the back.  (Backstitch when your final stitches overlap the first ones.) 

Here is a close-up picture of the stitching on the front of the placemat.

And a close-up of the back of the placemat is pictured below.

It's finished.  I absolutely love the way this patriotic bandana flag placement turned out.

This quilt-as-you-go placemat is perfect for adding a touch of style to your holiday dining table or picnic.

If you liked this patriotic bandana flag placemat project be sure to pin, bookmark and share.  Come join our many followers on our YouTube channel. While you're there, please be sure to subscribe to our channel and like this video.

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more patriotic red, white and blue crafts

Farmhouse Patriotic Rag Wreath

Patriotic Flag Coasters

Patriotic Postage Stamp Flag Plaque

Deco Mesh Patriotic Wreath

Farmhouse Patriotic Garland

American Pride Quilt

Patriotic Star Garland