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Make the pattern: I used a 12 X 18 piece of Reynold's freezer paper. Draw a grill of 16
even size rectangles. With a pencil draw the outer curved line on one quarter
of the paper until it is the way you like. Trace over it carefully with
a fine point Sharpie pen. Fold the paper in half across the center horizonally
and traced that corner to make half of the pattern. Next folded the paper
through the center verically and trace the other half of the pattern. Draw
the inner line. I took a small ruler and placing it at two inches I made
small dashed all around with my pencil creating the inner line. Connect these
together and darken the line.
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On another piece of freezer paper carefully
draw these two curved lines.
Place the inner fabric face up and the border fabric face up on top of
it. Iron the freezer paper down and then pin all three layers together.
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Using a small machine straight stitch
sew a line around the inner and outer edges of the pattern using the pattern
as your guide.
Remove the pattern with care and save it to use again. (I used mine for
all four mats.) Once again sew around the inner edge about 1/16 th inch
from the previous stitches. With your little red handle scissor carefully
separate the two fabric layers, cutting only the top layer trim away the
center.
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I used just a simple row of satin stitches.
(the way the light is shinning on them in the photo they look uneven but
they're not.) Are you paying attention to me here..... because I am going
to tell you a good hint to make this more successful. Set your machine for
a stitch width of 3.0 mm and length of .7mm. and you might need a little
looser tension... test it!
Sew all around this inner edge, trying to keep the stitches running as
smooth as possible. Set your machine for a 4.0 width and sew this row again
over the previous stitches. This may seem like extra work but, believe me,
it is worth the effort. Two rows are always better than one when doing free-hand
satin stitches.
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This is a closer view of my edging. It
looks like a satin cord. I think I might use a cotton thread for the next
set with this type of border. For this one I used a rayon thread. Polyester
would have been better for platemats because it will laundry better but
I did'nt have any the correct color. ;-(
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This is my mat after the quilting. I
can not give you the instructions for quilting these as that is another lesson.
Maybe I can write those and post them at a later date. From here follow
the instructions to finish these mats from my basic lesson page.
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This is the completed mat. You will be
able to see the entire set on the platemat collection page.
I hope these lessons inspire you to try my platemats.
Do order some of my applique designs. They are perfect for these mats.
I have many other tricks and tips to share with you if I get enough respond
from these. Your support is necessary to make it all worth while. email
me....faeb@vci.net
Copywrite by Faye Burden 2001
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