Quilted Mat Sew Along

I've been thinking about doing a tutorial for one of these ever since I made my first one back in February. I made first quilted mat just to test out my then-brand-new walking foot, but I loved it so much I've since made a couple more. I started putting together the tutorial, and it was getting quite long. Then I was chatting with a few sewing buddies and we were talking about how getting started with quilting was quite intimidating as the projects are often so large and such a commitment in fabric.

So I thought - why don't we do it together as a sew along? Then everyone can encourage each other, ask questions and show off their finished products!

This project is aimed at anyone who has thought that they would love to make a quilt, but the thought of actually sewing up large sized quilt is just overwhelming!

Advanced quilters are SO welcome to join in too - you guys could mix it up a bit by using small blocks or half square triangles rather than squares!

The Sew Along will start on Monday 20th May and will be scheduled like this:

20th May - tutorial 1 - sewing the quilt top
22nd May - tutorial 2 - basting and quilting
24th My - tutorial 3 - binding the mat

Here is one I made earlier this year for a swap partner (I love that pink and grey combo so much!)  You will need 12 x 5 inch squares. You can either use charm squares that are pre cut (like the mat in the picture below) or you can cut your own, which I did for the pink and grey mat.

This one is the first one I made to be used as a sewing machine mat - I used the yellow, green and orange charms from a Half Moon Modern charm pack. They were left over after I made my Quilted Sewing Machine Cover from the aqua, grey and red charms.

What can you use your mat for? Anything really. This latest one that I made using some Cuzco charms will be a mat for my overlocker. You might like to make it as a small table runner (you could add more charms and make it longer), as a place mat for the dinner table, or a mug rug.

It would be AWESOME if you wanted to join the Sew Along in real time and make your mat with me next week. If not, don't worry, the tutorials will always be here on the blog and you can come back any time you like.

So to get ready for the first tutorial, you might like to get your materials ready. You will need:

• 12 x 5" squares (12.5cm)

• a 20" x 16"  (50 x 40 cm) piece of batting. Cotton or polyester - as it is not a garment to have against skin, I am happy to make these from cheap batting.

• a 20 x 16"  (50 x 40cm) piece of coordinating fabric for the backing (an fq will be perfect)

• 2 yards (2m) of bias binding (tape) - I used a store bought one, single fold 1" wide (2.5cm)

• quilt basting pins (they look like safety pins but with a curved shape. You can buy a packet for a couple of dollars at your local quilting / fabric store)

• thread, rotary cutter and ruler, pins

 Optional - walking foot. If you don't have one, just your regular presser foot will be fine!

I strongly recommend you try and use what you have from your stash! 5 inch squares are a great way to use large scraps. If you need some tips on how to accurately cut them, check out this tutorial. The blue polka dot I have used for my backing is a small piece of voile I've had in my stash forever but thought it went nicely with the blue and pink squares I chose for this mat. The pink and grey one was made from me going through my stash and cutting squares from every pink and grey fabric I owned!

I'd love to see your fabric choices and your progress - share it in the Sew Delicious flickr group!

So what do you think? Are you in?

If you are participating, you can grab this button!

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