Safety Notice: Handmade items made from this pattern may contain small parts or long cords that pose choking or strangulation risks. Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please see the full safety disclaimer at sewmag.co.uk/safety.
Brighten up mealtimes with our Citrus Slice Table Set Nothing says summer quite like a cold beverage and a handful of fresh fruit. So what better way to pay homage to the warmer months than with this gorgeous placemat and coaster set by Carolyn Letten? Cheerful and vibrant, these tutti frutti-inspired decorations are sure to impress, whether you opt for lunchtime at home or a picnic in the park. Plus, you’ll get the chance to perfect your stitchy skillset with machine appliqué and quilting techniques.
Make the lemon placemat
Download and print the templates. Cut out all eight segments from the paler yellow batik print fabric. Snip a 25cm diameter circle from white patterned fabric and back it with the interfacing. Glue the segments in place with acid-free glue onto the white fabric as shown, so that there are equal gaps in between and an equal border around the outside. Clip away the pips from the white fabric and glue in place.
Cut out a 29cm diameter circle from the brighter yellow fabric. Place the segmented piece in the middle and pin. Using a dark ochre colored thread, stitch around the segment and pip pieces twice, just in from the raw edges and sew the lattice detail onto three of the segments. Stitch twice around the edge of the white circle with the same thread. Iron on the reverse.
Lay the sewn piece right sides together with a circle of the bright yellow fabric, which is cut slightly larger, onto a piece of wadding cut slightly larger and pin together. With a matching thread, stitch a 0.5mm seam all the way around, leaving a gap for turning. Use pinking shears to cut away the excess fabric and wadding almost up to the line of sewing. Turn right side out, close the gap by hand stitching and iron on reverse.
Machine quilt onto the white fabric using the ochre thread in between and around all the segments. Using a matching thread, sew around the edge of the placemat, just in from the edge and around the raw edge of the white fabric.
Stitch an orange placemat
Make a lemon coaster
Download and print the templates. Cut out the lemon in one piece and place onto bright yellow fabric, snipping a 1cm border all the way around. Cut the paper template into two pieces along the inner curved line and use the oval cross-section to cut one the same size from the white patterned fabric. Back with interfacing, then pin it onto the main bright yellow fabric so there is a 1cm border of yellow along the outer curved edge. Using ochre thread, sew around the oval edge and iron on reverse.
Snip the individual segment pieces out of the oval paper cross-section. Use them to cut out the segments in pale yellow batik fabric. Use the glue to hold in place on the white patterned fabric. Allow to dry, then use the same thread to stitch each segment in place.
Pin the finished front right sides together with a piece of bright yellow fabric cut slightly larger with a piece of wadding underneath. Sew a 5mm seam, leaving a gap for turning, then snip away all excess fabric and wadding close up to the stitch line. Turn right side out, close the gap, then iron.
To finish, machine quilt the inner curve on the yellow fabric in ochre thread and sew around all the segments on the white fabric.
Sew an orange coaster