Americana Star Placemat Quilt Pattern

This Americana Star Placemat Quilt Pattern adds a beautiful touch of class to your table this holiday season. With just a few simple steps, you can create an impressive mini quilt that is both easy and fun to make.

This placemat pattern uses 5 colors of fabric. Today, I chose colors in a patriotic theme. However, this sewing project is perfect for any number of fabric scraps.

Once you get started making these placemats, you might find yourself making quite a few of these for your family and friends.

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Finished Size

19 inches by 12 inches

Fabric Requirements

I suggest using 100% cotton quality fabric. For some of the sizes, you could get a fat quarter and have some fabric leftover for your next quilt project. However, this pattern lends itself well to smaller pieces of fabric you might have leftover from previous quilt projects.

• 6 Red Squares 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches
• 4 Gold Squares 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inches
• 4 Cream Squares 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 inches
• 5 Gold Squares 2 7/8 X 2 7/8 inches
• 5 White Squares 2 7/8 X 2 7/8 inches
• 4 Blue Squares 3 7/8 X 3 7/8 inches
• 4 Red Squares 3 7/8 X 3 7/8 inches
• 4 Cream Squares 3 7/8 X 3 7/8 inches
• 8 Red Rectangle 1 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches
• 3 Blue Rectangle 1 1/2 X 10 1/2 inches
• 2 Blue Rectangle 1 1/2 X 5 1/2 inches
• 2 Blue Rectangle 1 1/2 X 4 1/2 inches
• 1 Blue Rectangle 10 1/2 X 6 1/2 inches

Supplies

Backing fabric. One single piece measuring 16” X 23”.

Batting. A piece measuring 16” X 23”, the same size as the quilt back. This will allow the batting to also extend beyond the edges of the table runner top.

Thread. I suggest a good quality quilting thread for sewing the table runner quilt top and quilting the pieces together. For hand sewing the binding onto the fabric backing, get a good hand quilters thread.

• Cutting Mat
• Quilting Ruler
• Rotary Cutter
• Pins and Clips
• Iron and Ironing Board
• Sewing Machine

You can find a few of my favorite supplies in my shop.

General Sewing Directions

The directions for this Americana Star Placemat Quilt Pattern are for rotary cutting, machine piecing, machine quilting, machine sewing the binding to the quilt top, and hand-sewing the binding to the backing fabric.

Pin pieces before sewing them together to help align seams.

Accurately measure and cut fabric pieces as it will enhance the finished table runner.

All seams are sewn with 1/4  inch seam allowance.

Seams can be pressed open. However, if you prefer to press seams to one side or the other, I will have those suggestions within the instructions.

The beginning measurements for the half square triangles are a bit larger than the finished block size needed. I like to make them a bit larger because the result is a crisp and clean edge. This helps align all the seams and points better.

Let’s Begin the Americana Star Block Placemat Quilt

Star Block Sashing

•  5 Gold Squares 2 7/8 X 2 7/8 inches
• 5 White Squares 2 7/8 X 2 7/8 inches
• 8 Red Rectangle 1 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches

Sew the Sashing

Use a fine pencil to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the 2 7/8” X 2 7/8” white squares.

Place a white square on top of a gold square with right sides together and sew 1/4” seam on both sides of the diagonal line. Align a ruler with the pencil line and cut the fabric apart on the drawn line to create two half square triangles.

Press each half square triangle toward the gold side or press the seam open. Trim the half square triangle blocks to measure 1 1/2 X 1 1/2.

Repeat 4 more times.

Lay out the half square triangles with the gold fabric next to each other to form the triangle.

Repeat 4 more times.

Sew the two blocks with the right sides together with 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams open.

Place a red 2 1/2″ X 3 1/2″ rectangle on each side of 4 the gold and white rectangle. There will be one set of the gold and white rectangle left. Sew the right sides together with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Press the seams to the outside or open. (Set the sashing aside while you work on the star block).

Star Block

• 4 Blue Squares 3 7/8 X 3 7/8 inches
• 4 Red Squares 3 7/8 X 3 7/8 inches
• 4 Cream Squares 3 7/8 X 3 7/8 inches
• 4 Cream Squares 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 inches

Sew the Star Block

Use a fine pencil to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the red 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” squares.

Place a red 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” square on top of a blue 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” square with right sides together and sew 1/4” seam on both sides of the diagonal line. Align a ruler with the pencil line and cut the fabric apart on the drawn line to create two half square triangles.

Repeat.

Place a red 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” square on top of a cream 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” square with right sides together and sew 1/4” seam on both sides of the diagonal line. Align a ruler with the pencil line and cut the fabric apart on the drawn line to create two half square triangles.

Repeat.

Use a fine pencil to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the two remaining 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” cream squares.

Place a cream 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” square on top of a blue 3 7/8” X 3 7/8” square with right sides together and sew 1/4” seam on both sides of the diagonal line. Align a ruler with the pencil line and cut the fabric apart on the drawn line to create two half square triangles.

Repeat.

Press each half square triangle seam to the darker fabric side or open. Trim the half square triangle blocks to measure 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 as needed.

Assembling and Sewing the Star Block

Lay out the red and blue half square triangle blocks to form the pinwheel design. (See the photo to help with placement).

Sew the top two blocks with the right sides together with 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam to the right or open. Sew the bottom two blocks with the right sides together with 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seam to the left or open.

Place the two rows right sides together aligning the center seams. Pin in place and sew the rows together. Press the seam open.

Trim block to 4 1/2″ X 4 1/2″ if needed.

Arrange the red and cream, the blue and cream half square triangle blocks around the 4 1/2” X 4 1/2″ block. Place a solid cream colored 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ block in each corner. (Refer to the photo for placement).

With right sides together, sew two of the half square triangles on the sides of the 4 1/2” X 4 1/2″ block with 1/4” seam allowance. Press seams toward the center or open.

With right sides together, sew the top middle half square triangle blocks together with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the seams open.

Place a 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ cream block on either side of the top half square triangle blocks that were just sewn together. With right sides together, sew the cream corner blocks on with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the seams toward the outside or open.

With right sides together, sew the bottom middle half square triangle blocks together with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the seams open.

Adding the Corner Squares

Place a 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ cream block on either side of the bottom half square triangle blocks that were just sewn together. With right sides together, sew the cream corner blocks on with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the seams toward the outside or open.

Now there are three rows to sew together. With the right sides together, sew the top row onto the center row. Then sew the bottom row onto the center row. Press seams open.

Add The Star Block Sashing

Place a sashing piece on both sides of the star block. (Refer to the diagram for placement). With the right sides together, aligning the seams, sew together. Press seams open or to the outside.

On the remaining two sashing strips, add a 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inch gold square to both ends. Sewing with right sides together. Press seams open or to the outside.

Then place the top and bottom sashing pieces with the gold squares on either end on the top and bottom of the star block. Sew with right sides together, aligning the seams. Press seams open or to the outside.

Attaching the Blue Rectangles

With the right sides together attach the blue 10 1/2 X 6 1/2 inch rectangle to the left side of the star block panel. Press the seam to the outside or open.

On the right side add one of the 1 1/2 X 10 1/2 inch blue rectangles. Sew with the right sides together pressing the seams open or to the outside.

Placemat Sashing

Prepare the placemat sashing. Begin with the remaining gold and white rectangle. Place a blue 1 1/2 X 4 1/2 inch rectangle on either side of the gold and white rectangle. Sew with the right sides together pressing the seams open or to the outside.

Sew this sashing to the blue 10 1/2 X 6 1/2 inch rectangle on the placemat. Press the seams open or to the outside.

Prepare the top and bottom sashing.

Next, sew a red 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inch square on either side of the two remaining 1 1/2 X 10 1/2 inch blue strips. Press the seams open or to the outside.

Then add the two remaining blue 1 1/2 X 5 1/2 inch rectangle strips onto each sashing strip.

Finally, add the two remaining red 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 inch squares on the end of the blue strips just sewn on. Press the seams open or to the outside.

Sew the top and bottom sashing to the placemat aligning the seams.

Prepare the Americana Star Placemat Back, Binding, and Batting

Placemat Back. Fabric needed is one single piece measuring 16” X 23”.

Batting. A piece measuring 16” X 23”, the same size as the quilt back. This will allow the batting to also extend beyond the edges of the table runner top.

Pin the Layers Together

Now it is time to make the quilt sandwich. This is the term that is often used to describe placing the backing fabric on the bottom, the batting in the middle, and the top decorative fabric on the top.

On a large surface, place the backing fabric face down. Use masking tape or painter’s tape to tape the backing fabric down. Making sure to smooth out any wrinkles, yet not stretching the fabric.

Next lay the batting over the backing fabric. Again, smooth out any wrinkles.

Finally, place the quilt top fabric on the top with the right side up. Center the top fabric in the middle of the two bottom layers making sure that a few inches extend out beyond the quilt top on all sides.

Once all three layers are in place, make sure to smooth out any wrinkles. Use basting spray or stainless-steel safety pins to base the quilt layers together. Place one pin every 4-5 inches.

Quilting the Layers Together

While you can sew the layers together by hand, I prefer to use my sewing machine for quilting the layers together. Once you choose your design, set up your sewing machine for quilting by using a darning foot and dropping the feed dogs on the sewing machine. This will allow you to free motion quilt your design.

Trimming the Batting and Backing Fabric

Trim the batting and backing fabric to 1/4″ from the edge of the quilt top. I use a ruler and rotary cutter to complete this.

Binding. You will need 76-inches of binding.

You can make your own using strips of fabric 2 1/2” wide. Trim the ends of each strip at apposing 45-degree angles.

Take the binding strips and sew them together aligning the 45-degree ends and right sides together. Press the seams open.

Fold the binding strip in half with the wrong sides together and press.

Binding the Quilted Table Runner

Once the layers are quilted, and your binding is made, it is time to add the binding strip to the quilt.

Sew Binding onto the Quilt

Pin the raw edge of the binding onto the top quilt fabric edge. I generally start in the middle of a side. Leave approximately a 4” tail hanging. This hanging part will be used to sew to the other end of the binding strip when you have finished sewing all four sides of the placemat.

Sew the binding onto all four sides of the placemat making sure to miter the corners.

Mitering the Corners

To miter the corners, stop 1/4 inch from the corner. Use a ruler and pencil to make the location on the binding. Once you reach the 1/4 inch mark, turn your square and just sew a few stitches right off the corner. Trim your thread, not the binding strip though.

Folding the Mitered Corner

Fold the binding strip away from the direction you were just sewing at a 45° angle. Then fold the binding strip back down upon itself and match it to the edge of the square that you just sewed making sure that aligns with the raw edge of the next side that you will be sewing. 

Begin stitching at the edge using the same 1/4 inch seam allowance. Repeat this process for the next 3 corners.

Connecting the Binding Ends

Stop stitching approximately 4” from the side where you started. Complete a few backstitches and snip the thread (but not the binding). Remove the quilt from the sewing machine so you can join the two tails of the binding.

To join the tails so there is a continuous strip of binding to finish sewing down on the quilt edge. Measure the amount of binding that is needed to finish the quilt edge, plus 1/4″. Cut a straight line on each of the binding edges the making sure to correctly measure the amount that is needed yet. With the right sides together, sew the ends together with a 1/4” seam allowance. Now you can continue to sew the binding onto the quilt.

Attaching the Binding to the Backing Fabric

Fold the binding over the edge and hand-stitch the folded edge of the binding strip to the backing fabric. For each corner make sure to make a mitered corner and add a few extra stitches to hold it securely.

Washing your Quilt

When washing my quilts, I like to use a few color catchers in the wash. This will help ensure that all the colors stay crisp, and nothing bleeds onto the next color.

We hope that you have enjoyed this lovely pattern.

Make a handful of these Americana Star Placemats for your next gathering.

• Americana Star Table Runner Quilt Pattern
• Charming Whimsical Pinwheel Mini Quilt Pattern
• Charming Quilted Square Tablecloth Pattern
• Chunky Crochet Placemat
• Charming Pastel Half Square Mini Quilt Pattern