Grinch Placemats with Free Pattern

Here it is, my last Christmas project for the Holiday Craft Bash event! I'm so thankful that Meredith invited me to do this with her, because I've made some things I really love, and even better, my kids really love. To be honest, I've always been a bit of a decorating grinch myself. We put up a tree and hang our stockings each year, but that's about it. I always figured I'd make some more nice things for Christmas when we owned our own home and I could spend some time making it just like I wanted it. Some day. 

But my kids don't care about any of that. They really like characters from TV and videos made up in brightly colored felt. No use trying to class it up. And surprisingly, I really REALLY love my new bright and kitschy feeling Christmas. My apartment looks like Santa's workshop this year. I'm gonna go with it. 

So onto our project. These are some pretty fun placemats, but if you don't really fancy your kids sliming them, they are just as cute hanging on the wall.

For each placemat you make, you'll need:

• A 13" x 18" piece for the top
• A piece a bit larger than that for the back (fat quarters are great for both.)
• Scrap of batting or fleece, at least 14"x19"
• about 65" of binding.
• The Grinch printable pattern- green, white, red, and yellow felt
• Cindy Lou Who printable pattern- peach, yellow, pink, white and blue felt. 
• Spray adhesive
• Water soluble marking pen
• Embroidery needle
• Black perle cotton or floss

Basic steps:

1. Use the pattern sheet to cut out your felt. I like to trace the shapes on freezer paper for this. 
2. Use spray adhesive to get all your pieces in place on the top of the placemat, the 13x18 piece. 
3. Stitch around every felt piece with your machine using a straight stitch. Using all white thread is ok too. 
4. Use your water soluble tool to add the facial features. Hand embroider in black using a basic backstitch. 
5. Baste your backing, batting and top all together using pins or spray and quilt as desired. 
6. Bind as you would a quilt. 

*Not a quilter? Once you get your top appliquéd and embroidered, just place it right sides together with the back, along with a piece of fleece or sew-in interfacing under the back. Sew around the edges, leave a space open, turn right side out and top stitch the placemats. 

I think my Cindy Lou came out looking suspiciously like someone I know well....

Be sure to check out my other Christmas tutorials in the sidebar, and visit Meredith, Debbie, and Jacey for some more inspiring yuletidiness. 

And if you make any one of our Holiday Craft Bash projects, you still have a couple more weeks to add it to the flickr group. We have a great prize package for the sew-along finale, I'll let you know more soon!