Chicken Placemats--Seventh Finish 4th Quarter Finish A Long 2018

Comb, beak and wattle basted into place

Last Christmas my friend, Martha, gifted me supplies to make four chicken placemats. I sure thought that during the year, I would stitch this project. Other projects went under the needle instead. I decided that I wanted to finish this project before the end of the year. I pulled it out of my "To Do" box and read the directions. I traced the pattern pieces on tissue paper and cut out the pieces.

Stipple quilting design

Stitching the wattles, beaks and combs took some time. After each was trimmed, turned right side out and pressed, I basted each on the placemat. The next day, I pinned the batting and the backing to each placemat. I stitched around the outer edge, leaving a hole to turn the placemat right side out. I trimmed away the extra batting, turned the placemat to the right side, pressed the edges and slip stitched the opening closed.

Using the main color of each placemat, I free motioned stitched a stipple design across each placemat. Last, I stitched a button to represent each chicken's eye. These will be a great gift.

Finished chicken placemats

This project was goal number ten on my 4th Quarter Finish A Long list. It is my seventh finish for the quarter.  I used two yards of fabric to make these placemats. I've now used 41 1/2 yards of fabric from my stash. I've 8 1/2  yards of fabric to go to meet my goal of using 50 yards from my stash this year. With one day in the year, left, I'll not meet my goal. No worries though, I'll just add the 8 1/2 yards to my goal for next year!