Make a placemat

Making a dollhouse needlepoint placemat

ONLINE MINIATURE NEEDLEPOINT EMBROIDERY TUTORIALS

Stitch one of these placemats to liven up your doll’s house dining table.

Dollhouse needlepoint placemat in a table place setting

 

The placemats are to be worked on 32 count silk gauze with one strand of Anchor stranded cotton. The edges are trimmed and glued with fabric glue for a neat finish, so that hemming is not necessary.

 

Miniature needlepoint tutorial - contents of a placemat kit

In addition to a piece of 32 count silk gauze, each kit contains a colour block chart to count the design from, a suitable needle, Anchor stranded cotton (use one strand) and full instructions.

 

This tutorial features the ‘Christmas Candles’ doll’s house placemat design, which can be seen in our Needlepoint Kit Store.

 

If you have never done miniature needlepoint before, start by reading the BASIC EQUIPMENT and NEEDLEPOINT STITCHES tutorials first, then come back to this page.

 

Miniature needlepoint tutorial - silk gauze in a card mount

Before you begin stitching, you will need to make a card mount for the silk gauze. This will make it much easier to work on, and help to keep your stitch tension even.

Cut a piece of stiff card 3½ x 2¾ inches, with an aperture of 2½ x 1¾ inches. Fix the silk gauze to the card with masking tape along all four edges, as tautly as possible. See the HOW TO MOUNT SILK GAUZE tutorial for details.

Identify the thread colours supplied in the kit using the colour key, then, using one strand of the Anchor stranded cotton, start the design in the centre, using tent stitch. Remember that one square on the chart equals one stitch, and always use a ‘stabbing’ motion, not a ‘sewing’ (scooping) one.


Miniature needlepoint tutorial - run a line of Fray Check around the edge of the stitching

When the stitching is complete, if it has become slightly mis-shapen (especially if you did not use a card mount to hold the silk gauze taut), press it on the reverse side with a medium hot iron, over a padded ironing board, pulling the fabric gently if necessary to get it dead square.

Hold the gauze piece face down and run a line of fabric glue such as Fray Check around the edge of the stitching, about a quarter of an inch wide.

 

Miniature needlepoint tutorial - cut out the stitched area

 

Wait for the glue to dry completely, then, with a pair of sharp scissors, carefully cut away the unstitched gauze, right up to the stitching.

 

Press the stitching again.

 

Your placemat is now complete, and ready to display in your dolls’ house!

Go to the Needlepoint Kit Store now, to see the miniature placemat kits.