Scalloped Christmas Placemat with Fir Branches and Berries In the Hoop - 7 sizes

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This is a digital ITH machine embroidery design for a scalloped Christmas placemat. Fir branches, holly, red berries and snowflakes are embroidered completely in the hoop and finished with a neat red satin edge.

The elongated shape is made for large rectangular hoops. The smallest version fits a 200x300 mm (8x12") hoop and works beautifully under a small plate, a napkin holder, or a cup with sweets. The largest version creates a full-size festive placemat.

What Is Included

Sizes & Hoop Compatibility

Formats: .dst, .jef, .pec, .vip, .hus, .pes, .exp, .sew, .dat, .vp3, .xxx

Download ITH Placemat Assembly Instructions

Christmas Placemats

Christmas Toys

Pine Tree with Cones

Santa

Poinsettia

Madeira Classic 40 Thread Chart

The color squares show the working thread shades. Use the Madeira numbers and the color order in the embroidery file as your reference.

Why There Are 21 Thread Changes

The repeated colors are intentional. Branches and berries are embroidered in separate sections so earlier stitches do not show beneath the satin branch bars, while the back has fewer long thread travels and trims.

Do not automatically sort or merge repeated colors. A single-needle machine requires more thread changes — this is a normal part of the construction and keeps the large design tidy.

Thread sequence:
1304 → 1037 → 1004 → 1397 → 1304 → 1037 → 1340 → 1257 → 1037 → 1340 → 1257 → 1037 → 1340 → 1257 → 1037 → 1340 → 1257 → 1037 → 1004 → 1249 → 1004 → 1037.

Two In-the-Hoop Assembly Options

1. Double-sided placemat: stabilizer stays inside

1. Before cutting, prewash the front and backing fabrics. Dry and press both using the same care routine.
2. Attach two layers of tear-away stabilizer to the wrong side of the front fabric with temporary adhesive, then hoop the preparation.
3. Embroider the front through the placement outline. Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the fabric.
4. Turn the hoop over. Apply temporary adhesive to the stabilizer on the wrong side and attach the backing fabric wrong side to stabilizer, right side facing out.
5. Return the hoop to the machine. The outline stitches secure the backing along the placemat shape.
6. Remove the hoop again. Trim the excess front and backing fabrics close to the outline without cutting the stitches or stabilizer.
7. Return the hoop and embroider the final satin border. It covers the cut edge and permanently joins the layers.
8. After unhooping, remove only the stabilizer outside the outline. The stabilizer between the two fabrics stays inside the finished placemat.

2. Lightweight single-layer placemat: no backing fabric

1. Prepare the front fabric and stabilizer as for the first option, then embroider through the outline.
2. Do not attach backing fabric. The outline is stitched without a back layer.
3. After the outline, trim only the front fabric close to the stitches, then embroider the final satin edge.
4. After unhooping, tear away all stabilizer from the back, trim thread tails and clean the reverse side. The result is a thin placemat with no backing fabric and no stabilizer inside.

Fabric, Stabilizer & Care

• Linen and cotton: choose stable medium-weight woven fabrics without elastane. For loose, open-weave linen, keep the support strong: use two layers of tear-away stabilizer and temporary adhesive so the fabric does not shift.
• Shrinkage: the front and backing must have matching care requirements and similar shrinkage. Once the satin edge is finished, it is no longer safe to shrink the placemat.
• Textured fabric: smooth non-pile velour or suede-textured material gives the placemat a more luxurious appearance. Make a sample first; do not automatically prewash it — follow the manufacturer's care label. If the fabric is dry-clean only, dry-clean the finished placemat too.
• Thread and needle: polyester 40-weight thread is practical for washable table linens; rayon 40-weight gives a decorative finish. A 75/11 embroidery needle suits most medium-weight fabrics.
• Before starting: stitch a test section using the same fabric, stabilizer and thread planned for the finished placemat.