Few things dress a dining table for fall faster than a fresh set of placemats. They’re quick, they’re practical, and they’re the perfect excuse to sew with all those gorgeous autumn prints. This roundup of 6 fall placemat free sewing patterns covers every mood of the season — floral autumn prints, triangle patchwork, pumpkin shapes, and fall leaves — all beginner-friendly and all free.
What you’ll need
- A sewing machine (a straight stitch handles all six designs)
- Quilting cotton in fall shades: orange, rust, mustard, brown, cream
- Batting or fusible fleece to give the placemats body
- Rotary cutter, cutting mat and ruler, scissors, pins or clips, iron
- A marker or chalk for tracing shapes
6 Fall Placemat Free Sewing Patterns
Save1. Fun Autumn Placemat
Diana at Sew Very Crafty kicks off the list with a beautiful floral-style autumn placemat. It’s a lovely fall project for dressing up your dining table — the warm seasonal prints do all the decorating work for you, and the classic rectangular shape keeps the sewing simple.
Tip: fussy-cut the prettiest motifs from your fabric so a pumpkin or leaf lands front and center on each mat.
Save2. Floral Triangle Placemat
This triangle-design placemat from Caroline Fairbanks (via Sew Can She) finishes at approximately 12″ × 16″ — a practical, everyday size that adds a stylish touch to the table. The triangle piecing gives you that patchwork look from simple, straightforward sewing.
Tip: chain-piece the triangles assembly-line style; pressing each unit as you go keeps the points crisp.
Save3. Floral Pumpkin Shaped Placemat
Merino and Tomatoes’ pumpkin-shaped placemat is the scrap-buster of the bunch. Turn leftover fabrics into an adorable pumpkin-shaped table piece — the curved outline and little stem make it unmistakably fall, and no two will ever come out exactly alike.
Tip: clip the curves generously before turning — it makes the pumpkin outline lie smooth and flat.
Save4. Free Pumpkin Placemat Pattern
Heather at Heather Handmade shares this free pumpkin placemat pattern — a cheerful orange pumpkin shape that brings instant autumn to any place setting. It’s a satisfying one-sitting project with a big seasonal payoff.
Tip: topstitch the pumpkin ridges with a slightly darker thread to make the shape pop.
Save5. Fall Leaves Placemat
Melissa Corry’s fall leaves placemat (via AllPeopleQuilt) is the one to make when you want to impress. The creator walks you through detailed instructions from measuring to sewing, so it’s easy to follow and recreate — and the finished mat makes a wonderful housewarming gift that shows off your crafting skills.
Tip: add a layer of batting between the top and backing for a quilted feel that sits nicely on the table.
Save6. Beginner-Friendly Pumpkin Placemat
New to sewing? Start here. Minki Kim’s pumpkin placemat is an easy, welcoming project — and the best part is you can sew it in different colors and prints to match your home decor. One success here and you’ll be planning a whole set.
Video tutorial: Minki Kim’s pumpkin placemat video
Tip: small-scale prints read best on the curved pumpkin shape — save the big bold florals for rectangular mats.
Caring for your fall placemats
- Wash with your linens: Most quilting cotton placemats handle machine wash cold, tumble dry low — just check your batting’s care label first.
- Press after washing: A quick iron restores crisp edges; use steam on stubborn wrinkles.
- Stain response: Dab spills immediately with a damp cloth; avoid rubbing so you don’t push stains into the batting.
- Store flat or rolled: Folded creases set in over time — roll placemats around a cardboard tube between seasons.
- Sun awareness: Those rich fall colors fade in direct sun, so store them away from bright windows.
That’s all six — pull out the fabric stash this weekend and your table will be ready for fall before the leaves finish turning. Happy sewing!
Pattern roundup inspiration from hellolidy.com’s “6 Fall Placemat Free Sewing Patterns”; each design credited to its original creator above.
