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    Home » Sewing

    Jockey Silks Placemats

    Updated: Apr 19, 2023 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 4 Comments

    A free sewing tutorial to make a set of colorful Jockey Silks placemats perfect for the Kentucky Derby!

    colorful placemats on wood table

    Hi! I’m Lori! I have my own blog, dedicated mostly to sewing projects, called love hazel. I would love for you to visit me there! I’m so excited to be a guest blogger today, and I am so flattered that Melissa asked! Thanks, Melissa!

    Table of Contents
    • Supplies for each placemat:
    • Step One:
    • Step Two:
    • Step Three:
    • Our Derby Glass Collection

    So… the Derby. aaaah, the Derby. I lived in Louisville for several years before I got married, then moved to TX for 1 year, and returned to live in Louisville for several years after I got married. I actually attended the Derby 2 years.

    The first year I went to the infield. There are some things I saw that day that will be burned in my memory forever. Wow. The next year I went with my family, and we stayed in the paddock area, which was much more my speed and a much more enjoyable experience.

    I must say, though, that either way, the excitement is palpable, and there is no place better for people watching! Now that I live in NC, I miss Derby time, but in the years since I have left, I have never missed a Derby race! It’s something that becomes a part of you once you live there.

    I always loved looking at the jockey silks in the racing booklets at the track. They are so colorful and bright.

    colorful placemats on wood table

    I also like to keep placemats on our kitchen table, which pertain to whatever the current holiday is. I’m always at a loss after Easter, and my table usually remains bare again until fall. So, this idea was born. Derby Placemats. They were very easy to make.

    Supplies for each placemat:

    • Two 12″ x 12″ pieces of colorful fabric
    • One Fat Quarter of Fabric for the Jockey Silk
    • Paper Backed Fusible Web
    • 50″ of 2 ½″ wide binding

    Step One:

    Draw a jockey silk and cut it out of some colorful fabric.

    Use a fusible web that you can sew on to adhere it to a 12×12 square of another colorful fabric.

    Optional: if you’d like your placemats to be heavier, you can add a layer of heavyweight fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the placemat front piece.

    Step Two:

    Sew around the edges of the silks, back it with 12×12 squares of white muslin, then sew the border around each edge.

    Step Three:

    Make the bias tape for the border (I used 2 ½″ wide binding and bound it the same way you would bind a quilt).

    Below is a close-up of the 4 placemats I did. I loved how they turned out. I think you could also totally do a quilt with these as the blocks if you so desired. Just a thought.

    colorful jockey silk placemats on table

    Our Derby Glass Collection

    close up of derby glasses on table

    Another thing that I think is worth mentioning, since we are talking about table decor, is the collectible Derby glasses. I have quite the collection!

    These are actually the glasses we use to drink out of daily as they are such a nice size. I started collecting this way back when I lived in Louisville as a single woman! They make different ones each year and sell them at local stores.

    The winners from every Derby are listed on the back of each one up to the current year.

    Below I have pictured glasses from the year I was born, the year I graduated from high school, and May 3, 1997, the day I got engaged (Derby 123)!

    My sister still lives in Louisville and gets me new glasses each year. This year she is getting me an Oaks glass, too, so I will start to add those to my collection! Love the Derby glasses and actually use them on my table every day, although they are a great addition to any Derby decor.

    close up of derby glasses on table

    Hope you enjoy this Derby idea. Right now, the placemats are on their way to KY. I decided to give them to my sister (who also likes to decorate with themed placemats) to thank her for all the Derby glasses she has purchased for me over the years!

    You May Also Like:

    • Jockey Silks Table Topper Pattern; A DIY Derby Project
    • Sparkly Lucky T-shirt; a Kids DIY Kentucky Derby T-Shirt
    • Quilted Placemat Patterns; a Fat Quarter Project
    • Free Quilted Halloween Placemat Pattern
    • Square in Square Quilted Placemat Pattern

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. stacie loveberry says

      February 19, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      Hi Lori! My husband is a jockey and I want to do my kitchen in a jockey theme. I looove these mats. I know you made these as a gift, but would you be interested in making some to sell? Please email me! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Melissa Mortenson says

        February 20, 2013 at 3:13 pm

        Hi,
        I don’t think Lori is selling them… but I’ll email her and let you know.

        Reply
    2. stacie loveberry says

      February 21, 2013 at 9:58 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Becky Cochran says

      May 05, 2023 at 6:16 pm

      Love the pattern! Love the Derby….I used to own horses, I study them on Derby Day…pay no attention to winners/losers or any stats. I have picked the top four runners about 20 years in a row…never have bet on them tho…sigh. Love it!

      Reply

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    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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