ARE YOU LOOKING FOR QUICK AND EASY WAYS TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR HOLIDAY DECOR? WHY NOT MAKE SOME SUPER-CUTE 30-MINUTE HOLIDAY SNACK MATS? IT’S QUICK QUILTING AT IT’S FINEST!
When I first heard of snack mats, I immediately pictured mini placemats. And I wasn’t far off! A snack mat, however, can be so much more!
This year, why not add a little bit of homemade fun to your holiday decor? You can make these cute holiday snack mats, which are just the perfect size for a cup of steaming cocoa (or coffee, of course) and a sweet treat. They’re just right for diving into the trick-or-treat stash, or a pre-Christmas treat. Make them for yourself, or use them as fun gifts!
Supplies for Quilted Holiday Snack Mats
As with most sewing projects, you can make this as easy or complex as you like! Here are the basic supplies you’ll need:
- Fabric – you can use scraps, charm packs or layer cakes for the top, plus extra for the backing and binding
- Quilt batting – choose your favourite! Insul-Brite is perfect for those hot mugs and warmed plates
- Rotary cutter and mat – You can absolutely use a good pair of scissors, but I do find that you get the most accurate cuts using a rotary cutter.
- Quilting Ruler
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Iron and ironing board or pressing mat
- Pins or clips
- Fabric marker – this is optional for this project
- Spray starch – this is also optional for this project. I have recently started starching my fabrics, and I love the difference. A note of caution, however: starching precuts may not work out well, as the starch can shrink your fabric in one direction only. Your squares will no longer be squares!
GET A PRINTABLE AD-FREE VERSION OF THIS BLOG POST HERE! ONLY $2!
When you purchase this HOLIDAY SNACK MATS POST, you’ll receive all the instructions found in this post, PLUS you won’t need to find this webpage every time you make this project!
*Please note – purchasing this printable blog post is optional. You can still complete the Holiday Snack Mats using the instructions found in this post.*
You can see how I put together my own Holiday Snack Mats in my YouTube video and take some inspiration for your own.
Continue reading below to get the step-by-step instructions. Note – all these instructions will be based on my own project. You can certainly change up the sizes, but these instructions allow for a finished snack mat measuring approximately 9 x 13 inches.
Instructions for Holiday Snack Mats
Sewing a snack mat is similar to sewing a quilt, just on a much smaller scale. You’ll start by cutting your fabric and pressing and piecing your top. You’ll layer your snack mat on batting and backing, and bind them traditionally. So let’s get started!
Cutting Your Fabric
Once you have chosen and pressed your three fabrics, you’ll start cutting. In total, you will need the following pieces:
Fabric 1
- Four (4) squares – 2 ½ inches
Fabric 2
- Five (5) strips – 2 ½ x 5 inches
Fabric 3
- Two (2) squares – 5 inches
- One (1) strip – 5 x 9 inches (this can be pieced – if you are using a charm pack, stitch two squares together to form the length)
- Batting – approximately 13 x 9 ½ inches (slightly larger than the top)
- Backing – approximately 14 x 10 inches – (slightly larger than the batting)
All stitching is done with a ¼” seam allowance. Seams are pressed directionally, not open.
Stitching Your Snack Mat
The first step is to fold one of the 2 ½ x 5-inch strips in half lengthwise and press. With raw edges together, stitch the folded strip to the top of one 5-inch square. This will form the front of the pocket. If you would like to add any additional decorative stitching to the pocket front, do so at this stage. It will be much easier than if you wait until it’s attached to the square. Set the pocket front piece and the 5 x 9-inch strip aside.
Next, lay out your main square as follows:
This project is very easy to chain together. Start by stitching the top left square to the top centre strip for Row 1. Follow with Row 3 left + centre pieces, and then Row 3 left + centre. Before pressing or trimming, stitch the right top square for Row 1 to the right of the centre strip, followed by Row 2 and Row 3.
Set your seams and press based on the diagram below:
To stitch your rows together, nest the seams. Press. Finish the top of the snack mat by placing your square face up. Align the pocket front with the lower left corner of the square, with right sides together, as shown below.
Layer the 5″ x 9″ strip on top of the pocket front, with the right side facing down towards the square. Stitch all three layers on the left side. Press the seam towards the square.
Once you have the top of your mat assembled, cut your batting. You can trim it to approximately 1 to 2 inches larger than the top layer. Then cut your backing fabric, which should be slightly larger than the batting. Carefully pin or clip all three layers together and quilt your snack mat. Alternatively, you can use a spray adhesive to keep all your layers secure.
Because of the small size of this project, you don’t need to do much in the way of quilting unless you want to! I’ve chosen to do some very simple quilting, following some of the straight lines formed by the pattern.
Now it’s time to add your binding and finish as desired. I used strips of a jelly roll to make my binding, but you could use anything you like. Once your binding is finished, your holiday snack mat is done and ready to use!
This little holiday snack mat is super cute and so quick and easy to put together, you’ll be making them for ALL your holidays!
For more holiday inspiration, be sure to check out my Christmas Snack Mats, made with panels! So cute and so simple.
GET A PRINTABLE AD-FREE VERSION OF THIS BLOG POST HERE! ONLY $2!
When you purchase this HOLIDAY SNACK MATS POST, you’ll receive all the instructions found in this post, PLUS you won’t need to find this webpage every time you make this project!
*Please note – purchasing this printable blog post is optional. You can still complete the Holiday Snack Mats using the instructions found in this post.*
Want to remember this? Save these “Adorable Quilted Holiday Snack Mats: 3 Fabrics and 30 Minutes” to your favourite Pinterest boards!
