Although many people use polyester batting when making patchwork placemats, it isn't absolutely necessary. You can make attractive placemats without any batting. Simply fold the backing up over the top and stitch. Design of Squares You can use a number of designs for patchwork placemats. Then proceed as you did above, sewing the strips together and putting filling and a backing on.
Traditional Designs Use traditional patchwork quilt designs for placemats.
If the patterns aren't the correct size for placemats, add border strips around the edges until the desired size is reached. Then proceed to finish the placemat as described above. She also teaches workshops for children and teachers who encourage children to write.