1.	Cut the linen into two 17 x 21 inch rectangles.

2.	Fold the linen rectangle into quarters and mark the vertical and horizontal centers of the rectangle on the wrong side. This will give you the center of the piece.

3.	Embroider a monogram in the center of the placemat.

4.	Center the template over the placemat making sure the monogram is in the middle of the template.

5.	Draw the template shape onto the placemat with the wash-away marker.

6.	Shape the lace around the outside row of the markings using glass head pins. Use as many as needed to follow the shape.

7.	At the corners, pin the inside and outside of the lace (instead of just the outside as you have been doing) at the point where the miter line has been drawn.

8.	Fold the lace back upon itself so both sides of the lace are parallel. It should be on itself.

9.	Remove the inside pin and re-pin it over both layers of lace, mitering the corner .

10.	You will have the outside pinned and lots of extra lace on the inside.

11.	Pull the header thread gently until the inside of the lace lays flat. It is usually best to pull one side of the lace shape and then pull the header lace around the other side rather than pulling all the way around.

12.	Take the piece to the ironing board and lightly spray starch it.

13.	Press it completely dry.

14.	Lightly spray starch it again and press it dry again so your lace piece is quite stiff.

15.	Carefully remove the piece from the board. At this point, you only need to replace a few of the pins; just enough to keep the lace in place as you sew.

16.	Using a small zigzag (L=2.0, W=2.0), zigzag around both sides of the lace, making sure the stitches go over the lace header.

17.	Carefully cut a center line behind the lace creating as close as possible to the stitches.

18.	Zigzag (L=1.5, W=1.5) along all miter fold lines.

19.	Remove the extra lace in the miter cutting as close to the stitches as possible without cutting the zigzag stitches.

20.	Using a wing needle and paper stabilizer, entredeux or pin stitch (L=2.5, W=3.0)  sew around both sides.