Nice job!

I think it looks very nice, much better than I could ever do. I'd have my tinsel in a tangle for sure trying to do this! Hope he appreciated your efforts.

I think you have made a good job without instructions. I am sure there will be a Cutie come along who can help you find what you are looking for. It looks good to me.

looks good to me, especially the reverse side. Don't be so critical of yourself. I'm sure he will love it!

Looks great--would love to give this a try! Please post URL for instructions when you find them. :-) My cousin is a big Marshall fan; even decorated his tree in green and white.

Looks good to me! Have you tried the ITH version?

You did wonderful for figuring this out on your own. I love the reversible part and a great color choice. I think he will love it. From looking at it, it looks like you were making a pineapple block without the four side corners.

Love it. You have done a wonderful job,especially with no instructions. In my book , you are one smart cookie/Lillian

Don't be so hard on yourself. I think it is absolutely amazing. Well done

I think you did a great job..

i did this using eleanor burns design yours looks excellent will you do more??

Great work done!!!Stunning

Vicki Purnell has a tutorial for such a mat. I have actually made one. Yours looks great.

Being a guy, I doubt he'd notice much more that the bull! This is really well done, especially after reading all you went through to create it. I love your fabric choices, and your top stitching give it such a quilty feeling.

You have done a terrific job on this & both you & your brother should be very pleased. Here is a link to the tutorial that sharonleekesner mentioned.
http://vickisfabriccreations.blogspot.com/2012/09/hexagonaloctagonal-swirly-table-topper.html

Very nice and I understand where you are coming from.. I so believe we have gremlins who visit sewing rooms at time. At least I know I do. VBG.
Thank for sharing and it really look great, know he was pleased.

terrific job ~hugs~

This is really a beautiful design. I really love the way it looks. I would like to know where the pattern is from if you find it!

You have done a terrific job, love it - back and front!
Hugs, Lidia

Your brother must have loved this! Did you use a walking foot, that helps

Beautifully done!

Looks great. I do love the swirly placemats. Look back in my projects for those I made with Vicki's directions.
Jo

Thanks for all the kind comments. To answer some questions:
The embroidery design is nativeamericanbuffalospirit_002_5x7 from the set of the same name from Designs by SiCK. I embroidered it on an 8x8 inch piece of green fabric centered over a 19x19 square of cotton batting and 19x19 square of green fabric. The design is a triple stitch design, so the stitching is heavier than normal quilting. I shifted the embroidery some before stitching because when I cut the octagon out when I printed the pattern, it was not centered in the octagon, though it was in the square. Once the design was stitched, I unhooped it and did the rest by sewing machine. I don't have a hoop big enough for the size pad I wanted to make. I cut the corners off of the smaller square to make my octagon and then began sewing the strips along the edges of the octagon through all layers and flipping them back after each one. The first strip of each row can't be finished until the last strip of that row is attached. Then you start all over with the next row rotating the colors one side. It makes a lovely spiral with the stitching showing on the back, but not on the front. The stitching on the front is from top-stitching the whole thing to fix the problems I was having with the back.

Beautiful work and very nice pattern, you did well

Great work, thanks for sharing with us. Sandra.