Interfacing & protection for placemats?

I need to make some placemats (I'm using Amy Butler's pattern from In Stitches), and I was wondering what interfacing to use? The pattern says Timtex, but I was wondering how well it launders?

I figure fabric placemats are going to get dirty and will need a washing...does Timtex (or even Peltex) machine wash well or will one wash make the placemats not look as good as they used to?

Or, on the other hand, how well does Scotchgard work? Does it withstand machine washing?

The only experience I have with Timtex is some fabric bowls I make years ago so I'm not sure how well it holds up to regular washing but...

wouldn't oil cloth make awesome place mats :-)

~MG

Oilcloth would, but they're for my friend and she already picked out the fabric. Too bad the shop didn't have the new laminated cottons around! Next time

Maybe I'll just quilt the placemats instead...I'm more comfortable with batting than interfacing...

You could use iron-on vinyl.  It wipes down as easily as oilcloth, plus you can iron it on to any fabric which gives you more options than the range of oilcloth prints.

I have used the fusible peltex several times, but have never washed it. (I love peltex and actually prefer it over Timtex.) The plastic instructions it comes with says that it's "100% polyester, machine washable and dry cleanable".
I don't think I would wash it though because I really can't imagine how it would return to it's original shape without major steam ironing. Maybe dry cleaning would be a better option.
In the end I would use peltex, but Scotch Gard the place mats. Scotch Gard is washable, but I suggest that she just spot clean it. And if she has to, (i.e. coffee spill) she can dry clean it.

I've used Timtex in a bag and it washes quite well, actually.  I just don't throw the bag in the dryer, prefer to air dry it.  The Timtex softens a bit but generally holds its shape, if this is useful.

I just made some placemats with Peltex and it launders just fine.  I just don't dry them in the dryer.  good luck!

I've been having bad luck with washing interfacing though maybe the key is to air-dry it like the other commenters suggest.  Lately, I've been using prewashed flannel or canvas as interfacing as they both hold up so much better to washing and drying.

I have made placemats with just quilt batting and they wash and dry just fine.  I have one fabric on one side and a different fabric on the other side - that way they can be used for more than one occasion - or if I get bored with one print, or if my kids spill on one side, etc...

What about fusible fleece? Stiffer than batting? I'm leaning towards doing mini quilt-like placemats, but I'd want them to be a bit more rigid than a quilt. Could I include a piece of medium/light weight interfacing in the quilt sandwich? Or would that be a quilting disaster?

I've used Decor bond fusible interfacing on my placemats, and they launder great.  I've machine dried them and air dried them. I like this interfacing because it's 44" wide!