Table Runner

This weekend, the family project was a table runner. I had found a picture of one I liked online but there was no pattern. However, since my mother-in-law is a well-experienced quilter, she was able to come up with something. She didn't make one but since this took me nearly six hours, she was helping by the end of it (as was David). I also learned a lot this weekend, such as chain stitching.

So the one I liked was really bright fabrics so I gathered up all my bright stuff (I believe I had 17 total, mostly fat quarters) for the front. The back I decided to do dark colors but mostly because I didn't have big enough fabric to do a plain backing. The finished product is 50 inches by 13 inches.

You cut out 48 strips of your top fabric (2 inches by 9 1/2 inches) and sew them into pairs (here is where chain stitching is really helpful and makes it go faster). Then sew those pairs together (but only do 8 of them or your numbers won't come out right!). Then sew the remaining pairs onto your sets of 4. This sounds much more complicated than it is. Also, assume a quarter inch seam allowance and be sure to sew right sides together. Iron open in between each addition.

So now you have 8 squares. Cut 4 of these diagonally from top left to bottom right and the other 4 from bottom left to top right. Lay out all your pieces. This part gets confusing because of the different directions you want and how you now have A pieces and B pieces (depending on the way the diagonal goes). Also, 2 of them (one A and one B) are now extra). Here is what mine looks like. If you want to keep the diamonds in the middle, be sure to make your pieces face the right way. Other than that, design is up to you.

Once it's all laid out, you sew together the sections (they're sort of separated in the picture). It's easiest if you sew the diamonds first and then add the outer pieces to it. You'll have four pieces then. Then, you sew those together and your top is done!

Next, you cut out 35 strips for the back and sew these together (since you aren't making the blocks for the back--or at least I didn't--you can just sew these all together at once if you want or do pairs and then add pairs, etc).

This next part is when David and his mom pretty much took over because I was getting exhausted (did I mention I missed my nap?) so I am a little fuzzy on the details. You want batting in it. So you arrange your batting on the bottom, your backing (my dark colors) face up on top of that and your top (the colorful part) face down on that. You sew around the top (your others aren't the right shape yet) and you may need to pull out your walking foot since it's getting thick. Be sure to leave a big enough opening so you can turn it. I believe ours was about four inches.

Then you turn it right side out, iron, and stitch the opening closed. You can choose to top stitch it if you want (especially if you're going to wash it) but otherwise, you're done!

I definitely thought this was going to a less involved project but it was still fun and I'm happy with the way it turned out. I don't see myself making another one for a very long time though.