Celebration Table Runner by Rachel Measham-Pywell
Friday, April 30, 2010 at 7:31PM Celebration – a pretty table runner with stitchery detail that measures 14” x 38”. Mix up your scraps for this easy to make Table runner or use a coordinating range of fabrics and add a splash of colour to your home.
Designed by Rachel Measham-Pywell from Four Wise Monkeys
What you need
*A ¼ inch seam allowances has been used unless otherwise stated. Iron all your fabric before starting.
5 fat eights or fabric scraps of pretty fabric
5 fat eights of light fabric or fabric scraps including one fabric suitable as a stitchery background
20 cm fabric – border
20 cm fabric – binding
45cm fabric – backing
45 cm batting or bag batting
County Cottage Thread – I used “Dogwood”
A pressing cloth
Getting started
From the pretty fabric
Select one fabric and cut 4 x 3 ⅞ inch squares
From each of the other 4 fabrics cut 5 x 3 ⅞ inch squares
From the light fabric
Select stitchery background fabric and cut 4 x 3 ⅞ inch squares
From each of the other 4 fabrics cut 5 x 3 ⅞ inch squares
From the stitchery stabiliser
4 x 3 ⅞ inch squares
From the border fabric
Cut 2 x 1.5” x 36.5” strips
Cut 2 x 1.5” x 14.5” strips
From the binding fabric
Cut 3 x 2 ¼ strips across the fabric
Step 1 – Make your squares
Take one of your 4 stitchery background square and your stitchery stabiliser. Following the manufactures instructions, iron to the back of the squares. This is so the back of your stitchery will not show though the light fabric on your finished table runner.
Cut each square across diagonally to make 2 triangles, measuring from point to point. Keep the triangles sorted into pretty and light fabric groups.
Randomly place a pretty fabric on top of a light fabric and sew across the long edge, being careful not to stretch the bias. Make sure all that you always sew a pretty fabric on top of a light fabric and all triangles are facing the same direction. I like to chain piece as I sew.
Press your seams open or towards the darker side. Carefully snip off the “ears” off the fabric.
Step 2 – Arranging your blocks
Take your 48 squares and lay them out on a flat surface to arrange your blocks. Use the photograph to help with your layout. The centre 8 squares should a pretty fabric and a stitchery background fabric. It is a good idea to take a photo of your layout once you are happy with it, and print it out to use as a reference.
Step 3 – Block construction
* an accurate ¼ inch seam allowance and matching your seams is essential to achieving those neat points on your blocks.
Using your photograph as a guide, divide your squares in to two rows of two squares. Sew your squares together in pairs, working across the rows, carefully matching the seams. Press the seams.
Again using the photograph as a guide, sew the pairs together to make a four patch block, carefully matching and pinning the seams. Press the seams. Now start joining the first and second rows to make a strip of 8 squares as shown. Continue to match, pin and press seams.
You should now have 6 groups of 8 squares.
Continue to join the block together as shown. When you have completed sewing the blocks together, give the table runner top a press. Admire all the pretty colours together!
Step 4 – Add the borders
Join the two strips measuring 1.5” x 36.5” and sew them to the top and bottom edges of your table runner. Press. (Don’t worry about the stitchery in the pic – I did mine before I decided to add borders). I like to measure the centre, and each quarter of the border and table runner and match and pin these points for accuracy.
Join the two strips measuring 1.5” x 14.5” and sew them to the two side edges. Press
Step 5 – Stitchery
Print the stitchery pattern and use a light box or window to trace the design. I prefer to use a wash away pen.
Stitch the design using 2 strands of thread and a hoop. I used Cottage Garden Threads in “Dogwood”. After the flowers are stitched add small randomly spaced cross stitches to fill in any gaps. Stitches used are backstitch, cross stitch and French knots.
* use a pressing cloth when you press over your stitcheries so they do not get damaged by the iron.
Step 6 – Quilting and binding
Pin or glue baste the table runner to make a “quilt sandwich” with the backing fabric, batting and table runner top. Quilt as desired. I decided to sew a narrow line using my walking foot at each side of the diagonal seams.
Join the three strips of fabric cut for binding using your preferred method. I prefer to join strips by cutting the ends at 45 degree angles and mitring the corners of the table runner as I sew.
Trim the excess batting from your table runner.
Sew the binding to the back of the table runner using small neat hand stitches.
And you are finished! A pretty table runner to brighten up your home, and to help you celebrate those special days.
Reader Comments (1)
Gorgeous! Do you mind if I put a piccy and a link on the blog?