Saturday Sewing: Quilt as You Go Holiday Table Runner

This table runner is a quick-make project and perfect gift for the holidays.  The best part is that it is quilted as you piece it and is finished once you sew in your last strip.  Use an orphan 8 ½” block for the centre or just make it plain.  The strips can vary in width and add a little interest to the project or use left over 2 ½” binding strips.  Add decorative stitches in the ditch to add a little bling. 

Material needed:

Backing: one piece of fabric preferably a busy print 20” x 45”.  For the purpose of this project the length is 45”.  You can however make it longer by adding more strips.

Batting: 20” x 45” A low loft works best for this project.

1 Centre square cut 8 ½” x 8 ½”.

1 strip 2 ½” x 45” of 5 coordinating colours.

3 strips 2 ½” x 45” for binding.

Supplies:

Rotary Cutter

Acrylic ruler

Sewing machine in working order

Frixion Marker

Instructions:

• From each coordinating strip of fabric, sub cut the strips into 2 x 2 ½” x 9” and 2 x 2 ½” x 11”

•  Place the backing fabric right side down on the work table horizontally.
• Lay the batting on top and smooth out with your hands.
• Using the Frixion Marker, mark the centre vertically and Horizontally, this line will disappear once your start ironing.

• Place the centre block right side up, lining up the corners with the marked lines in the centre of the table runner.
• Using the marker number each quadrant 1 – 4 starting bottom left corner.

• With the first strip of fabric and right sides together, line up the 8” strip so that the corners on the horizontal line match up.  Pin in place.  The strip will be a little longer than the centre square but that is ok.

• Using a ¼” seam allowance sew down the seam making sure to sew through all three layers the fabric, batting and backing.

• Flip the strip over and press.

• Place the 11” strip right sides together, matching again at the centre horizontal line.  Pin and sew.

• Place the second 8” strip on the other side again lining up with the centre horizontal line.  Sew through all layers, flip and press.

• Place the second 11” strip right sides together, matching again at the centre horizontal line.  Pin and sew.  Now you have completed around the centre block with one colour.  The Horizontal line should line up with the strips.  There will be overhang on the outside edges but that will be trimmed away later.

Place right sides together the second colour 8” strip in the first quadrant lining up the centre horizontal line.

• Continue with the remaining strips to the end repeating the previous steps.

• Once all strips are sewn, trim by lining up your ruler with the outside edge to get a nice clean cut and remove all the ends of the strips. 
• Trim the ends in a triangle shape.

• Using your decorative stitches already in your machine, stitch in the ditch using a decorative thread. I used Madeira Metallic silver thread. Remember to change your needle according to the thread you may use.

• Bind your runner using your favourite technique.