Second Small Project

In last week’s post, I said I would share a series of small projects to make while all of us are confined to our homes during the corona virus outbreak.  Since then, our quilt shops and other fabric shops have been forced to close.  However, some of them are continuing to take orders via email or telephone messages.  I know Country Stitches in East Lansing is continuing to take orders and will mail your purchases to you.  You can get more information about this on Country Stitches Facebook Page. 

The second small project in this series is a table runner.  If you are a quilter or a former quilter, this will be a very easy project for you.  If you haven’t quilted, but know how to sew or sewed years ago, this will still be an easy project for you.   Although I have made two or three quilts in my lifetime, I don’t consider myself a real quilter.  I make clothes instead.  So, if I can make a table runner, I know that you can, too!   A picture of the finished table runner is shown below.  I chose to make my table runner using Christmas fabrics because I had the fabrics in my stash.  

A list of what you need to get ready to sew your table runner is shown below. 

Strips of fabric

Middle strip -   8 ½” x 42” or width of fabric    *note – The width of the fabric will vary a little.  Don’t worry.  You can even the strips after they are sewn together.

Strips to both edges of middle strip -   2 strips 1 ½” x 42” or width of fabric

Outside strips – 2 strips 1 ¾” x 42” or width of fabric

Binding – 3 strips 2 1/2” x 42” or width of fabric

Back of Runner

15” x 42” or width of fabric  This will be a little larger than needed, but the extra will be cut off when the runner is assembled.

Batting

15” x 43”  This will be a little larger than needed, but the extra will be cut off when the runner is assembled.

Sewing Strips

Sew the strips together in the following order to make the top of your runner.

With the right side of the middle strip up, place one of the 1 ½” strips on top with the right side down and sew together.  Sew the other 1 ½” strip to the other edge of the middle strip.

Next, sew the right side of one of the outside strips to the right side of one of the 1 ½” strips you just sewed to the middle strip.  Sew the remaining outside strip to the other 1 1/2" strip on the other edge.

Press the seams in the direction of the middle strip and use a rotary cutter to even the edges.  You just completed the top of the runner.

Sandwiching the Runner Together

With the wrong side of the back of the table runner facing up, place the batting on top and center the top of the runner with the right side up on top of the batting.   Use a few pins to hold in place.  Next, stitch in the ditch (in the seam) on both sides of each strip that borders the middle strip.  

Quilting the Middle Strip

You can quilt the runner in any manner you prefer.  I chose to just quilt the middle strip.  To do this, I laid my ruler at an angle across the middle of the strip and drew a chalk line.

I attached my quilting guide to the presser foot ankle of my machine.  I spaced it 1 ½ inches from the needle.  I used a stitch setting of 3 ½ mm.  I sewed across the middle strip on the chalk line.  Then I moved the stitched line under the quilting guide and sewed across the strip while keeping the first stitched line under the quilting guide.  I continued moving and sewing across this strip until I reached the end of the strip.  Then I turned the strip in the opposite direction and stitched in the same manner across the other half of the strip.

Then I placed my ruler at  the center of the middle strip across the lines I just stitched and drew a chalk line.  Then I stitched across that chalk line and moved across the strip sewing lines just as I did on the strip in the other direction.

After you finish the quilting, trim around the runner to even the edges.

Sewing the Binding

Place one strip of binding with the right side up.  Then at one end of the strip place a second strip right side down at a 90 degree angle.  Place your ruler at the top left side of the second strip and angle down to the bottom right edge of the first strip as shown in the picture below and draw a chalk line.  Use a couple of pins to hold in place and sew across the chalk line.  Cut off the corner leaving a ¼” seam.  Attach the third strip in the same manner.  Press the seams and then fold over one inch at one end of the binding and press.

Press the binding in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together.  Place the raw edge of the folded binding on the edge of the runner beginning with the folded end.  Begin in the middle of one of the long edges to avoid attaching the two ends of the binding near the corners.  Start sewing about three inches from the beginning of the binding.  Sew the binding 1/4" from the edge.  Stop sewing 1/4" from the corner and back stitch.  Cut the thread.  Pull the binding up to the corner and then fold binding over and down the side so the top and side edges align.  Hold or pin in place.  Start sewing again at the corner and sew down to 1/4" from the next corner and repeat the process.  Continue in this manner until you get about three inches from the beginning of the binding.  Lap the edge over and trim off the excess binding.  Leave about 1 1/2".   Tuck the end of the binding into the fold of the beginning.  Continue sewing to attach the rest of the binding. 

Before attaching the binding, I suggest you view American Patchwork & Quilting's video, "Binding Your Project".  This video explains how to bind a project using the method I tried to explain in the above paragraph.  The video is clear and easy to understand.  Go to  https://www.youtube.com/  and search for "Binding Your Project".   

After attaching the binding to the front of the table runner, pull the binding to the back side and hand stitch to the back piece.

Your table runner is now complete.

I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy.  Have fun sewing!

Judy