Simple Table Runner--A Tutorial

How about a tutorial for a quick project you can make in just a few hours?!

Last week I showed a little "sneak peek" of a project I wanted to share with you! I'd had this idea in mind for some time, mostly because I had quite a few scraps I wanted to use up for a summer table runner! This runner pattern is perfect for using up left-over jelly roll strips or for simply taming your scrap bin!

Start out by cutting 2 1/2'' x 10 1/2'' strips. For my runner I cut 25 strips which gave me a runner size of 10 1/2" x 501/2" before binding.

Put the strips together in sets of 5. Make sure you like the way the fabrics "go" together.

Sew the 5 strips together using a scant 1/4'' seam. Press the seams open or to one side or the other. I made 5 blocks using 25 strips. You could also use just 15 strips to make a 3 block runner which would make a cute 10 1/2" x 30 1/2" runner (before binding).

Now begin sewing the blocks together, alternating the strip direction each time.

Press well...you want your runner to be ready to quilt.

Next, layer your backing, batting and runner top. Smooth out all the wrinkles and pin using safety pins. I used a pin in every other strip. I machine quilted my runner 1/4'' from each seam. I increased the stitch length before quilting to give it a more "hand-quilted" look.

I really like the look of having the quilting lines going in opposite directions since the blocks are rotated every other block.

After quilting, trim the batting and backing from around your entire runner. I always leave a little extra around the edge so my binding has a "full" look. For my runner I was able to use just 3 strips of 2 1/4'' x the width of my fabric to create my binding. Sew the binding on, and enjoy your new runner!

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. Strip sizes can easily be changed to make different sized runners...use (4) 2 1/2'' x 8 1/2'' strips for each block to make a narrower runner, or use (6) 2 1/2'' x 12 1/2'' strips for each block for a wider runner...the possibilities are endless!

Thanks so much for stopping by!