Autumn Table Runner

I miss autumn.  Living in Florida sure has been tough for someone like me who loves crispy leaves, hot cider, and fall fashion.  Thankfully, I’ve transformed some beautiful Joel Dewberry fabric into an autumn table runner–and I’m already feeling a temperature change in the dining room!  My favorite thing about this table runner is its simple and clean straight-line quilting–easy to accomplish thanks to Therm O Web’s PeelnStick Ruler Tape!

To make one of my autumn table runners, you will need the following materials:

• ¾ yard of cotton fabric
• One large scrap of batting (at least 12 x 36”)
• Therm O Web’s PeelnStick Ruler Tape

To get started, cut two 12 x 36” rectangles from the ¾ yard of fabric.

Turn over one fabric rectangle and line it up within grid lines on your cutting mat. Count six inches away from each corner (in both directions) and lay the ruler down to connect those points. Draw a line along the ruler’s edge. Repeat at all corners.

Carefully cut along the drawn lines. Repeat to the other fabric rectangle.

Baste one table runner piece to the batting.  Carefully trim the batting to line up with the table runner shape.

Lay the other table runner piece on top so that the fabric “right sides” are together. Make sure that all fabric and batting edges line up and pin everything in place.

Using 1/2” seam allowance, sew around the perimeter, leaving one of the long sides unstitched.

Before turning right-side out, carefully trim along the seam allowance at all corners for a few inches.

Turn right-side out through the opening. Use a skinny dowel or pencil to help push out the corners.

Iron over the table runner to help it lie perfectly flat.

Fold in the fabric at the opening. (I used the iron to help me keep it straight and flat.) Pin every inch or so to help enforce the folds.

Stitch it closed by hand. (I used a ladder stitch.)

Iron over the whole table runner again, using a heavy starch spray.

Install a walking foot onto your sewing machine. (A walking foot adds an extra set of feed dogs to ensure that all layers of the table runner are fed through the machine evenly.)

Now it’s time to mark up the table runner with a few simple, clean lines to serve as a guide for quilting. Once again, I’m using Therm O Web’s PeelnStick Ruler Tape to help me easily mark these lines on the quilt.

Center the table runner on your cutting mat.  Lay down a piece of ruler tape to split the center.

Using Crayola Washable Markers, draw along both sides of the tape.

Pull the tape off and re-use it to mark lines a few inches away on both sides of the center line.

To add intersecting lines, reorient the table runner so that the bottom-side lines up with a diagonal grid line. Re-use the tape to add more lines, about 3 1/2” apart.

Once you are satisfied with the number of lines, quilt over them. Use both hands to guide the table runner and help the needle follow each line.

Once you have quilted over all the lines, wash the table runner to remove the washable marker. After it dries, iron with a heavy starch spray. Ta da!

Happy Quilting!