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!

Photobucket

Photobucket

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

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

Photobucket
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.

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

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

Photobucket

Photobucket
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.

Photobucket

Photobucket

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

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

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

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

Photobucket
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.

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

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

Photobucket
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.)

Photobucket
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.

Photobucket

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

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

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

Photobucket

Photobucket
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.

Photobucket
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.

Photobucket
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!

Photobucket

Happy Quilting!

Photobucket

0 comment on Autumn Table Runner

  1. rebeccakeppel
    October 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm (13 years ago)

    that table runner is beautiful! I love the quilting stitches!

  2. Alice Golden
    October 23, 2011 at 7:54 pm (13 years ago)

    Great tutorial… I think that even a beginner like me might be able to make one… need to get some of the ruler tape!

  3. hilaryck
    October 23, 2011 at 10:23 pm (13 years ago)

    This is gorgeous!!! And I agree, for someone who hasn’t dove into the wonderful world of quilting…I think with photos like that, I could even try one. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!! 😉

  4. daniela1221
    October 23, 2011 at 10:42 pm (13 years ago)

    Love it! I think I will have to give this one a try!