Now that the leftovers have been eaten and the dishes put away, it's time to get sewing for Christmas. 🎄 And since some of that sewing will be for gifts, I've come up with a quick and easy table runner that would make a great gift (think neighbor, teacher, gift exchange, hostess gift). It uses 16-patch blocks and can be made in just about any color scheme (I made this one using Little Joys). I quilted mine with a simple serpentine stitch using my walking foot, but you could quilt it even faster using a free-motion foot. Great for scraps or leftover 10" squares. Let's get started:
Materials needed:
- Total of (32) 5" squares (2 each of 16 different prints - you can repeat if necessary)
- 1/4 yard fabric for binding
- 1/2 yard fabric for backing
- 18" x 34" piece of thin batting
Finished size: 16.5" x 32"
For each of the eight blocks - take a set of two matching squares and team up with a different set of two matching squares. You will now have 8 sets of 4 squares. Keep sets together.
Take each set and cut squares in half:
Each set will now have eight 2.5" x 5" strips (4 of each color). For each set, take a strip, and lay an opposite color strip on top (right sides together) and sew on the long side to make a strip unit:
Repeat for remaining strips in each set (you should have 4 strip units for each set). Press the seams to the darker side, or open. Now take each strip unit and cut in half:
Make a 4-patch by taking one cut half, flipping it around, pinning and sewing to other half. Repeat for all strip units.
Lay out each set of 4-patches, and sew together to make eight 16-patch blocks. Wait to press.
Arrange your blocks 2 down and 4 across. To make sewing easier, press each block the opposite way of its neighbor. Sew blocks together. Do a final press.
Layer your top (right side up), batting, and backing (right side down). Quilt as desired. (I quilted mine going diagonally in one direction with a large serpentine stitch.) Trim sides even, making sure corners are nice and square.
Prepare binding and attach using your favorite method. I like to finish my binding by machine - here is a good tutorial if you need one.
This table runner can be made larger, or quilt-size just by making more blocks. Forty-eight (arranged 6x8) would make a nice throw size quilt - 48"x64").
Fabrics used: Little Joys by Elea Lutz/Riley Blake
