Carla, from Creatin’ in the Sticks, is hosting this month’s hop all about music. Of course, Let’s Go to the Hop hopped right into my head and for your entertainment, a link is provided so that you can have an earworm for the day! Now, here are some of Carla’s ideas about the music blog hop:
Do you have a song that inspires you or a tune you listen to when you sew? Do you love a particular instrument or know someone who does? Maybe something, anything, is music to your heart. Does your Mary have a lamb? Do you have music fabric you need to use?
I went with the fabric idea as I had some fabric to use and hope that the two uses inspire you!
Tablerunner #1 – The Border Stripe Runner
I have used this pattern many times, and I always love it. This border print had some challenges, and I wish I had kept a photo of it uncut, but I didn’t. First, I didn’t have close to a full yard of fabric; it was washed and shrunk a little AND the edges were uneven. And, as you can see it calls for an extra half yard. Note to self: buy enough fabric for the project. The second problem was that I did not analyze it enough and made an error on the first cuts….so I couldn’t get a second one like the first, which was my original intention.
I love the piano keys running around the center and the music staff and notes in the center and at the edges. This is not a full-size table runner, but perfect for the center of a table or when serving hor devours.
It was amazing but there was just enough of this fabric to use as a backing. I like “pillow-casing” the pieces and not binding them….to make it lie flatter on the table. Here is a link to pillowcasing a quilt. Somehow, it seems to lend itself more easily to using either side than a piece with binding.
I love the way it looks on my kitchen counter….now to have a party with music and candles and fun nibbles!
Table Runner #2
Part of the saga was that the first miscut continued to haunt me, but , I knew I could make another runner. For this one, however, I did not use a pattern. The sections were recut in order that the piano keys would face correctly depending on the side of the table you are on. Then, I found the perfect border fabric in my stash – it was in the holiday pile – a silver, grey, and black narrow stripe. There is a metallic thread or dye on the fabric so it has a little shine to it; making it perfect for a festive piece on a musician’s table.
Magically, I was able to line up the stripes on the border. I think the diagonal fabric helps to give it a little movement, but it is not too distracting. I think this is because it is a very narrow strip. That fabric is Holiday Charms, #19954 by Robert Kauffman and may still be around. It came in other colors, too!
This piece was also pillow-cased. I used a black polka dot print that too could be used if you were going for another kind of theme. The random pattern of the dots makes me think of snow on a dark winter night.
A giveaway (CLOSED)
So, for those of you who were wishing you had some of this fabric, I do have two rows of the piano keys, no music staff on them. They are 4 1/2″ wide x 36″. Please fill out the form below. I will select a winner on Friday, at the end of the bloghop!
(GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED)
These projects were part of my commitment to Wips-B-Gone 2022 and I am pleased to say that the two table runners are done and ready for service.
Visit the other Blog Hoppers!
Here is the list for today and the rest of the week. Stop by and say hello to all who are blogging!
Tuesday, November 15th
MooseStashQuilting
Kathleen McMusing (that’s me)
Just Sew Quilter
Pieceful Thoughts
Songbird Designs
Desertsky Quilting
Wednesday, November 16th
Den syende himmel
Inflorescence
That Fabric Feeling
Karrin’s Crazy World
Karen’s Korner
Quilted Delights
Thursday, November 17th
Creatin’ in the Sticks
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Quilting Gail
Just Because Quilts
Purring Cottage
Scrapdash
Coming Up on the Blog
Tips and Tutorials (11/22/22)
Wips-B-Gone 2022 Quarter 3
Wips-B-Gone 2022 Quarter 4
Linky Parties
Midweek Makers 358
Wednesday Wait Loss #302
My Favorite Monthly Finish
What wonderful runners! I actually like mine shorter than most people – maybe because I have a round table. These are just too perfect for that fabric. Thanks for sharing! Thanks for a chance to win the scraps left. I can’t believe you got two runners, AND leftovers, from less than one yard! You magician, you.
These turned out fantastic! I love how you made everything work out.
SO clever
LeeAnna
Wow Amazing to get both those runners finished with the fabric at hand! I LOVE your piano topper and runner – I am a pianist and this needs to be on my list to make one! Thank you for the inspiration and chance to win some keys!
Beautiful runners, Kathleen! It’s nice reading about your struggle with the first runner–we all go through that type of situation, so we can all relate! Thanks for sharing!
I love your table runners. Those piano keys sure make an awesome visual statement. You will have the best dressed table for the upcoming holidays, for sure. Some days projects make us crazy, but perseverance pays off, when it doesn’t kill us! Your living proof of that!
Both of your piano runners are fabulous!
I have never seen piano key fabric, what fun1 You used it well for both of the runners. I love it when I have coordinating fabrics in my stash – it always feels like a little win! The backing on the second runner is perfect. Great idea making them reversible!
Oh, Kathleen, these are so great. The little details are what really make the runners so good. The second one makes me want to sit and put my fingers where the keys are (I don’t really play anything but Mary had a little lamb) and pretend I’m playing a concert. So fun!
Great use of the fabric Kathleen, I love that border fabric on the second one. What a bonus for you to have all this in the stash;)
These runners are truly musical. Great use of your keyboard fabric,
I love them both! I especially love that you can “play the piano” as you sit at the table – lol! The fabrics are fantastic.
You did a great job with the fabrics.
Oh, my. Both runners are grand. So far the ‘music’ projects are fabulous. Making the piano keys was inspiring. I’m not musical but I can actually see myself using those runners. Brilliant!
KATHLEEN!!!!! I love and adore this project. Not only is it perfect for this blog hop, but it is just beyond FAB. The smaller size looks so good and the longer runner really should be on my table. Or I should be making one for myself right.this.minute. Talk about sharing a squirrel project – you are an Enabler with a well-deserved capital “E”. I think I might just have some of this fabric in my stash . . . somewhere. Not the exact same but certainly similar. Thanks so much for the inspiration!! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
What a really fun interpretation of the blog hop theme and fantastic use of prints! I love how coordinated all the fabrics are in the first table runner, but that black with white dot on the back of the second is the perfect pairing there to continue the black and white piano key theme!
I haven’t seen piano key fabric before, Kathleen! You did great working with it and I love that your table runners are reversible! I haven’t tried the pillowcase method with table runners, but now I think I should! 🙂
Piano key fabric is a great design! My best friend taught elementary music for 35 years and also taught private piano lessons for many years, so I would be using the strips to make her a lovely table runner like yours! Great job!
These runners are amazing and perfect for any music lover. My youngest daughter is the piano player in our family, and I miss hearing her play. She would love either of these! Thanks for sharing.
Great table runners and perfect fabric for this hop! Thanks so much for sharing!
The piano keys are so cool! And both table toppers turned out beautifully.
Love, love, love your table runners!
A perfect runner for a music lover.
Oh both table runners are really pretty. Those piano keys are perfect.
So clever……you can do your piano practise at the dinner table!!!!!!!!!
wow but these are both lovely. thanks for sharing and inspiring. these are going to be so fun to use
Awesome table runners, Kathleen!!! Two cute ideas!!! Love that polka dot backing, too!!!
Love both of your table runners! They are great!
Perfect finishes! I love the striped fabric on the long one, love your matching at the seams!!
Wonderful table runners! I especially like the second one; reminds me of “playing the piano” on my desk at school, practicing my pieces for the piano recital. I could hear the music in my head as I tapped out the notes. Your table runner would be wonderful because of the keys.
Love the Piano Keys fabric. I could never play the piano, my fingers are too short, but I love the sound of one being played. You are very talented to get 2 Tablerunners out of a yard of fabric. Thank you for the chance to win your leftovers.
These both are really neat runners. I love the piano keys and the way you edged them with the pillow case edging idea. I looked that up. They do lie nice and flat that way. I took piano lessons as a adult for two years but it didn’t come naturally and those were my work years with two small girls and I didn’t have the time to devote to practicing. I kind of regret that now. Thanks for a lovely post.
Beautiful runners! I love the second one. I know a little piano from lessons when I was a kid and if i were sitting in front of that runner, I would definitely place my fingers down and pretend to play! Great pieces.
Darling placemats, Kathleen! Perfect for a music party! There are so many designs you can do with border prints.
Lovely table runners. The piano key fabric is beautiful.
Love what you created with this piano key fabric.
Sweet ideas Kathleen, and your finish is right on key. Thanks
Thank you for sharing your process of making these very musical table runners, they’re beautiful! Thank you too for the opportunity to win some piano key fabric. It would be perfect for creating a gift for a very musical friend of mine.
Oh Kathleen! I love both your table runners! These are sew much fun!
My favorite project so far.
Lovely runners! Such pretty fabric. They look terrific on your table. Now to party! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
Fabulous uses of the piano key fabric. They make such a sophisticated set of runners, and can work for whatever musical theme and color scheme you’d want.
Two great table runners perfect for any music lover!