I don’t do a lot of holiday decorating, but I do like having an extra tablerunner for a housewarming gift or to bring to a friend who has invited us to dinner. One of the local devils stores, kept advertising this pattern and making kits to use it. Finally, I succumb and here is the result!
And yes, today is TGIFF – Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday. There is a linky party at the end of the blog to link up your finishes. I can’t wait to see what you have done! And, while we are at it, you can sign up for next year here…..bloggers are needed so pick some dates and commit yourself to a finish!
The Pattern and Fabric
The Fab Focus Tablerunner is a huge hit at Bits N Pieces of Pelham, NH. They are always making tempting kits and when they were vending at our guild’s show – I finally bought one. The Christmas scene was so well done and I loved the red and grey colors. This is their version of the table runner. And, if you purchase one from them you have enough to make the whole runner including backing!
I will tell you about the changes I made and the benefits or not of doing so! I added the inner borders to the ends and continued the pieced border around my version. It is very fast to piece and I am thinking this could be a go-to pattern for leftover bits from other quilts.
Now, for the problem. I added the inner borders to the ends, as well as continued the pieced block border. When you do as I did, it makes it a little bigger than the 44″ wide, so I needed to piece my back (disadvantage). On the other hand, the continuity of the pattern works for me. If I were to do it again, I might shorten the center fabric a smidge so I can use a full width of fabric for the border with no additions to the backing.
Quilting
I quilted this using the Deep Freeze Panto by Diane Henry for ProStitcher. I was able to use 3 repeats and flip the design (actually I rotated it as recommended by the HQ educators). It was perfect for this tablerunner.
I used Glide white in the for both the top and bottom of the quilt. It blends in nicely and the quilting gives an ice crystal kind of effect to the runner.
Binding
I decided to do a self-binding for this runner. Here is my reminder not to trim this down and make a self-binding. I finished quilting it before we left for a few days; I didn’t want to forget! I had used up all my fabric, and that was the easiest way not to have to search for something else. I also removed the basting stitches, as they would show on the back with this technique and did not want that!
Here is the way I made the mitered corners.
I then trimmed the edges to 1″ all the way around the runner. You could probably do 3/4″. I also cut the edges off with a 45° cut. There are two intersection 45° lines on the ruler I use to guide this, and a 1/4″ seam allowance.
I then press all the edges to the front edge of the runner.
I pick it up and fold the edge at 45° so that the binding edges meet. Then, sew from the inside to the outside and backstitch so the outside edge is secure. After all four corners are sewn you will then sew around the edge of the binding. I used my Aurifil Dove Grey to sew the binding down. It blended in perfectly.
I love it on the butcher block in the kitchen but decided to put it in the dining room with the creche on it. It really needs a little blocking, but that will come after the holidays. It is an easy way to add a bit more holiday color without a whole lot of time (honestly writing the blog took more time).
Linky Party
Now its time for you to enter your post. Show me what you finished this week!
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Winter Table Runner Stats
Winter Table Runner. 17″x 48″
Pattern: Fab Focus Tablerunner by Patchabilities
Pantograph: Deep Freeze by Diane Henry (Prostitcher Library)
Piecing Thread: Aurifil Dove Grey
Quilting Thread: Glide White
Coming Up on the Blog
Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd (12/22/22)
A Bag and Some Pillows
Shades of Blue Blog Hop 1/20/23
Tips and Tutorials 1/22/23
Villa Rosa Blog Hop 1/24/23
Linky Parties
Finished or Not Friday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?
Midweek Makers 362
Monday Musings
I tell ya, you get pulled in by those fun projects, and then you go and make something so darn cute! I’d have to leave notes for myself like that, too!
I don’t decorate a lot, either, Kathleen, but I do like to keep a variety of table runners and toppers on hand. They are easy to make, easy to decorate with, and fun to give. This one seems very versatile as to all of the themes that one could make it up in! Making more table runners is on my list for next year! 🙂
I love the first picture – the quilt in white. It is so much harder when you cannot distract with color. Every stitch shows. And it is perfect. The red and white runner is beautiful and festive! Decorations? In my house? We may put up the Christmas Tree when we are not traveling (Charlie Brown version is up this year) and the stockings (Paul’s idea) and that is it. I do send holiday greetings, as a way of staying in touch with some folks. Minimal effort and minimal stress 🙂 That works for us. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
That turned out SEW lovely, Kathleen! Thanks for sharing pattern info. It’s always good to have “quick and easy” gift ideas!
your table runner is lovely. I have no finishes this week – maybe next week?
Sounds like a great pattern to keep in mind for those pretty border prints. I might have a couple of those in the stash!
This turned out great, Kathleen! That is such a cute panel and I love how you made yours, even if you did have to piece the backing! Very cute and cheery! You’ve seen my last finish, but I will post in the linky party for others! Thanks for sharing your cute table runner and for hosting TGIF!
Hi Kathleen! What a pretty table runner. The colors and the scene is so festive. I can see why you succumbed to this temptation. I would have, too! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
That’s a really fun pantograph to use to finish this sweet table runner, I especially like how it turns the corners. Speaking corners, thanks for the detail on how you mitered and finished the corners. Photos always help describe things so much!
I love the idea of making up a few table runners for a hostess gift. Got a chuckle out of you “note to self” since I do similar things. There is so much to keep track of in any quilting project.
I love the red and grey together; it turned out so pretty! I saw that trick for self binding when I was trying to remember how I did mine. Thank you for giving us up close shots of it and good thinking to pull out the basting stitches. I had them on the quilt, but they blended in okay on the back so I left them.
Hi Kathleen, I like the way that you finished your runner – it ends less abruptly. Those fabrics are really gorgeous – no wonder you succumbed to temptation! I have to leave myself notes like that too – otherwise it’s so easy to just do as usual and cut off that batting!. Take care.
That is a great table runner – Love the reminders to yourself… very very!! Smart!!! Merry Christmas!
That turned out really cute. Love the red and gray!