Learn how to make a Stripey Quilted Table Runner with our free tutorial. This Christmas table runner pattern uses pre-cut fabric strips and features machine applique.
One of the very first quilting projects that I tackled in my “blogging career” was this Skinny Quilted Christmas Table Runner. I still remember the day I got the idea to make it and sketched it out on a notepad in my house.
Table of Contents
This project was originally posted on the Moda Bake Shop site and now looking back I realize that I had no idea what I was doing! (well for most of it I knew what I was doing, for one part I totally winged it).
Things went pretty smoothly until it was time to quilt the runner. I decided that since I had NO idea how to machine quilt that I’d just put the runner in the hoop of my embroidery machine and quilt it one section at a time.
Great idea, in theory…. the stitches were all even and perfectly lined up.
Bad idea in practice. It took me almost a week to move that LONG table runner through the hoop on my machine. Stitch one square, move the runner, stitch another square, move it again… etc.. over and over and over again. It took a long time to create this holiday table runner, mostly due to the quilting design I chose.
After all of that work, I was so sick of looking at it that I didn’t even know if I liked it anymore. Now several years later I can say that it is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. I think it’s a beautiful table runner that I look forward to placing on the table next to my Christmas Tree every year.
Merry & Cheer Christmas Table Runner Pattern
I’ve gone through and cleaned up the free pattern and added more instructions when needed. I also created a PDF document with the words on it – the font is not a 100% match but it’s pretty dang close. It should save you some time if you make it since you won’t need to design them yourself on the computer first.
How to get the PDF of the Applique Shapes
How to Get the Printable Pattern Pieces. You can get a copy of the pattern pieces used in this project in our Template Library. Access to the library is for our Newsletter subscribers, and subscriptions are free. Please visit this page and follow the instructions to get the pattern pieces. PLEASE READ the instructions on that page. NOTE: The PDF only contains the pattern piece; you still need to read this tutorial to complete your project.
Quilted Table Runner Supplies
- 1 roll of color 1 ½″ wide strips (sometimes called a honeybun) you can also cut the strips from yardage if you like, the number required are listed below, however you won’t get as much variety in the prints)
- 10 Fat Quarters (for words) OR one Charm Pack (sometimes called a 5″ stacker). If you want your words to have the same fabric on every letter use fat quarters, if you want the fabrics to be varied, use the charm pack.
- 1 roll of White 2 ½″ wide strips (sometimes called a jelly roll)
- 2 yds white fabric for backing
- ¼″ yd. or 1 fat quarter, blue fabric for binding on tree skirt
- Buttons
- Heat n Bond Lite
- Batting (I used quilters dream cotton)
- Get with the templates for the WORD blocks, get it on the templates page for free or make your own at home with a font that you like.
- Download the Holly Shapes here (I reduced them by 50%)
Free Table Runner Instructions
Step One: Sort the Strips by Color & Create Striped Blocks
From your roll of 1 ½″ strips, collect 5 strips each of 4 different color ways. I used blues, greens, reds & browns.
If you are cutting yardage, you’ll want to cut twenty, 1 ½″ strips in 4 different color schemes.
Start by working with one color scheme at a time.
Arrange the strips in a pattern that you like, and sew together with a ¼″ seam. Press seams to one side.
Cut the sewn strip into three, 14″ pieces, cutting off selvage edges.
Repeat with the other 3 colors.
You will have 3 blocks each of 4 different colors (for a total of 12 blocks).
Step Two: Sew White Strips together
Sew two white jelly roll strips together. Cut into 14″ pieces (same as you did for the honeybun pieces, remember jelly roll strips are wider, 2 ½″ wide).
Repeat this 4 times so that you have a total of then white blocks each 2 strips tall x 14″ wide.
Step Three: Cut
Two 14″ pieces from 1 white jelly roll strip.
Note: I quilted this on an embroidery machine so I didn’t have much control over where the stitches went, if you are going to free-motion quilting the runner, BEFORE you sew your blocks together, skip to the applique steps below. It will be easier to applique the white blocks before they are sewn with the colored blocks.
Sew blocks together. This is the color arrangement that I used, but you can change yours to your taste (it would also look nice going dark to light)
- 1: One 14″ white jelly roll strip
- 2: Brown
- 3: White
- 4: Red
- 5: White
- 6: Green
- 7: White
- 8: Blue
- 9: White
- 10: Red
- 11: White
- 12: Green
- 13: White
- 14: Blue
- 15: White
- 16: Red
- 17: White
- 18: Green
- 19: White
- 20: Blue
- 21: White
- 22: Brown
- 23: 1 – 14″ Jelly roll strip.
You will have 1 brown block left over, you can use it if you need to make your runner longer.
Layer runner with batting and backing and quilt as desired, I quilted mine with an interlocking circle pattern.
How to add the Applique
Print out the document with the words. Trace onto the paper side of paper-backed fusible web, (make sure you cut the letters mirrored) cut out loosely, then press onto the wrong side of your fat quarters. Cut out more precisely.
Peel off the paper backing from the letters and arrange it on the white blocks in the table runner. When you’ve got them in a spot that you like, iron them in place.
This is how I laid out the appliques on my runner: The color in parentheses is the color I cut the applique out of the fabric.
- 1: trees (green)
- 2: “merry” (red)
- 3: ornaments (blue)
- 4: “bright” (blue)
- 5: peppermints (red/white)
- 6: “cheer” (blue)
- 7: holly leaves (green)
- 8: “joy” (red)
- 9: trees (green)
- 10: “jingle” (brown)
After you iron the appliques onto the runner. Stitch around each with a straight stitch. I just used raw edge applique with a straight stitch. I am okay if it frays (I actually prefer that look for this project).
Bind using leftover strips.
Sew buttons for the holly berries.
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Mini Christmas Tree Skirt – Free Pattern
