Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn a little box of fall wool charms into a cozy table runner with simple appliqué leaves.
Here we go.
First, let's look at the fabric
This one is #Charms11 Fall.
It's a set of 11 Wooly Charms. They come packaged in a clear box, with a laser engraved keepsake tucked in there too.
The wool is hand dyed. It is felted, and it is ready for stitching right out of the box. No extra prep work to fuss with.
The color is listed as Multiple Fall Colors. The description calls them rich and vibrant, and that is exactly what you want for autumn.
I love felted wool for appliqué. It does not fray the way a raw cotton edge does. So you can cut a simple shape, place it, and stitch it down. Just like that.
The product notes call these a perfect gift for wool enthusiasts. For this project, though, we are keeping them. Super duper fun.
The project: a fall table runner
We're making a table runner, about 14 by 40 inches finished.
That size sits nicely down the middle of most dining tables, with room for plates on both sides.
The idea is simple. You make one long cotton background panel. Then you cut leaves and little circles from the wool charms, and appliqué them in a loose vine down the center.
Why does this wool suit a runner so well? Wool adds soft, rich texture without adding a lot of bulk, so dishes and centerpieces can still sit fairly flat nearby. Those fall colors do all the seasonal work for you, no busy print needed. And a runner is a small finish, so 11 charms go a long way.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. It's a plain panel, dressed up with wool.
Materials list
- One pack of #Charms11 Fall — 11 Wooly Charms, hand-dyed felted wool
- About 5/8 yard of quilting cotton for the background — cut one panel 14 1/2 by 40 1/2 inches, or piece it from two shorter cuts
- About 1/2 yard of fabric for backing
- Thin batting or flannel cut about 16 by 42 inches
- Binding fabric, about 1/4 yard — cut 2 1/2-inch strips
- Thread that blends with your leaf colors, plus piecing thread
- A hand needle you like for appliqué, and a size 80/12 needle in your machine for assembly
- Paper-backed fusible web, optional, and small, sharp scissors for the wool
Brief steps
1. Make your background. Cut and press your cotton panel at 14 1/2 by 40 1/2 inches. If you piece it, put the seam off to one side, not right down the middle.
2. Cut your wool shapes. Draw simple leaves about 3 to 4 inches long on paper first. Cut one or two from each charm. Add a few 1-inch circles for berries or acorn tops, and save every scrap.
3. Lay out the vine. Arrange the leaves in a gentle S-curve down the center of the panel. Step back and look at the color balance. Move things around until the darks and brights feel spread out. Completely up to you.
4. Stitch them down. Pin or lightly fuse each shape. Use a small blanket stitch or running stitch, about 4 to 5 stitches per inch. Take your time here. Slow down on those leaf points, or the needle can jump right off the edge.
5. Layer and quilt. Layer backing, batting, and top. Quilt a simple echo around the vine, or stitch in the ditch along the edges. Travel through the background instead of quilting through the wool, so the shapes stay soft and raised.
6. Bind it. Trim it square, bind all the way around with your 2 1/2-inch strips, and press from the cotton side.
Practical tips from my table
Keep your shapes bold, y'all. A simple leaf reads beautifully from across the room. A tiny, fiddly vein detail will just fight you at this size.
Test your stitch on a scrap first. If the wool puckers, your stitches are pulling too tight. Loosen up just a touch and try again.
I made my first one with every leaf pointing the same direction. Oh my goodness, it looked like they were marching off the table. Mix the angles a little. Nature does, and yours can too.
And here's your permission beat. It doesn't have to be perfect. A wobbly leaf is still a leaf. You're your own worst critic, I promise. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the #Charms11 Fall at Linda's Electric Quilters.
