Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to turn one bundle of 5-inch squares into a fresh, garden-themed table runner.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This bundle is called 5in Squares,42pcs/bundle Organic, from Cloud9 Fabrics.
You get 42 squares in the bundle. Each square measures 5 inches. That is a nice, friendly size to sew with.
The fabric is 100% organic cotton. The description tells us that right up front. It is soft and durable too.
And oh my goodness, the prints are sweet. They are inspired by gardening themes. You will see gardening tools. You will see flowers. You will see vegetables too.
Each square shows a unique print. No two spots on your runner will look the same.
The colors range widely. Think soft pastels. Think vibrant greens and blues.
That variety is exactly why I like it here. A table runner shows every print in a row. Your table gets the whole garden, one square at a time.
The project: a simple patchwork table runner
We are not reinventing the wheel here. This runner is just a simple grid. Straight seams. No tricky points to match.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? The prints are garden themed, for one thing. Tools, flowers, and vegetables belong near a kitchen table.
The squares are already cut for you, too. That means very little cutting. You can sit down and start sewing, just like that.
Here is the math, and I love this part. We will use 30 squares. Lay them three across. Go ten rows down.
Sew each square with a quarter-inch seam. Each square finishes at 4 1/2 inches in the runner.
Your top will measure about 14 by 45 1/2 inches. After binding, it finishes around 13 1/2 by 45 inches. That is a generous runner, y'all.
That size fits a dining table or a sideboard nicely. And you will have 12 squares left over for mug rugs or coasters.
Materials list
- One bundle of 5in Squares,42pcs/bundle Organic — 42 squares, and we will use 30 for the runner
- Batting, about 16 by 48 inches
- Backing fabric, enough to make a piece about 16 by 48 inches
- Binding fabric, about 1/4 yard, cut into four 2 1/2-inch strips
- All-purpose sewing thread in a soft neutral
- A size 80/12 needle in your machine
- Pins or clips, a rotary cutter, a ruler, and a mat
Brief steps to make it
Step one. Lay out your 30 squares on the table. Go three across and ten down. Spread the greens and blues out, and balance the pastels between them.
Step two. Watch the directional prints as you lay out. Turn the gardening tools and vegetables so they face the same way. Or mix them up, completely up to you.
Step three. Sew each row of three squares together. Use a quarter-inch seam. Press the seams in one row to the left. Press the next row to the right.
Step four. Sew the ten rows together. Pin at every seam join. Those nested seams should snug right together. Take your time here, it is not a race.
Step five. Layer your backing, batting, and runner top. Smooth it all out well. Pin or spray baste it, whichever you like best.
Step six. Quilt it simply. I would start with stitch in the ditch along the long rows. Then maybe add one echo line down the center. Keep it easy.
Step seven. Trim the edges square. Join your binding strips. Sew the binding on, and finish it by machine or by hand.
Practical tips from my table
Check your seam allowance on the first row. A row of three squares should measure 14 inches long. If it measures more, your seam is a touch skinny.
Check your stitch length too. I like about 2.5 millimeters, roughly 10 stitches per inch, for piecing. It holds well, and it still picks out easy.
Slow down at the seam joins when you quilt. Those spots get a little thick. Slow down or the needle can deflect, and nobody needs a snapped needle today.
Now for a true story. I once sewed a whole row in with the prints upside down. I laughed at myself, I unpicked that one row, and I sewed it back. No harm done.
That is your permission beat, folks. It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. Your family will just see a really really cute runner on the table.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Lay it out your way. Swap a square twice if you want. Super duper easy, and super duper fun.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 5in Squares,42pcs/bundle Organic at Linda's Electric Quilters.
