Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to make a fun table runner that shows off a playful gaming print.
Here we go.
The fabric is Console Yourself Cotton, made by Dear Stella. It is sold by the yard.
The product details list the width of fabric as 44"/45". The fiber type is cotton.
The tags describe it as a cotton digital print. They also call it quilting cotton and quilters cotton.
The tags list the color as blue. They also point to the theme plain and simple. Console. Gaming. Video games.
One tag even says game over. That tells you the mood, y'all. This one is for the gamer in the house.
I really like a print like this on a table. You see the whole design at once. Nothing gets chopped up too small.
And a runner is a forgiving place to start. Straight cuts. Straight seams. No curves to fight.
The project: a table runner
A table runner is a long, narrow quilt for the center of a table. We are making one that finishes about 14 inches wide by 40 inches long.
That size works on a dining table or a coffee table. It also drapes nicely over a game console stand or a sideboard.
This fabric suits the project really well. The blue gaming print carries the whole top by itself. You do not need a complicated block to make it shine.
You could run one long panel down the center. That is my preference here. The consoles stay big and readable.
You could also cut the fabric into squares and piece them. That breaks the print up more. Completely up to you.
Materials
- 1 yard of Console Yourself Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard for the top and binding
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating solid cotton for the backing, or use leftover top fabric
- Cotton batting, about 18 inches by 44 inches
- 50-weight cotton thread for piecing and quilting
- Size 80/12 needle for piecing, size 90/14 for quilting through the layers
- Rotary cutter, mat, ruler, pins or clips, iron, and your sewing machine
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Square up one edge with your ruler. Take your time here. A straight start makes everything easier.
Cut one center panel at 14 1/2 inches wide by 40 1/2 inches long. Use the full width wisely. Center a favorite console motif if you can.
Cut your backing about 2 inches bigger on all sides. Cut the batting the same size as the backing. That extra room forgives a little shifting.
Layer the backing right side down, then the batting, then the top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or spray baste the layers together.
Quilt it simply. I like stitch in the ditch along the long edges first. Then add echo lines about 2 inches apart down the length.
Use a stitch length of about 3.0 mm for quilting. That is roughly 8 to 9 stitches per inch. Walk it slow and steady.
Trim the runner back to 14 inches by 40 inches. Square the corners carefully. Check both ends with your ruler before you cut.
Cut binding strips at 2 1/2 inches wide. Join them end to end. Press the binding in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.
Sew the binding to the front with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Miter the corners as you turn. Fold it to the back and stitch it down.
Just like that, you have a runner. Press it flat one last time. Lay it out and enjoy that blue pop.
Practical tips
Go slow when you quilt through all three layers. Slow down or the needle can deflect, especially at the thick binding corners later.
If a console motif lands a little off center, leave it. Honest, folks. Once the runner is on a table with a bowl on it, nobody measures.
I have cut a panel a half inch short before. It happens. I added a narrow solid border on each end and kept going. That fix looked planned.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. A runner is three layers, a little quilting, and binding. Simple is good.
And here is the important part. It does not have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic. Take your time, it's not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Make one for game night. Make one as a gift for your favorite player. Oh my goodness, they will love it.
Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Console Yourself Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
