Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn one scenic print into a simple table runner that finishes at about 14 by 44 inches.
The fabric is the Aubergine Lupine Valley View. It's by Henry Glass. The designer is Hollis Kitchin Designs. It's 100% cotton. It runs 43 to 44 inches wide.
The color is aubergine. That's a deep purple. It feels calm and a little moody, in a good way. Over that purple ground you get a valley view. Lupine blooms. Misty trees. Nature, all in one print. Just like that, the fabric tells a little story.
This is standard-width quilting cotton. That matters here. It cuts clean. It presses flat. It sews like a dream. And that width works in your favor. One good length can give you the top and the backing. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
The project: a table runner
A table runner dresses up a table fast. No fuss. No big commitment. This one is one long panel. You let the valley view stay whole. You don't chop those trees into little squares. Folks, that is the whole point of a scenic print.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? The scene needs room to breathe. A runner gives it that room, end to end. The aubergine purple works for everyday dining. It also feels special for guests. Set a plain dish on it and watch what happens. Super duper pretty, with almost no extra work from you.
At 14 by 44 inches, it fits most dining tables. It also works on a sideboard or a dresser. Completely up to you. Want it longer? Add a border. Want it shorter? Trim the ends before you bind. Options, not rules.
What you'll need
- 1 1/4 yards of this Aubergine Lupine Valley View for the top, backing, and binding
- Thin batting or fusible fleece cut to about 15 by 45 inches
- Matching thread for piecing, and a soft purple or gray thread for quilting
- A size 80/12 needle, set to about 10 to 12 stitches per inch
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, pins or clips, and a warm iron
How it comes together
First, press your fabric well. Then look at the scene. Turn the fabric until the trees stand the way you want them. I have cut a directional print sideways before. Oh my goodness. Check twice, cut once.
Cut one strip at 14 1/2 by 44 1/2 inches for the top. Cut a second strip the same size for the backing. Cut your binding strips at 2 1/2 inches wide from what's left. Join those strips end to end.
Next, layer backing, batting, and top. The backing goes right side down. The batting goes in the middle. The pretty top goes right side up. Baste it well. Pins every 4 inches or so will do it.
Now quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch if you add a border seam. Or echo the tree lines with gentle curves. A soft meander in the open areas works, too. Travel along an edge to get where you're going. Slow down and let the print guide you. Here we go.
Last, bind it. Sew the binding to the front with a 1/4-inch seam. Fold it to the back and stitch it down. Take your time at the corners. A neat corner is just a fold and a pause. Just like that, you're done.
Practical tips
Keep your quilting lines a few inches apart. Too much quilting can flatten a scenic print. Let those misty trees stay soft. Your batting package will tell you its widest safe spacing. Follow that number.
Press, don't push, the iron. Sliding the iron can stretch a long strip. A runner that waves at the edges is usually a pressing story. Ask me how I know. Lift, press, move on.
And here's your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. A slight wobble in an echo line looks like wind in the trees. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thank y'all so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aubergine Lupine Valley View Cotton 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
