Hey everyone! Today you will learn to make a simple table runner that lets a pretty compass star print shine right down the middle of your table.
Meet the Fabric
Here we go. This one is calm and classic.
It is 4th & Main Favorites Compass Star in Vanilla. It comes from Northcott. The collection is 4th & Main Favorites.
The print sets compass star motifs across soft vanilla. That is exactly what the description tells us. And I love that for a runner.
Those stars have a wayfinding character to them. They feel orderly. A little old-fashioned, in the best way.
This is a quilting fabric, 45 inches wide, sold by the yard. It comes from High Country Quilts through Linda's Electric Quilters.
The description calls it a versatile geometric, good for quilts, backgrounds, and coordinates. All true, folks. But today, we are putting it front and center.
Vanilla brightens a table without shouting. And those stars give your eyes somewhere nice to land.
Why It Works for a Table Runner
A table runner is a perfect weekend project. It is small. It is flat. And you see it every single day.
We are aiming for about 14 inches by 40 inches finished. That fits most dining tables well. It also works on a sideboard or dresser.
This fabric suits it for a simple reason. The motif needs room. If you chop those stars into tiny pieces, you lose them.
I have done that before. I cut first and looked later. Oh my goodness. One poor star ended up in four different blocks.
So we will cut one long, generous panel. Just like that. The stars stay whole, and the fabric does the work.
You have options here, too. One long panel, three large squares, or a panel with a border. My preference is the panel with a border. But it is completely up to you.
What You Will Need
- 3/4 yard of 4th & Main Favorites Compass Star Vanilla for the center panel
- 1/4 yard of a coordinating fabric for the narrow border
- 1/2 yard of fabric for backing, or one piece about 18 inches by 44 inches
- 1/4 yard of fabric for binding, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- One piece of batting, about 18 inches by 44 inches
- 50-weight cotton thread for piecing
- An 80/12 quilting or universal needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips, and your iron
That gives you room to center the stars you love. We are not reinventing the wheel here.
Brief Steps to Make It
Step 1: Cut the center panel. Cut your Compass Star fabric to 10 1/2 inches by 36 1/2 inches. Take your time lining up the ruler. Center a row of stars if you can.
Step 2: Add the border. Cut two strips 2 1/2 inches by 36 1/2 inches for the long sides. Then cut two strips 2 1/2 inches by 14 1/2 inches for the ends. Press away from the center.
Step 3: Piece with care. Use a scant 1/4-inch seam. Set your stitch length to about 2.0 to 2.5. That is roughly 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Step 4: Layer and baste. Layer backing, batting, and runner top. Smooth from the center out. Pin or spray baste well.
Step 5: Quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch around the center panel first. Then echo that line 1/4 inch away, if you like. Or do a soft meander in the border only. Completely up to you.
Step 6: Bind it. Join your 2 1/2-inch binding strips. Sew them on, miter the corners, and finish the back by machine or by hand. Press it flat, and you are done.
Practical Tips From My Table
First, press as you go. A runner lives or dies by lying flat. Two minutes at the iron saves a wavy edge later.
Second, use a fresh needle. That 80/12 makes a clean stitch. A dull needle can pull at the fabric. Change it at the start.
Third, go slow at the corners. Slow down when you pivot for binding, or the corner can bunch under the foot.
And here is your permission beat, friends. It does not have to be perfect. One star a little off-center is fine. You are your own worst critic. Nobody at your table will measure it.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Take your time. It is not a race. Enjoy the quiet vanilla. Enjoy those little stars.
Alrighty. Small project, big table charm, and super duper easy to finish.
Thanks so much for sewing with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 4th & Main Favorites Compass Star Vanilla 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
