Hey everyone. Today we're making a weekend table runner that lets a bold batik carry the whole table, no fancy piecing needed.
Here we go. The star is the Essence Circle in Circle-Multi Purple Green Flourite Batik from Lumin Fabrics. It is 100% cotton batik. It runs 44"/45" wide. It comes per yard, in the Essence collection.
The pattern is right in the name, y'all. Circle in Circle. Rings inside rings. The colors are purple and green in that Flourite multi mix. It shifts as the light changes. One spot reads deep purple. The next reads fresh green. That is the beauty of a batik.
For a table runner, that matters a lot. A runner sits front and center. Folks see it up close at meals. They see it from across the room too. This print works both ways. Up close, the circles have detail. From a distance, the color does the talking.
The project: a simple weekend table runner
We are making a runner about 16" by 48" finished. That fits most dining tables nicely. It leaves room for plates on both sides. Want it longer for a big table? Just add length. Completely up to you.
Why this fabric suits it? Batik cotton is tightly woven. It presses crisp and flat. It holds a clean edge. And a runner needs almost no piecing here. One wide panel shows off the circles whole. No seams chopping through your favorite rings. Just like that, the fabric becomes the design.
You can quilt it simply too. Stitch in the ditch is not needed here. Echo a few circles. Add a gentle meander between them. The print guides you. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Materials list
- 1 yard of Essence Circle in Circle-Multi Purple Green Flourite Batik for the top and binding
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating backing fabric, 44"/45" wide
- Batting, about 20" by 52", so you have a little extra all around
- Thread to blend with purple and green
- An 80/12 needle for piecing and quilting
- Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Batik presses really, really nice. Take your time here. Lay it out flat first. Look for the circles you love most. Plan your cuts around them.
Second, cut your top panel 16 1/2" by 48 1/2". That includes a 1/4" seam allowance all around. I mark my lines with chalk first. I have cut too fast before. I sliced a perfect circle right in half. Oh my goodness. The fix is simple. Mark, step back, then cut.
Third, layer it up. Backing face down. Batting in the middle. Top panel face up. Baste it well. I pin about every 4 inches. You can spray baste instead. Completely up to you.
Fourth, quilt it. Start in the center. Travel outward so nothing bunches up. Echo two or three big circles. Then meander in the open spaces. Keep stitches even, around 8 to 10 per inch if you are hand guiding. Slow down on the curves. That is the moment of risk. Rush a tight curve and the line wobbles. Slower is smoother, folks.
Fifth, square it up and bind it. Cut binding strips 2 1/2" wide. You will need about 132" of binding for this size. Join the strips. Press in half. Sew with a 1/4" seam. Fold to the back and finish by hand or machine.
My honest tips
Prewash or not? Batiks are dyed, so test a small swatch first. Rinse it in warm water. If the water runs clear, you are good. If color shows, give the yardage a gentle soak before you cut. That saves worry later, especially on a table where a damp glass might sit.
Make it reversible if you like. Pick a quiet backing fabric. Then you have a bold side and a calm side. Two runners for the work of one. Super duper fun, and practical too.
And here is your permission beat. Your echo lines do not have to hug every circle perfectly. Nobody at dinner is measuring your quilting. You are your own worst critic here. Set the runner on the table. Step back six feet. That is how everyone else will see it. Really, really pretty from there.
It does not have to be perfect. It just has to be finished and loved. Take your time. It is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Pick your favorite circles. Let them shine down the center of your table.
Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Essence Circle in Circle-Multi Purple Green Flourite Batik 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
