Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to turn one wide cotton into a cozy bed runner.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric First
This is the Brown Latte Crackles Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard from Oasis Fabrics.
It is cotton. That matters for a bedroom project.
Cotton feels soft. It presses well. It quilts up smooth.
And this one is wide. Really wide.
The width of fabric is 118 inches. That is the number to remember.
Most quilting cottons are around 44 inches wide. You would have to piece those together.
With 118 inches, you do not. One cut can span a bed.
The color is brown latte. Warm. Calm. Cozy.
It has that crackles design all through it. Think soft, broken texture instead of a flat solid.
That texture is your friend. It adds interest up close, and it hides a little quilting wobble.
I love a wideback for this. Fewer seams. Less fuss. More time sewing.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. We're just using the width we already have.
The Project: A Bed Runner for the Foot of the Bed
A bed runner is a long, narrow quilt. It lays across the foot of the bed.
It is not a full quilt. That is the beauty of it. You get color and texture without quilting a whole king top.
For a queen bed, I like a finished runner about 24 inches wide by 90 inches long. It hangs a little over each side.
For a twin, try 20 by 70 inches. For a king, try 24 by 104 inches.
Pick your size first. Then cut to fit your bed.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? Three reasons.
First, the 118-inch width covers that long side in one piece. No center seam.
Second, the brown latte color warms up the room without shouting.
Third, the crackles texture loves simple quilting. A meander, an echo, or stitch in the ditch will all show up nice.
Materials List
- 1 yard of Brown Latte Crackles Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard for the top — that gives you a 36 inch by 118 inch cut to trim from
- 1 yard of the same wideback for the backing, or a backing piece cut to your runner size plus 4 inches all around
- Batting cut 4 inches bigger than your finished runner on all sides — for a queen, about 32 by 98 inches before trimming
- Matching thread for piecing and quilting — I use a 50-weight cotton for piecing and the same for simple quilting
- Binding strips: about 240 inches total for a queen runner, cut 2 1/2 inches wide
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and your sewing machine
You can quilt this on a domestic machine, or do ruler work or freehand on a longarm. Completely up to you.
Brief Steps
Step 1: Cut your top. Press the fabric first. Cut your top 4 inches bigger than finished size. For a queen, cut 28 by 94 inches.
Step 2: Layer it up. Lay backing wrong side up. Lay batting on top. Lay your top right side up. Smooth from the center out.
Step 3: Baste well. Pin every 4 to 5 inches. Take your time here. Good basting saves you later.
Step 4: Quilt it simple. Start in the center and travel outward. I like a gentle meander at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch.
Slow down on the turns. If you rush, your stitches get uneven. Ask me how I know. I have made that mistake. Slow down, breathe, and let the machine feed.
Step 5: Trim and bind. Trim to your exact finished size. Add your 2 1/2 inch binding with a 1/4 inch seam. Turn it, tie off your ends, and press.
Just like that. You have a runner.
Practical Tips From My Table
Prewash if you want a softer, crinkled look. Or skip it for a crisper finish. My preference: press well and sew as is for a runner.
Test your quilting on a scrap sandwich first. Check your tension. Adjust a little at a time.
You do not need dense quilting. Space your lines 2 to 3 inches apart and let the fabric show.
And here is your permission beat, folks. It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic. Your family will see a warm bed, not that one wobbly line.
Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Make one for your bed. Make one as a gift. Super duper easy once you use that wide width.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Brown Latte Crackles Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
