Tutorial: A Christmas Runner

Welcome to our first Guest Holiday Gift Tutorial!

Every Monday through December

At market in May Heather and I got to meet Amber from A Little Bit Biased.  As it turns out she lives very close to Heather and in the town that I grew up in :)  Anyway she is super nice, super talented and was one of the first people to come to our mind when we thought of doing a Guest Holiday Gift Tutorial series.  She designs really great patterns, Gigi's Thimble Quilt Patterns and makes darling projects, like this Candy Hearts quilt that I looooove.  Have fun with this tutorial!  Thank you Amber!!

I'm thrilled that Megan and Heather asked me to participate in their Holiday Gift Tutorials series.  In my opinion, there is nothing better than a handmade gift for the holidays.  So today, I thought I would share this festive table topper tutorial.  It's the perfect little project for using up scraps and it's sure to dress up any home during the holidays!

Finished size: 20" x 26"

Here's what you'll need: (20) 2-1/2" x 4" scraps of assorted green fabrics (15) 1-1/2" squares of assorted red fabrics for berries 1/3 yd. beige fabric for background 1/4 yd. red fabric for sashing 6 yds. green 5/8" wide ric rac 3/8 yd. red fabric for bias binding 2/3 yd. backing 3/8 yd. light weight fusible web (17" wide) such as Heat n Bond batting, 24" x 30" Let's get started! First you will need to trace THIS leaf template (20 times) and a U.S. nickle (15 times) onto the paper side of fusible web.  Roughly cut out each shape.  Iron (paper side up) to the wrong side of the appropriate colored fabric scraps.  Cut out each shape on the traced line (leaving the paper on at this point).

Next, from your beige colored fabric, cut three 3-1/2" x width of fabric strips.  Sub cut these strips into five 3-1/2" x 20" strips.  Fold one strip in half and press with a warm iron to mark the center.  Then fold in each end to the center point and press again.  Peel of the paper back of three berries.  Center one berry on each fold mark (the edge of each berry should be 1-1/4" away from the edge of the beige strip).  Press with a warm iron to adhere.

Peel off the paper back of four leaves and center on either side of each berry (edge of leaf should be 3/4" away from the edge of beige strip).  Press with a warm iron to adhere.

Repeat this process for the other four strips of leaves and berries. Once all of the leaves and berries are adhered, machine applique around each one using a small zig zag stitch and coordinating thread.

* I marked each of my strips with a number so I could keep them in order :) 

Set leaf/berry strips aside.  From your red fabric, cut three 2-1/2" x width of fabric strips.  Sub cut these into six 2-1/2" x 20" strips.  You will also need to cut ten 21" strips of ric rac.

Sew one piece of ric rac to either side of each red strip of fabric (using an 1/8" seam allowance).  The ric rac tends to fray so don't trim it until right before quilting.

Sew the strips together using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Alternate colors, beginning and ending with the red.  **Don't mind this picture, it was taken before all the leaves and berries were adhered and before the ric rac was sewn on - but it shows you the layout of the strips :)

Quilt as desired and bind with 2-1/4" bias strips.  You can check out my "Sweet Bias Binding Tutorial" on my blog for some tips!

I hope you enjoyed this project and tutorial but if you're still itchin' for some more red and green quilty goodness, check out my new Pretty Peppermints quilt pattern HERE. 

Happy Holidays to everyone

(and may there be lots of handmade goodies coming your way! :)

~ Amber

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