Does this happen to you? You find a quilt pattern that you love but find that it is much larger than you need. It can be hard to justify the time and expense of making another full-sized quilt when you already have a closet full of them. But you love a certain fabric line and want to use it, or you find a certain pattern so appealing….What is a quilter to do?
Well, you absolutely do not have to make the whole quilt. In most cases, it is ridiculously easy to take that quilt block you love and only make a few of them and turn them into a gorgeous table runner or table topper. Benefits of this practice are that you won’t run out of quilt storage space in that closet, you can purchase a much smaller amount of fabric (layer cakes often work perfectly), and your project will take far shorter time to complete. Best of all, you will have something seasonal to decorate with and not hide away in a bedroom. I use my runners on my hall table, coffee table, dining table, and buffet!
The quilt shown in the photo above is from a pattern by The Pattern Basket called Sunflower Seeds. My favorite time of year to decorate is from September through November and I find that table runners are the ideal way to inject a bit of seasonal fun into my decor without breaking the bank or spending an overwhelming amount of time in the sewing room.
For this table runner, I made just three quilt blocks from the pattern and used a background fabric to make a lattice and inner border. I then used some additional yardage to make an outer border. My runner was just the size I needed. I had it quilted, which cost much less than having a full-size quilt done. Many long-arm quilters have a set minimum charge for runners, which is usually very reasonable.
So, the next time you fall in love with a fabric collection, but don’t want the whole bundle, or find a fabulous pattern, but don’t want a full size quilt, consider your options. Buy a smaller precut of that fabric and adapt that great pattern to make yourself a table runner. It is the best compromise ever, I promise!
One Response
Nice new site Nicole and look forward to reading. Great to see you are keeping us up to date and thanks for sharing all your great tips.
Nice to see you are well and Happy Fall to you and your family.
Gail
gailss1