Square in a Square Table Topper Easy Tutorial

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How would you like to create a beautiful Square in a Square Table Topper with this easy tutorial. You could make this bigger or smaller depending on where you are going to display it.

Square in a Square Table Topper Easy Tutorial

15½” x 15½”

Square in a square table topper quilting fb

Updated post from August 2016

Last week was my neighbor’s birthday and I had made her a table topper and two place mats that I thought would look great in her Florida condo. The more I looked at them I realized the batiks I used were just a little to bold and wild for her. Of course this didn’t come to me until……the morning of her birthday.

Never fear….I seem to thrive on working under pressure. I threw created this small 15 inch table topper which has just a small touch of bright colors. The background batik has a seashore design with starfish and shells….perfect for Florida.

Square in a square table topper

The batiks were from the Island Batik Tide Pool collection that came out this Spring. I used one layer of Hobbs 80/20 batting and a cream Aurifil thread for the quilting. My free-motion quilting was done on my vintage 15-91 Singer sewing machine.

I used several quilting stencils to mark the feathers on the borders using a Frixon pen. Marking a quilt project with a plastic stencil is a great way to practice freemotion quilting.

Square in a square table topper quilting closeup

Since I was working on a very, very short deadline I just made one block and added several borders to it. The quilting really added a lot to it.

This would be a great little quilt project to practice your free motion quilting on.

I used my AccuQuilt GO QUBE Mix & Match 12″ block set for the center using Die 6 – #55725 Square on Point 4 3/4″ and Die 5 #55703 3″ finished half square triangle.

Make the square in a square following the directions in the Qube.

If you don’t have an AccuQuilt, you can follow the directions below to make the block.

Tutorial

  • Cream batik – 1/2 yard
  • Turquoise batik – 1 fat quarter
  • Plum batik – 1 fat quarter

Sewing:

  1. Turquoise – cut a blue square 4 3/4″ square
  2. Cream – cut 2 – 3 7/8″ squares – sub-cut diagonally
  3. Mark the center of each half square triangle and the center of each side of the blue square.
  4. Match the centers
  5. Place a cream 3 7/8″ half square triangle on each side of the blue square and sew a seam diagonally then trim 1/4 inch away from seam
  6. Press
  7. Do this for the other 3 corners.
Square in a Square table topper tutorial

You should have a 6 ½” square in a square for your center block. If it isn’t exactly that size, just adjust the borders.

Step 1 of square in a square table topper tutorial

Continue sewing using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

First Border

  • Add two 1.25″ x 6.5″ strips of the plum batik to the sides
  • Add two1.25″ x 8″ strips of the plum batik to the top and bottom
Step 2

Second Border

  • Add two 2″ x 8″ cream strips to the sides
  • Add two 2″ x 11″ cream strips to the top and bottom
Step 3 of square in a square table topper tutorial

Third Border

  • Add two 1.5″ x 11″ strips of turquoise to the sides
  • Add two 1.5″ x 13″ strips of turquoise to the top and bottom
step 4 of square in a square tutorial

Final border

  • Add two  1.5″ x 13″ strips of cream to the sides
  • Add two 1.5″ x 15.5″ strips of cream to top and bottom
step 5 of square in a square tutorial

Layer your backing, batting and top and quilt as desired.

Cut strips of the cream 2.5″ wide for your binding. I like to sew mine on to the front and then machine stitch along the seam using this machine binding tutorial.

Final Square in a Square Table Topper Easy Tutorial
Square in a square table topper gift

If you need a bigger table topper, this could be made any size or make 3 or 4 and create a table runner!
I want you to know that I DID get it done and gave it to her that evening along with some beer that we enjoyed on her deck! Please tell me I’m not the only one that waits till the last minute on a gift!

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Square in a Square table topper tutorial

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Connie with her dogs

About Connie

Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.

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14 Comments

  1. I see you use Frixon pens to mark your stencil. Does it was out or do you need to erase all the markings?

  2. Michele-Marie says:

    Thank you for the tutorial Connie, getting the fabrics ready now 🙂

  3. Beautiful table topper Connie. I’m sure your friend loves it. Nice to see you on the blog again. I hope the house renovations are going well.

  4. Connie, the quilting really makes this topper shine. Such simple lines but the quilting just gives the top so much depth. It’s really lovely in its simplicity. Love your work.

  5. Won’t you be my neighbor? You less elaborate design really lets the quilting shine. The designs are so perfectly suited to the shape of the space they fill. Beautiful work!

  6. I like your table topper. What a great idea for a quick project. The quilting is lovely.

  7. You are not the only one who waits until the last minute! I’m usually late! Your table topper is beautiful and makes the perfect gift to give! So does beer!

  8. You do know that we “ALL” dream of being your neighbor! LOL!! What a special thing to do for her. I know she loved it. I love the new TidePools collection. My project this month is from it. Can hardly wait for the hop to begin!

  9. I seem to work well under pressure/last minute making, too. Lucky meighbor!!! Your quilting is beautiful, and the Island Batiks are wonderful.

  10. Connie, I sure wish I was your neighbor! I’ll bet she was bowled over…I know I would be! Your FMQ just takes this topper over the top. It’s gorgeous.

  11. Lucky neighbor you have! The colors are so nice and the white contrast just enhances that.