Easy Quilted Table Runner Tutorial
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.Create a beautiful table runner using fat quarters in no time at all!
Once again I’m sharing a tutorial for a fast and easy quilted table runner that I’m sure you’ll want to make!
Last week I went to a couple of quilt shops with some friends and had a lot of fun buying quilt fabrics for some new projects.
I also happened to find these beautiful yellow fat quarters on sale for just a dollar apiece and thought it would be fun to make a new table runner that I could use on my table right now as we go into our fall season.
Luckily I have a good sizes stash of fabrics so I was able to find a dark salmon fabric that matched perfectly. I don’t remember what I used this fabric for but I think it was a backing for some other quilt. The leftovers were long pieces and I even had some binding that I could use.
Materials
I am using fat quarters for two of the fabrics but you could also use yardage if that is what you have.
- (2) Yellow print fat quarters
- (1) Tan fat quarter
- (1) Dark Salmon 1/3 yard for 1½” strips and binding
- Backing 2/3 yard
- Batting 25″ x 42″
Finished table runner size: 17″ x 36″
Normally I make skinny table runners with strips of fabric but for this one, I wanted a wider table runner.
A fat quarter is 18″ x 22″
There was a selvage edge on my fat quarters so I cut off a 1½” piece that I added to my selvage stash. These are great to use for Selvage Mug Rugs! Check out the tutorial.
Using the 18″ as the fabric width, I then cut strips 2½” x 18″. I was able to get 7 out of one fat quarter. I needed 11 strips for the table runner so I used the other fat quarter for them.
Cut Fabrics:
Cut the following pieces:
- Yellow floral print – cut (11) 2½” x 18″ strips
- Tan fabric – cut (4) 2½” x 18″ strips
- Dark Salmon fabric – cut (6) 1½” x 18″ strips
Sew with a ¼-inch seam allowance. I like to start in the center of my table runner to sew the strips together.
My fat quarters were slightly different in width. Once I had my strips cut I made a crease in the middle of each one and matched this when I sewed the strips together. After quilting, I will straighten the sides of the table runner.
Use the following diagram to lay out and assemble your strips.
The dark yellow in the diagram below is the floral print.
Here you can see the layout of the strips a little better.
Finish Table Runner
- Layer table runner top, batting, and backing, and pin.
- Quilt as desired.
Here is a fast and easy way to quilt your table runner
Depending on your sewing machine, you may have a wavy stitch or if you are like me and using a straight stitch only sewing machine – you can do a free motion wavy stitch.
It isn’t perfect but it works for me, I stitch over the seams.
- Trim the sides of the table topper – my width ended up being about 17 inches.
- Cut (3) 2½” x width of fabric strips of the dark salmon fabric.
- Sew the strips together and machine bind your table runner using my tutorial – How to add binding to your quilt.
- I really like using Wonder Clips to hold down my binding for stitching.
This is the perfect size table runner for this library table.
Would you like a printable copy of this tutorial? Just fill out the form below. You can also find it in my Resource Library if you are already subscribed to my newsletters.
If you would like a wider table runner, cut your strips using the 22″ width.
This style of quilted table runner can be made to any width or length you want
I had to take the table runner outside and get a photo of it with my Castor Bean plants. I know they are poisonous but aren’t they beautiful! Once the seed pods dry I’ll harvest them for next year.
If you like striped table runners but like to add a little applique – take a look at my Sherbet Stripes table runner tutorial.
Remember I said I did some shopping at the quilt shops? Take a look at all of the beautiful fabrics I bought! I also was able to purchase some more of the license plates so I can make more of the Courthouse Rows placemats.
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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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I really like this table runner, warm, comfy appearance. thinking I could make this with out going shopping for more fabric. I am a make do with whatcha got,, and just wing it.
Always intresting to see how it looks, turns out etc. I have two large fabric shops close to me. I kinda stir clear of them lately. because of some needed repair work on the floor in my sewing room. I am hoping soon I can get back to my sewing room an get my Husky humming again. Sunny and warm here in British Columbia. 24c today,,About
(78f) ? Give your doggy a scratch for me. Had to put our Bishon to sleep last week. A very sad time for us. nearly his 12th birthday. Thank you for this pattern. it is a charmer.
Hello from sunny but chilly Pennsylvania. Like you, I can (and have been) dangerous in a quilt shop. It is my contention that a fine collection of fabrics is so important with the oncoming months of confinement due to bad weather. I am ready. I have made similar runners like this but your combination of colors and the arrangement of the strips is perfect. Our leaves are starting to turn this week and I actually did pull some fabrics for a runner but I am going to copy your style instead. Thank you for the ideas, and as always, your creative inspiration. Hello to Mr. Mickey. He is looking just fine.
Good morning from sunny hot California,
I mentioned in a comment a few months ago I might be visiting Iowa. I was able to get there and boy was I busy. One of the things I did was visit a new quilt shop in Osceola. Osceola Quilt Compnay opened a few months ago by my cousin’s cousin. I love your simple easy table runner, nice fall fabrics.
Karen
Connie
I am trying to find the pattern for a ribbon quilt. I thought you had one but have not been able to find it. It was using grey Abbie fabric bundle.
Thanks
Connie love the table runner. You were right, fast and easy. I just wanted to point out 1 thing. You say to cut 12 strips of the main fabric but there are only 11 strips in the table runner. Should it say 11? Love your tutorials and FREE patterns!
Thanks for catching that Candy, it should only be 11. I have updated the post and pdf now.
Love this runner! Thanks so much! That quilting is perfect on the runner too.
Thanks Dee, it is a fast and easy way to quilt.
Why are you harvesting poisonous beans???
Nice table runner. Thank you!
I should have said that the beans are what I will plant next year for the new plants.
Hi, Connie, I will have to visit my quilt shop to buy some batiks. I’m getting low on them. We, at Calgary are not so lucky, the temperature is only 1C above freezing. But we cannot complaint much, the sun is shining.
Stay warm, I love working with batiks!
Love the Iowa Barn fabric – is it Riley Blake? It’s the deer with the cardinal that clinches the deal! Love the wavy quilting. Perfect finish. Thanks for the new pattern! Hope all is well by you.
Thanks Joan, it is a Debbie Mumm print with Iowa on the barns.
Lovely table runner. I like the wave seams for the quilting. How fun to shop for fabrics with friends (who sew!). Fall is definitely here. Not so many colors here in the desert but certainly cooler temperatures. Autumn Bliss…
This would be a great runner for a new quilter to make, fast easy and rewarding! Nice fabric finds, I might go do a little shopping at SR Harris next week:0
Thanks Vicki, I sure miss the great prices at SR Harris since we don’t go to Minnesota anymore right now.
Hi Connie, Don’t you just love shopping for fabric with friends. I am leaving for Orlando on Friday and will shop with my sister for some really good backing fabric for a wall hanging. I am so looking forward to it. While the weather is just delightful here, it is still summer there. I love the fabric that you chose. What are you going to do with the Christmas fabric? I download at the table runner pattern which would be so darling in front of my sister’s fireplace. Great idea. Thanks. ❤️😎Ellen
Have fun on your trip Ellen! I’m probably going to make table runners for us and also my daughter. The little barns say Iowa on them. The stripes are batiks that will be perfect for bindings. They are by Hoffman Fabrics.