Hidden Wells Table Runner
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.When you make the Hidden Wells quilt block it can turn out so many ways depending on the colors you use and how you layout your strips. It is always fun to see what your quilt project will turn out like. You know how much I like making table runners and I had some beautiful fabrics in my collection that I thought would look great for the Hidden Wells blocks.
I have made several other quilt projects using this technique and they all look different. Just type Hidden Wells in the search box and you’ll be surprised at what you will find.
Fat Quarter Table Runner
I decided to use four fat quarters of fabric to make the Hidden Wells table runner.
Hidden Wells Table Runner
approx 15-inches x 30-inches
Fabrics:
- (4) fat quarters of fabric
- ¼ yard fabric for (3) 2½-inch strips of binding
- batting
- backing
The first thing you will want to do is open up your fat quarters and press them. I then like to lay all four fabrics on top of each other before I cut them.
A fat quarter is 18-inches x 22-inches
Cut your strips 2-inches wide by the 22-inch length. You will be able to get (3) blocks out of one strip set.
Sew the fabric strips together in an order that you like with an ¼-inch seam allowance. Press your strips to the darker fabric. Your strip sets should measure 6½-inches wide. Sub-cut (3) 6½-inch squares.
Continue sewing more strip sets together keeping your fabrics in the same order.
Take (2) blocks and lay one right side up with the red fabric strip at the bottom. Now take another block and place it right side down on top with the red fabric strip to the right as shown below. (Pick the first strip you started with if your colors are different).
This is how your blocks should lay before you center one block on the other.
Pin the blocks together and sew around the block with an ¼-inch seam allowance.
Take a ruler and cut diagonally in both directions on your block.
Open the blocks and press carefully but don’t stretch the blocks. Sometimes quilter will trim these blocks to make them exact. Most of the time I am not a perfectionist so I don’t worry about it with a block like this.
Bias Edges
The blocks have all of the sides on the bias so it is very easy to stretch your blocks out of shape. Handle the blocks carefully.
Trim off the dog ears on the quilt blocks.
Next, turn the blocks until you find a design you like, then sew the blocks together.
Here is a completed Hidden Wells quilt block.
You mix and match your block design or make all of your blocks identical like I did. I had one block that I sewed together the wrong way. I used my trusty seam ripper to remove the seams and redid them.
There is no right or wrong way to turn the blocks. You can come up with all kinds of designs.
Sew (2) blocks together for a row. Repeat this (4) times. Now sew all of the rows together for your table runner.
One strip set gives you (3) blocks – you use (2) of the 6½-inch blocks to make (1) of the Hidden Wells blocks. If you would like a larger table runner, make more strip sets. It might be possible to get (3) more strip sets out of the fat quarter 18-inch width.
Add your batting and binding and quilt as desired.
Cut (3) 2½-inch strips of fabric for your binding. I like to sew my binding on with my sewing machine.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing.
Purchase an ad-free printable PDF version of the Hidden Wells table runner tutorial in my shop. The photos have been reduced in size and the tutorial is 6 pages long.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please see the full disclosure here. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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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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This is cool! Can’t wait to try this. Thank you 😊
Thanks, Connie, for sharing another beautiful project with us. Lovely.
That is a great pattern, thank you for sharing with us. How is Rusty doing with his eyes.
Thanks
Doreen
Could I use a jelly roll to make this table runner or enough blocks to make a quilt
I love the Hidden Wells block. It would be exciting in black and white. May try that with my scraps. I always like to see the outcomes. Thanks for sending tutorials. I love your work.
Another lovely project, Connie. You are so creative. I think I am going to add to the blocks and make a charity quilt. It would also make a lovely crib quilt made with child prints.
A winner for sure.
Love this table runner. Gives a lot of ideas to make easy tablerunners.
Thank you
Liz
Thank you Connie. This looks so fun and easy. I love easy. Stay warm and healthy.
Hello there Connie
Luv luv luv your Hidden Wells! 3:45 am, 11 degrees F here in upstate New York and hubby is snoring his brains out so I thought I’d check my emails. You always do such a great job with pictures and explanations. Thank you
Connie,
Love the quilt block! Starts with strips, and ends up very intricate. But how do you deal with sewing over the intersecting layers of seams? I always have problems with those “bumps”
Your directions are so clear. Thank you!
Mary
Hi Mary, what I usually try and do is NOT sew over the intersecting parts if I can help it. Just do a little squiggle close to it. If I do stitch over then I slow down. I also use an 80/12 needle. Hope this helps! Connie
Thank you for another great pattern! I can’t wait to make it!
I enjoy your cute stories, that Micky is a cutie pie. Thanks for that runner tutorial, think I will give it a try.
Thank you
Following on from many of the messages, I love hearing from you on the wonderful creations you make and of course the extended family, possums and birds etc. Living across the world from you, I learn such a lot about every day stuff which is great and of the differences in our respective worlds, today we had a hot day, 31*C (think around 87*F), possums are a menace in our country, killing our indigenous wildlife so trying to relate to the affection of your visitors is a challenge! However, we got news today that there is light at the end of the tunnel with our Prime Minister announcing a plan to open the borders to allow for travel etc.
Wishing you and your family well for the remainder of your Winter and again thank you …..V
Hi Verna, where are you? I love learning about other places also. That is so interesting to learn about possums in your area.
Love all your designs. And sharing in your adventures with the wildlife. Hi Mr Mickey😄
Mr. Mickey says hi June!
Another great pattern. Love the versitility of this block and it is on my bucket list for sure! Just cleaned my sewing room and sewing closet and found numerous unfinished projects so am trying to make a dent in them before I start back on table runners. This gets top billing. Love your daily animal feed. The possums are so cute. Mickey has it made, I hope he knows that.
Every time I clean my quilt studio and go through containers I find all kinds of unfinished projects too! It is about time to do a quilt studio walk through.
I also noticed the hearts right away and wondered why it wasn’t called “hidden hearts,” but I guess that would give the surprise away! Cute pattern.
That would have been a perfect name Mary!
Such lovely ideas you have.
Is there a secret to sewing table runners or placemats so that they do not shrink with washing. I like making placemats out of 5 inch charm packs but worry about shrinkage.
Any suggestions.
Wash them on gentle with cold water and don’t dry them. I actually throw my placemats in the regular laundry and eventually they shrink.
Thank you for this hidden wells block email. I’m working on one myself. Its my first hidden wells block and quilt pattern of all this cutting and sewing on one block. Thanks again!!
Looks great Connie! Thank you.
I’m still here off and on. I still read the emails though because I still love all of your quilts and table runners etc. Great job as always.
Thanks Vicki and it is great to hear from you again!
Love the possums and the table runner!
Thanks Elaine!
I love hearing about Mr. Mickey and all of your ‘livestock!’ Thanks for caring and being such a good Mama to these precious creatures. An intriguing pattern and you could make enough squares to end up with a throw or a quilt. You’re the best and much appreciated by your loyal followers – fellow quilters.
Thanks Jacqueline!
I stared at this and came back and again, stared – and finally found the hidden hearts in the middle. Looking another way it looks like cogs that might work well for a guy/tool quilt/mat. Really versatile pattern! Love it thanks! (If you would some some more snow I can certainly send some over! Chicago really is getting “fluffy!”
It could make a neat quilt/mat for a guy! Keep that snow Joan, I’m so glad we didn’t get it!
This is the next quilt on the table! Absolutely! I’ve never really done a Valentine quilt and need a little something for the table. AND we have SNOW! I had to put on my boots and drag the dog in the house! She loves the stuff! Hope all is well….thanks!
I just bought this pattern. I have a perfect set of fat quarters that have been in my supply for about 2 1/2 years.
Give Mickey a little pat on the head,
Debby
Thank you Debby and have fun with it! I think my fat quarters had aged that long also!
This is a pretty table runner, love the colors. Thank you for the tutorial.
Such a nice design with lovely colour combinations. I can visualise it in darker or lighter colours too.Thanks for sharing another “to do project”. It’s on my list.
Thanks Robyn, it is always a fun block to use for quilt projects.
Pretty. Just curious why it’s called Hidden Wells. Maybe it’s a quilt block I am not familiar with?
Mary Ellen Hopkins was the first one I ever saw make this block and that is what she called it.
That’s just beautiful! I have Mary Ellen Hopkins book Hidden Wells somewhere, I’ll have to dig it out.
Thanks so much for the lovely calendar, too!
Her work was always so neat!
He hidden wells table runner is very pretty. This would be colorful also in Pastel colors for Easter.
It would Betty!