Red String Table Runner Tutorial

Would you like to learn how to make a string quilted table runner? Strings or strips of fabric are cut and then sewed back together. If you aren’t a quilter, this may sound a little crazy but it is a great way to use up your scraps.

Usually, you will use some type of foundation like paper or even fabric like muslin. Old telephone books are perfect to use as the paper is very thin and tears off quite easily.

I’m going to show you how to make a string pieced runner that would be perfect for the holidays like Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, or Christmas.

The first thing you want to do is find a helper…..who will help you pick the string pieces to use in your blocks. Simon loves to help out!

When you are all finished with your table runner, you’ll want to find another helper like Mr. Mickey to show off the table runner.

I made the red string table runner in 2012 and just updated the post which is why you saw my cat Simon which we no longer have and Mr. Mickey who is my constant companion now. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how old a quilt tutorial is and this is always a popular post on my site.

Red String Table Runner Tutorial
14″ x 36″

Do you have a lot of quilt fabric scraps laying around? How about older fabrics that you don’t really care for anymore, well just cut them into small pieces and use them in a string project like this. Grab your leftover fabrics and pull out the red scraps.  Let’s make some string blocks.

Fabric Requirements:

• Red scraps for the strings
• 1/4 yard dark red for the first border
• 1/2 yard bold red for the second border and binding
• batting
• backing

Here are the sizes of scraps I worked with on this string table runner:

• Strings (strips) varying in size from 1 inch to 2½ inches wide
• A minimum of 12 inches long strings for the center of the block
• Assortment of shorter pieces for the rest or long strings and cut after you add them to the block

The blocks in this table runner are made from 4-inch squares of strings. I like to start with an 8-inch piece of paper from a telephone book and make an 8-inch block.  If your scraps are all shorter you can always start with 4-inch pieces of paper and only need 6 inch long strings for the center.

Make (4) 8-inch blocks

Cut four 8-inch pieces of paper, mark a line diagonally down the center of the paper, and then once more 1/4 inch from this as shown in my String Bean Table Runner tutorial.

Start in the middle and put one strip right side up with another right side down on top of it and stitch. I have a couple of used needles that I save just for stitching on paper, (paper will dull a needle real fast) use a small stitch so it will be easy to tear off the paper when you are done.

Finger press or iron the strings open and then continue adding strings to both the left and right side of the center until you have the entire block covered. Notice how one of my fabric strips is a lot longer – when I trim the block I’ll keep that and use it in another block.

Here is what the backside of the block looks like. How neat! I used a phone book page that had a map on it and it shows the town I used to live in. Hang on to those phone books!

I like to starch the block, then flip it over and trim it to the edges of the paper. This is the finished 8-inch block.

Next cut the block in half and then half again so that you end up with (4) 4-inch blocks.

Trim and cut all of the 8-inch blocks, you will have a total of (16) 4-inch blocks. Carefully remove the paper from the back of your blocks.

Take two of the 4-inch blocks and cut them diagonally. Set aside, these will be used for the ends of the string table runner.

Layout your blocks as shown in the photo below. Notice how the blocks are laid out when four are placed together? It really gives a beautiful design to your table runner.

You will have two rows of six 4 inch squares and the diagonal pieces go on the end. If you would like a rectangle table runner, you could leave them off. Sew your blocks together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Did you notice anything in that last photo? That big blotch of white?

When I took a picture of the blocks pieced together I noticed how the white in this block was distracting and I knew it would drive me crazy so…..I removed the block. It took no time at all to make another block.

This looks a lot better and now I have learned a valuable lesson – make sure the predominant color extends through all of the fabric strips.

First Border:

• dark red fabric – cut 1½-inch strips the width of fabric
• sew to the sides of the string tablerunner first
• continue adding the strips to the ends

Second Border:

• bright red fabric – cut 3-inch by the width of fabric strips
• sew to the sides of the string tablerunner first
• continue adding the strips to the ends

Cut your backing and backing a couple of inches bigger thank your table runner. Add the backing and batting and quilt as desired.

I used Warm & Natural batting, did some stipple quilting in the center, and a free motion heart-shaped leaf on the border. The binding is 2½-inch strips that I sewed to the right side of the runner, then machine stitched it down from the front.

The runner finishes at 14 x 36 inches.

10 Year Old Table Runner

Would you like to see what a table runner looks like when it is 10 years old and has been washed and dried many times?

The fabrics are a little faded and the table runner has that beautiful crinkled texture. I like to put it on our table in February and even sometimes at Christmas.

Purchase an ad-free printable PDF version of the Red String table runner tutorial in my shop. The photos have been reduced in size and the tutorial is 7 pages long.

Get the Red String Table Runner PDF

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and let me know if there is something else you would like me to do a tutorial on. Be sure and check out all of my quilt projects for Valentine’s Day.

If you liked this post, you’ll want to take a look at my other tutorials for string table runners:

• Summer tablerunner tutorial
• Skinny Blue Batik tablerunner tutorial

_{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.}

Looking for beautiful free quilt pattern made with the AccuQuilt die cutter?