Easy Charm Square Halloween Table Runner Tutorial

Posted on October 16, 2013 by thequiltedcat

With Halloween just a couple weeks away, I thought my living room table needed a little festive decor! I decided to stitch up a quick and easy table runner using a charm pack.

Here’s a look at the completed runner:

Easy Charm Pack Halloween Table Runner

I’ve created a tutorial if you want to make one of these fun Halloween table runners for yourself. I made my table runner single-sided, but you could easily make it double-sided and extend its use into the Thanksgiving holiday by picking out a second autumn-themed charm pack.

Supplies Needed
1 charm pack or 27 5-inch squares (Boo Crew by Sweetwater for Moda is used in my runner)
1/2 yard backing fabric (or make a double-sided runner)
1/2 yard batting
1/4 yard binding, black
black thread
ruler, rotary cutter, mat, pins, and marking pencil

Halloween Charm Pack and Fabric!

Tutorial
Note: Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

1. Lay out your charm squares into 3 rows of 9 squares each. Move the charm squares around until you find a color arrangement that you like. Note: If you have a cat “assistant,” you may find your squares re-arranged! See figure 1.

3 Rows with 9 Charm Squares Each

2.Sew 9 charm squares into a row. Press seams open. Repeat for the other rows.

3. Sew the first row to the second row, taking care to match seams. Press seams open.

4. Sew the third row to the completed unit from step 3, taking care to match seams. Press seams open.

5. Cut each right and left end square on both the top and bottom rows so that the squares become triangles. Tip: Use your ruler and marking pencil to draw a diagonal line before cutting the triangles. See figure 2.

Cut End Squares into Triangles

6. Press the quilt top. The quilt top should resemble figure 3.

Halloween Runner Quilt Top

7. Prepare quilt top for quilting by layering backing, batting, and quilt top. Baste with pins.

8. Quilt as desired. I quilted my runner using my domestic sewing machine by using my 1/4-inch foot and sewing square shapes in each charm square.

9. Prepare binding. I like to use 2-1/4″ binding strips and then press them in half.

10. Sew on binding strips. Press. Hand-stitch binding to the backing.

11. Remember to add a quilt label!

12. Optional: Add embellishments such as hot-fix crystals or Halloween themed buttons.

I think this little table runner really adds a festive touch to my coffee table. I added a pumpkin shaped bowl and filled it with chocolate candies. Mysteriously, those little candies seem to disappear quickly in my house!

Halloween Runner Closeup

I hope you enjoy this tutorial! Let me know if you make one by leaving a comment or linking up to your blog. I’d love to see pictures.

With Halloween charm,
~Jennifer

Star Surround QAL Centers

Posted on August 16, 2013 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone!

Wow, is the summer going by fast! We’re down to the last 2 weeks before school starts up again. I have all the school supplies purchased for my soon-to-be 3rd grader, and he’s getting excited to see his friends again. I’m having a hard time fitting in my quilty projects, but squeezed in a few evening sewing sessions this week to complete my star centers for the Star Surround QAL. Look for the QAL button on the right-hand side of my blog to join the fun!

I’m using the Mama Said Sew fabric by Sweetwater for this project along with Essex Yarn Dyed in Black for the background by Robert Kaufman. I really like the look of these fabrics together.

Here are my blocks in a “shooting” star formation and then grouped in a 3×3 format:

Shooting Center Stars

Star Centers

Next week, the QAL schedule calls for building onto these center star blocks.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Moosin’ Around with a Circle of Geese

Posted on July 31, 2013 by thequiltedcat

Have you ever wanted to sew flying geese in a circle? This is a fun project that I’ve wanted to do for a while using a free paper pieced pattern by Piece by Number. I’ve seen various quilters use this pattern with stunning results using all different types of color schemes.

I feel in love with the Mama Said Sew line by Sweetwater for Moda last year and picked up a few 1/2 yard pieces. I decided to use this grouping to make my test circle of geese.

The quilt square finishes at 12 x 12-inches, and I added a 1-inch black border all around:

Circle of Geese Block

This block came together pretty quickly, and I think I may make two more using the same fabrics to make a table runner.

Just for fun, I took a little moose figurine that I purchased last summer at Grand Teton National Park and added it to the center of the unfinished block. I think he looks cute!