It’s not too late to have a gorgeous handmade table runner for the holidays! This easy quilted table runner is made with my favorite little quilt block – the half square triangle. If you happen to have a bunch of extra HST’s in your stash, here’s a great way to use them!

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The pattern in the blog post below is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The Optimized for Printing PDF download for $2 is totally optional.

Since I think everything looks better quilted, I grabbed my chance to play with my quilting rulers and quilt echo lines, arcs, and orange peels all over my table runner. Don’t worry – I’ll tell you which rulers in the post below.

But if you are short on time or would rather not quilt it – that’s fine too.

This table runner is finished with the stitch and turn method, which adds to the modern look. You could use your favorite quilt binding instead for more traditional quilt-like appeal.

The finished size of this table topper is approximately 18’’ x 54’’ so it would look great on any table.

Modern Table Runner Sewing Pattern

You will need:

• 1/8 yard yellow print fabric

• 1/8 yard yellow solid fabric

• 1/8 yard cream colored print fabric

• 1/8 yard cream colored solid fabric

• 1/8 yard pink print fabric

• 1/8 yard pink solid fabric

• 1/8 yard navy print fabric

• 1/8 yard navy solid fabric

• 1 yard background fabric (I used Kona Coal)

• a piece of quilt batting 22’’ x 58’’ (I used Hobbs Fusible Batting)*

• a piece of muslin or unwanted fabric that won’t show 22’’ x 58’’*

• a rectangle of backing fabric at least 19’’ x 55’’

• quilt basting pins or basting spray, unless you are using fusible batting

* If you don’t plan on quilting your table runner, I would suggest fusible fleece instead of the quilt batting and muslin. You’ll need a rectangle 18 1/2’’ x 54 1/2’’.

Cutting:

From each of the print fabrics and coordinating solid fabrics (not the background fabric), cut:

• 5 squares 4’’ x 4’’ (40 squares total)

From the background fabric, cut:

• 40 squares 4’’ x 4’’

• 2 squares 6 1/2’’ x 6 1/2’’

• 4 rectangles 3 1/2’’ x 6 1/2’’

• 2 strips 3 1/2’’ x 18 1/2’’

Make 80 Half Square Triangles

1. Pair each of the 4’’ print fabric and coordinating solid fabric squares with a 4’’ background fabric square. You should have 40 pairs.

2. Make 2 half square triangles from each pair of fabric squares using my Easy Half Square Triangle Tutorial.

3. Trim each HST to 3 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’. You should have 10 of each color combination.

Make 20 Chevron Blocks

Use a 1/4’’ seam allowance throughout this pattern.

1. Arrange 2 pink print HSTs and 2 pink solid HSTs as seen above.

2. Sew the HSTs together in pairs to make 2 rows.

3. Sew the two rows together to make a chevron block.

Repeat with the rest of the half square triangles to make 20 chevron blocks, 5 in each color combination.

Sew the Table Runner Together

1. Refer to the diagram above to lay out your chevron blocks in 3 rows together with the 6 1/2’’ background fabric squares and 3 1/2’’ x 6 1/2’’ background fabric rectangles.

The 1st and 3rd rows should contain: a background fabric rectangle, 3 chevron blocks, a 6 1/2’’ square, 3 chevron blocks, and a background fabric rectangle, in that order.

The middle row contains 8 chevron blocks.

Take care to turn the chevron blocks pointing in the correct direction.

2. Sew the blocks and fabric pieces in each row together with a 1/4’’ seam allowance.

3. Sew the three rows together. Then sew a 3 1/2’’ x 18 1/2’’ background fabric strip to each end of the table runner.

Quilting

Note: If you choose not to quilt your table runner, fuse the 18 1/2’’ x 54 1/2’’ piece of fusible fleece to the back, and skip to the next section, Finishing.

1. Sandwich the pieced runner together with the batting and the muslin or unwanted fabric on the bottom. The fabric that is the bottom layer for this step will not show on the finished runner.

2. Baste the runner, batting, and bottom fabric layer together with pins, quilt basting spray, or by fusing if you are using fusible quilt batting (that’s what I used, plus I machine basted around the edge).

3. Quilt using your favorite technique. I used a straight quilting ruler to stitch in the ditch around the chevrons, and then I echoed the chevrons on the background fabric. For this step I used Slim from Creative Grids (note that this ruler is 1/4’’ thick and won’t work with low shank sewing machines).

I used a 4’’ arc quilting ruler to sew petal shapes in each chevron. This particular ruler is found in Template Set #1 from Westalee Designs. It’s a great starter set if you want to try rulerwork quilting and it comes in 3 different thicknesses to suit any machine.

If you want to know more about rulerwork, in this post there’s a video where I was quilting with rulers on a real quilt.

4. When you are done quilting, trim away the extra batting and bottom fabric, squaring up the runner.

Finishing

1. Place the quilted runner (or runner with fusible fleece) on top of the backing fabric with right sides together. In the photo above, the light blue fabric is my ‘unwanted fabric’ that I used under the batting. The navy and cream plaid fabric is my table runner backing.

Pin all the way around through all layers.

2. Cut away all of the extra fabric around the table runner.

3. Sew all the way around with a 1/4’’ seam allowance, leaving an opening about 6’’ long for turning the runner right side out.

4. Trim away the extra fabric at the corners, taking care not to cut the stitches.

5. Turn the runner right side out through the opening. Press all of the edges gently, pressing the edges at the opening to the inside.

Hand sew the opening closed.

Enjoy a beautiful piece of handmade goodness on your holiday table this year!

I’m including this free pattern in my list of 25+ Show Stopping Free Table Runner Patterns.

As always, I love to see what you make with my free patterns and tutorials! Post a picture to Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe or #sewcanshe.

Happy sewing,

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