Topsy-Turvy Table Runner Sew Easy! Grey and white, what a smart print color combo! It can be teamed with a variety of solids red, black, turquoise, hot pink, or as I chose, lime green. The featured design is a nontraditional Dresden plate. No round shapes here the wedge-shapes of the Dresden are stitched, well topsy-turvy, to create a linear look. Happy Sewing, Riley Blake Designs sent me a collection of grey and white prints that really caught my eye. This finished table runner is approximately 18" x 86". You could shorten or lengthen depending upon your table size. 1
Supplies for the Topsy Turvy Table Runner: Eight (8) coordinating fat quarters. Featured collection is the Basic Variety Fat Quarter Pack in Grey from Riley Blake Designs. 1 yard of solid-colored cotton fabric for sashing strips and binding. Featured fabric is a Cotton Solid in Lime from Riley Blake Designs. Clover s Trace n Create Quilt Templates Dresden Plate and Fan Collection (only the wedge shape, Template A) will be used. Trace along both sides of the template. Rotate the template 180. Align one edge of the template with the previously traced mark, trace along the opposite side of the template. Cutting Instructions: Twenty-four 18-1/4" long wedges are needed for this project. Select eight coordinating fat quarters. Press fat quarters. The instructions reference using fat quarters (18" x 22" cuts.) In lieu of using fat quarters, you could also cut wedges from standard yardage. Cut 18-1/4"crosswise strips of coordinating fabrics. Consider using four coordinates, rather than eight, to save on yardage. Rotate the template a second time. Again, align one edge of the template with the previously traced mark; trace along the opposite side of the template. Position Template A on the wrong side of a fat quarter. Align the template at a corner and along one straight edge. Stack 3 4 fat quarter sections together to save time tracing the wedge shapes on each fat quarter. 2
Place the traced fabric on a cutting mat, align an acrylic ruler along the traced marks, and cut. (The Trace n Create Quilt Templates are designed for tracing, not cutting.) Trim the seam allowances to 1/4" and press. Align the first wedge to the sashing strip, right sides together, with the narrow end at the top of the sashing strip. Stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance. Notice that the wide end of the wedge is at the end of the sashing strip. Cut 12, 3/4" crosswise strips from the solid fabric to use as sashing. Cut seven 2-1/2" crosswise strips to use as binding; set these strips aside. Stitch the Wedges to the Sashing Strips: Seam the sashing strips. Align right sides, cross the ends creating a 90 angle, and stitch across the fabric strips as pictured. 3
Place a second wedge on the sashing strip, wide end first, leaving 1" between the wedges. Stitch the second wedge to the sashing strip. Continue adding wedge shapes to the sashing strips, alternating the wedges and again, leaving 1" between the wedges. Position the wedges on the strip with the wide end of the wedge following a wide end or a narrow end of the wedge following a narrow end. In order for the wedges to be sewn together in the topsy-turvy manner, half the wedges will have sashing on the left side and the other half will have the sashing sewn to the right side. That s the reason for alternating the position of the wedges on the sashing strips. 4
Separate the wedges, cutting between the 1" space. Press the seam allowances toward the wedges. Learn from my mistake! My staff and I didn t alternate the positioning and stitching of the wedges on the sashing strips. Half of the sashing strips had to be removed and restitched. Oops! That s why this photo shows some of the wedges without sashing strip. Align the ruler along the cut edge of the narrow end of the wedge, trim off the excess sashing. Repeat on the wide end. Pin and stitch the wedges together, using a 1/4" seam allowance. Determine the layout of the wedges, alternating the wedges in the topsy-turvy layout! 5
Straighten the narrow ends of the table runner. Place a pin at the center of the end wedges. Measure 1/4" from the pin to add a seam allowance. Extend the seam allowance the length of the wedge. Back the table runner with batting and a backing fabric. Pin the layers together using safety pins. Straight stitch the layers together. Stitch, guiding the edge of the presser foot along the sashing seam. Repeat stitching on each side of all the sashing strips. Cut along the seam allowance mark, trimming off the excess fabric. Bind the table runner, using your favorite technique. 6
Another view of the table, hmm, garden runner. Bye for now, 7