Rag Quilt Table Runner

First, we will prepare the fabric for the center square of the runner. On the dark quilter's cotton, draw a 12 inch by 12 inch square. Leave a couple of inches of excess fabric around the shape. Measure and mark the center of each side of shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks - where the lines meet is the exact center of the shape.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the design to help with placement and centering.

Poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape. There should be at least one inch of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

Remove the template. Cut a piece of high loft batting and denim to the size of the quilter's cotton. Layer the pieces together: denim first with the wrong side facing up, batting on top of the denim, and finally the quilter's cotton on top of the batting with the right side facing up.

Hoop all three layers together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design - we are embroidering the background stitches with 30 weight cotton thread (Madeira Cotona).

Continue embroidering the design - for more information on crafty cut applique designs,  click here .

Next, carefully trim away about 3/4 inch of the batting in between the fabric layers all the way around the shape.

To prepare the fabric for the side panels, cut two pieces of print quilter's cotton and denim to 6 inches wide by 12 inches high. Layer the cotton and denim together, wrong sides together and pin in place. Sew an "x" through the center of the fabric using nylon monofilament thread in the top and regular sewing thread in the bobbin. Set the panels aside for now.

To prepare the fabric for the side quilted squares, draw a 6 inch wide by 7 inch high rectangle on the dark quilter's cotton - leave a couple of inches of excess fabric around the shape. Find the center of the shape as you did earlier. Create a paper template and align it with the center point on the fabric. There should be at least one inch of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the shape. Cut a piece of batting and denim the same size as the cotton and layer them together as you did earlier. Hoop all three layers together.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric, and embroider the design. Trim away about 3/4 inch of the batting all the way around the shape. Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for a total of four squares.

We will prepare the remaining side squares by cutting four pieces of brocade fabric and denim to 6 inches wide by 7 inches high. Layer the pieces together, wrong sides together, pin in place, and sew an "x" through the center of each piece using nylon monofilament thread in the top and regular sewing thread in the bobbin.

Arrange the pieces how you want them.

Now it is time to assemble the runner! Lay the center square flat with the wrong side facing up. Then, align the inner sides of the side panels with the right and left sides of the square, wrong sides together. Pin in place and sew a 3/4 inch seam along the pinned edges only. This will put the seam allowance out to the right sides of the fabric pieces (the seam allowances will be frayed later on).

Align the bottom edges of the side squares with the top edges of each corresponding bottom square, wrong sides together, pin in place, and sew a 3/4 inch seam along the pinned edges only.

Align the inner edges of each pair of squares together, wrong sides together (each side respectfully - four squares to a side) pin, and sew a 3/4 inch seam along the pinned edges only.

Lay the center square/side panel section flat with the wrong side up. Align the inner edges of the assembled side square sections with the right and left edges of the center square/side panel section, wrong sides together. Pin in place and sew a 3/4 inch seam along the pinned edges only.

Sew a 3/4 inch seam along the entire outer edge of the runner. Then, clip the seam allowances about every 1/2 inch - be careful to not cut the seams. Wash the runner on a gentle cycle to fray the seam allowances. If your fabrics allow, you may machine dry the runner on a low temperature setting. Or, simply allow the runner to air dry.

The table runner is now complete!