Lil’ Ragtime Tablerunner & Placemat

For the tablerunner you will need:

36-5″ squares

18- 4″ squares of batting

For each placemat you will need:

24-5″ squares

12-4″ squares of batting

Heritage 6 1/2″ rag Quilting Snips (VP7)
I can’t tell you how much I love this little tool. I had not done raggy things in quite awhile because of the snipping would hurt my hand. I can do a whole quilt with no trouble with these little babies. Even my mom with arthritis in her hands can do a whole quilt with these.

take 2 charms and make a sandwich with the batting centered and touching the wrong sides of the fabrics.

stitch an X across the sandwich. don’t worry about it being perfect, I just eye balled it.

lay out your charms as follows for the tablerunner (3×4 for the placemat)

stitch together using 1/2″ seams. I put a post-it on my machine for a 1/2″ sewing reference. Sew together in rows, with all seams facing up.

Finger-press seams open and stitch the rows together. All seams face up. Stitch across the open seams. Looks odd now, but works out when the snipping is finished!

After stitching rows together, stitch a 1/2″ seam all the around the outside of the runner/placemat.

Snip. I snipped about 1/4″ apart, pretty close, but it think it gives a nicer finished look.

Start by snipping at each side of the seams to release the seam allowance so it will stand up.

Then snip through both sides of the seam allowance at once. Snip up close to the stitching line…but be careful not to cut through the stitching.

Snip all around the edges, up close to the stitching line, too.

It has a cute fringe already…and gets better after it is washed and dried in the dryer.

TIP:If you wash more than one runner at a time we suggest clamping an old nylon stocking to the drain hose of your washer, if possible, to catch the loose threads the first time they are washed. When the washing is finished just throw the nylon stocking away.

Tablerunner 17×22 and placemats 12×15, but you could easily take this idea and make a baby quilt, different shaped runner,etc

enjoy!

from Angie of All Washed Up

Oh Cherry Oh Tablerunner

*2 charm packs – featured here is Oh Cherry Oh by Me and My Sister
*2~5″ x 20″ strips of Moda Bella Solids ( I used color 98)
.

*8 Coordinating buttons
*1 yard of your favorite rick rack or trim.

*Choose 24 of your favorite charms. Lay them out in 6 rows of 4 charms, sew in to rows (4 charms) until you have completed all 6 rows. Then press the seams for the rows ~1 row right~ 2nd row left and repeat this for all 6 rows
*then join your rows together (this should be 4 charms wide 6 charms long)

*Now choose 8 more charms ~this will be your prairie points. Fold charm diagonally (point to point) and press

*fold over one more time diagonally and press again,

*then pin the prairie point to the end of the runner and baste on with about 1/8″ seam. Points must be facing the center of the runner.

*Now cut the white fabric 5″ x 20″ and sew to the end of the runner (this seam will catch your prairie points
*now press the white & the prairie points, so now the points should be pointing to the edge of the runner.

*Now its time to add the trim and the buttons. Sew an 18″ piece of your favorite trim across the seam that joins the white/prairie points to the charm squares. Then add your favorite buttons to the ends of the points.


*I added my embellishments after my runner had been quilted, it depends on who is quilting for you when you add these. This is such a fun runner to make! Quilt and bind as desired! You are done my friend!

This makes a bright cheery tablerunner that is sure to brighten your day. Measures 18″ x 36. Have fun with it and be creative!

Enjoy!
Nadine thematerialgirlsquilting

Cherries and Blossoms Table Topper

CHERRIES and BLOSSOMS

Table Topper by Sheri Howard

1 Charm Pack of Oh-Cherry-Oh by Me and My Sister
7/8 yard aqua floral yardage of Oh-Cherry-Oh
1/4 yard white fabric
1/4 yard fusible web
1 1/8 yard fabric for backing
38″ x 38″ batting
red thread for applique

4 1/2 yards med red ric-rack

Step 1.. Cut the 5 large cherry print (with a colored background) pieces in half.

Step2.. Cut one of the sides into half again, yielding (10) 2 1/2″squares.

DO NOT cut both sides into 2 1/2″ squares.

Step 3.. Cut 1 strip of white fabric 3 1/4″ by width of fabric

Step 4.. Cut (4) 3 1/4″ x 5″ pieces, set aside.

Step 5.. Cut that remaining strip to 2 1/2″ wide, and cut one more strip 2 1/2″ by width of fabric.
Step 6.. Cut into (12) 2 1/2″ x 5″ strips.
Step 7.. Sew (4) 2 1/2″ x 5″ white strips to the top of (4) of the solid looking 5″ x5″ pieces, and add a 2 1/2″ x 5″ white strip to the bottom of (2) solid pieces. Continue sewing blocks together until you have 2 strips as below. Press seams toward colors.
Step 8.. Sew (3) of the 2 1/2″ squares of large cherry ( from step 1.) end to end with a white 2 1/2″ x 5″ strip. Starting and ending with a color. Make (3) strips. Press seams toward colored squares. Sew picture below.
Step 9.. Sew all rows together like picture below. This makes the CENTER.
Step 10.. Draw a 5″ x 5″ square on a piece of paper, then draw a 7 petal pinwheel flower and a center circle from a large spool of thread.
Step 11.. Trace (4) flowers and (8) center circles onto fusible web. Fuse (4) flowers on the 5″ x 5″ floral pieces and (8) centers on the (mostly) solid red 5″ x 5″ piece. You will have to squish the (8) centers on the red, so lay them on before you fuse. Only (4) centers are shown, but you need (8.)
Step 12.. Find the 4 white pieces with very small print, and 2 small cherry prints with white background, save these pieces out for the corner blocks.

Step 13. . Cut the rest of the 5″ x 5″ squares in half, and adding the 2 1/2″ x 5″ left over pieces from (step 1.) These are now colored strips.
Step 14.. Lay out the CENTER and place the colored strips around CENTER until you like the color arrangement also adding the 3 1/4″ x 5″ white pieces (in the center) and corner blocks.
Step 15. . Sew (3) colored strips together with a white 3 1/4″ x 5″ white strip at the end, continue sewing (3) more colored strips to the white making a 7 piece strip. Make (4). These are now border strips. Sew (2) of these to opposite sides of the CENTER.

Step 16. . Sew (2) white corner blocks of small prints, and small cherry prints with white background from (step 12) to the ends of the last 2 border strips. Sew these to top and bottom of the CENTER.
Step 17. . Mark one of the petals on your piece of paper, and draw (8) petals onto fusible web, then fuse to left over colored strips. These will go on the 3 1/4″ x 5″ white strips. (see photo step 19.)

Step 18.. Applique flowers and red centers with red thread to the CENTER. The flowers hang over onto the seams a bit, but that is okay.
Step 19.. Applique the (8) petals and red centers with red thread to the 3 1/4″ x 5″ white strips.

Border:

Step 20.. Cut (4) strips of aqua yardage 5″ width of fabric

Step 21.. Cut (2) strips of aqua yardage to 5″ x 24 1/2″ Sew to opposite sides of the CENTER.

Step 22.. Cut (2) strips of aqua yardage to 5″ x 34 1/2″ Sew to top and bottom of the CENTER.

Step 23. . Quilt

Step 24. . Cut binding strips 2 1/2″. Bind quilt. Finished size aprox. 35″ x 35″

Step 25. . Sew red ric-rack around the edge on the binding seam.

One adorable table topper
Sheri Howard

Charming Twin Pincushions

Charm Pack — (7) 5-inch charms

Upholstery Thread
YLI silk thread
Scrap of thin batting at least 5 inches X 10 inches
pins
poly stuffing or walnut shells
Clover yo-yo maker (optional)

Choose 4 charms for the half square triangles and trim to 3 inches square.

Take background fabric and cut 3 inch squares and layer Right sides together. Draw a line in the center of the background fabric and sew 1/4 inch on each side as shown. Repeat for 3 other squares.

Cut the squares in half on the solid line and press your half square triangles

Once pressing is complete, arrange them in a ‘4-patch’….There are several possible layouts, such the PINWHEEL….

Square on a Square…..

And others……

I chose 2 layouts as shown and sewed the half square triangles together. Layered the blocks with a thin batting scrap and stitched in the ditch or 1/4 around the patch pieces. **NOTE** I didn’t use backing fabric.

Trim the blocks to size 4 3/4 inches.

Using your favorite method, layer the pieced/quilted block right sides together with another charm cut to 4 3/4 inches. Sew the perimeter and leave an opening for stuffing. Stuff cushion and whip stitch with silk thread to hide the seam.

Embellish with coordinating buttons and yo-yo’s.

Coordinating buttons and yo-yo’s *Note* at least 2 small yo-yo’s can be made from a single charm.

Button

2 Pincushions..keep one for yourself and give the other away. If you are using an entire charm pack…you could make at least 8-10 pincushions.

Midohioknitter-Vickie E

Charming Pincushion #1

Oh Cherry Oh! charm pack
DMC pearl cotton size 8
YLI silk thread
Large Clover Yo-Yo maker
Upholstery Thread
pins
Doll Maker’s Needle
polyester stuffing, walnut shells for ‘stuffing’

Buttons
Yo-Yo’s

Choose 2 charms from your pack. Using the Clover yo-yo maker as my guide…

I trace around the edge…
This will be my sewing line.
I pin my charms right sides together to prevent slipping of the fabric as I sew the circle. I recommend changing your stitch length to 1.5 instead of 2.2 or 2.5. I have found it will allow you to sew with out moving your presser foot up and down as often. Make sure to leave an opening for turning. I usually backstitch at the beginning and end of stitching to lock those stitches…to allow for a smoother finished look to the pincushion.

I trim to about 1/8 inch, with the tight stitches it is unlikely the stitches will pull out.

Next, turn pincushion right side out.

Stuff very full…or use walnut shells.

This step takes patience. I turn the openings in and pin atleast 3 places. You want to align the edges as closely as possible. I sometimes find myself repinning 5 times or more. Then using the silk thread, wip stitch opening closed.

To give your pincushion more personality…chose a pearl cotton size 8 to coordinate. Knot one end of the pearl cottong and draw up into the center of the pincushion. I use a doll makers needle as they are longer and stronger to pull through the stuffing and fabric layers.

I proceed to up and over the sides of the cushion 6 to 8 times, pulling taught with each pass.

I finish off my thread end on the side of the cushion in which I started. In effect there are 2 knots there. I use a button or yo-you to cover my knots and center.

Here’s an example with a yo-yo center…..

A charm pack can make several pincushions…depends on the number of charms in the pack. I have also used extra charms from finished projects for these pincushions.