Monday, June 16, 2014

Scrappy Summer Sew Along - Sweet and Simple Runner Tutorial!!! ...


Good morning cute people!
I'm excited to show you my latest 
Scrappy Happy project 
that I made last week.



Last Monday we kicked off the 
sew along…
the button and the flickr group
 are now ready to go!
Add the above button 
to your blog and 
to join up for a 
summer of scrappy happiness:)



So remember when I showed you
 these trimmings off of the 
Easy Corner Triangles 
from last weeks
 Scrappy Happy Summer project?



I did NOT want to throw them out!
After all…
this sew along is about
 using up our scraps right?

 I cut them into cute little 1 1/2" squares:)



I have been wanting to make a runner to protect the 
top of my piano ever since I painted it 3 years ago.


I decided that these little squares would be the perfect answer!
So I measured my piano top and started 
playing with my squares to see what
 fast and easy runner that I could come up with.


I played with my squares in several different settings
 (on my design board)
rearranging them until they made me happy:)
I decided on this easy setting for my runner.


I liked this sweet and simple block!
Because the 1 1/2" squares were in matching sets of 4…
I decided to use the solid yellow squares for the centers
 and add 4 of the matching squares around it…
along with 4 background squares in the corners.
I also used 2 different backgrounds to add a little more interest
as I alternated the blocks for the runner.


Because my piano is 58" long…
I needed to cut a few more squares
 from my scrappy stash baskets.


I could have used my 1 1/2" basket of strips and squares
but I decided to use my 3 1/2" basket…
it was fast and easy to cut several more matching sets of 4 for each block.
You can cut a set from one 3 1/2"square!


Of course you could easily make 
a smaller runner or a doll quilt from your leftover squares…
this sew along is about deciding 
what YOU want to make…
you are the boss of your own scraps!


You could measure your piano or maybe
your sofa table or fireplace mantle and
 customize the size of your runner to fit.
It's easy using just simple math and graph paper…
all you need to know is that
 each little block measures 3" when finished:)


But if you want to make one like mine…
here is what I did. 
It measures 13 1/2" x 55 1/2" and 
consists of 51 sweet little blocks
in a setting of 3 across and 17 down.


For EACH of the 51 blocks I cut -
1 - 1 1/2" yellow square 
4 - 1 1/2" matching squares
4 - 1 1/2" background squares
I also cut border strips;
2 - 2 1/2" x 13 1/2"
and 2 - 2 1/2" x 51 1/2"

I used 1/4 yard of white background
 and 
just under 1/2 yard of the polka dot background.


I made 25 of the blocks with the 
pink polka dot background and
 26 of them with the white background.


I pressed all of my seams open 
so that they would lay nice and flat…
I do this whenever I am working with small pieces.


Pressing the seams open also makes it easy peasy
to line up the seams when sewing together.
I like to use these Fork Pins by Clover 
when I am sewing 2 open seams together.


Because a pin goes on each side of the seam…
there is absolutely no shifting:)


51 sweet and simple blocks all sewn:)
They each measure 3 1/2" at this point.


I sewed them into rows…
alternating the two different backgrounds.


And pressed ALL seams open.
You can't believe how flat it is for such tiny pieces!


Now it's time to add the border strips.

This is how I cut border strips when they
 need to be wider than the width of my fabric;

 I cut 4 - 2 1/2" x Width of Fabric strips 
from my pink polka dot fabric.


Cut off the selvedge...


and sew them together on the diagonal like this.
You can mark them…
or just use your Angler 2 lines that
 is taped to your sewing machine like I usually do:)


After sewing, trim off the excess leaving about 1/4" seam allowance...


and press open for less bulk.


Cut and sew on your side strips first…
(2 1/2" x 51 1/2")


And then the end strips last.
(2 1/2" x 13 1/2")
Press all seams towards the border strips…
and quilt your Sweet and Simple runner!


Next…choose your binding fabric.
I chose a yellow print in the same shade of my 
solid yellow for the center squares of each block…
so that the binding would coordinate nicely:)
I cut 4 - 2 1/2" x WOF strips
and prepared 150" of binding.
if you want to see how I further 
prepare my binding and bind my quilts.


Bind your runner and take
 a few photos to add to our flickr group...
We all want to see what you are making!


I'll chat at you next Monday 
when it's time for the next 
Scrappy Happy Summer episode:)

But if you want to see what
 I'm up to in the meantime …
and join me on Instagram:)

Have a quilty kind of summer…
xx
Lori





22 comments:

Nedra said...

Another GREAT tutorial! I want to make this right away! Thanks Lori. Love it :)

susiefloozie said...

I absolutely love the color of your piano! I would have never thought to paint it. The table runner looks PERFECT with it and the roses in the vase are incredibly beautiful! Thanks again for a lovely post!

Lesley said...

Love this runner and your wonderful tutorial!

dream quilt create said...

I'm dying to make this! It's so cute and I have lots and lots of 1 1/2" squares thanks to your stash method!

amalowany said...

I just love the fabric combinations. Your creations always look so happy and cheerful. Not being a quilter, I only envy all those scrap piles that you've amassed.

Little Quiltsong said...

Lori - I really enjoyed last week's pattern and made a few mini's for end tables and sewing room wall. Love how you give guidance, but encourage us to choose what we might need most in our own home.
Thank you for another new tutorial. Love these little patches. Now off to measure our piano top because it too needs prettying up!

Jeneta said...

Fork pins? I've never seen them before - they look really useful! Thanks for a great tutorial for a beautiful runner.

Jocelyn said...

SOOOO cute!! Great way to use up scraps.

Jane @ Handiworking said...

Sweet is right. I love the way the blues pop out to match your piano, too!

Darlene said...

Awesome tutorial. Love the runner - true Lori style. Scrap Happy!

Rosa said...

Awesome and great way to use scraps.Love it and your great tutorial!

yarn and pencil said...

Hi Lori, this is such an inspiring post :-) I'm currently making a quilt out of a bag of vintage hexies I found in a charity/thrift shop. I'm really looking forward to completing it so that I can start some stash busting! Your runner would make a prefect first project :-) Thank you for sharing this.
Tracey xxx

Christine M said...

What a gorgeous runner. Thanks for the tutorial.

Unknown said...

Absolutely gorgeous!! I love all you do. Thanks for the tutorial. :-)

Cecelia said...

So pretty!!! Thank you for another sew along! Your pin cushion is sooo cute, is that one of your patterns? You are amazing coming up with all these wonderful projects!!

The Patchsmith said...

This is such a simple project Lori yet so effective. It would suit a square table topper or placemats as well as a table/piano runner.

The Patchsmith said...

This is such a simple project Lori yet so effective. It would suit a square table topper or placemats as well as a table/piano runner.

The Patchsmith said...

This is such a simple project Lori yet so effective. It would suit a square table topper or placemats as well as a table/piano runner.

A little happy place said...

Love the runner and oh my goodness I want to paint my piano!! Think I'll need to convince my parents though, who bought it for me 30 plus years ago. (groan I feel old now!) Sarah xo

Greenmare said...

that is so CUTE!! I love the colors and I adore the color of your piano!! What a great tip about pressing the seams open for smaller projects, I'm going to try that! Thanks!!

Heather said...

What wonderful idea for scraps. This would be a cute Christmas runner too!

Thank you for sharing it

Heather

Heather said...

What wonderful idea for scraps. This would be a cute Christmas runner too!

Thank you for sharing it

Heather

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