Make it Monday: Half Square Runner

Friends!

Guess what I’m starting this summer… Make It Mondays!

Each Monday I’ll be working on a new DIY project that you can implement in your wedding day decor or even your home. I’m starting it off with a super easy sewing project. I started quilting a couple years ago and I fell in love. What’s so remarkable is everything is just straight lines. Nothing crazy or difficult, just precise cutting and stitching in straight lines.

Right now I’m working on a quilt for my bedroom. It’s my first queen size and it’s pretty daunting! The entire thing is made up of half square triangles. They are simply a square the is divided, diagonally, into two halves with two opposing fabrics. It’s amazing what you can do with this simple quilting method.

As I was stitching the half squares for my quilt I had a thought, these would make amazing table runners and bunting banners and even a guest book!

What you’ll need

• A cutting board (you don’t want to mess up your table or cut up your carpet)
• A rotary cutter (this is a rolling blade that makes it super easy to cut straight lines)
• Cotton thread to coordinate with your fabric
• 1/2 yd of 12-15 different fabrics (or less depending on how many tables you have to make runners for)
• Pen (or if you’re fancy, a fabric pen)
• Sewing machine (it only needs to stitch straight lines)
• Iron and ironing board

Start by selecting a set of fabrics that coordinate with your color scheme. If you’re concerned at all about finding patterns and colors that will work together you can always get a fabric line that already coordinates. I love Hawthorne Threads for this. Depending on how many tables and how long they are will determine the amount of fabric you need. I got a half yard of fifteen different fabrics.

1. Cut each fabric into strips the width of fabric (wof) by the height you want your squares to be. Mine were 87/8 inches and 47/8 inches. You add the 7/8 inch to make up for lost fabric when you sew the fabric together. Next cut each long strip into squares. 

2. Now comes the fun part, matching up your fabric squares. You can easily see how each square will look in the end by putting the right sides together and folding back the top half on the diagonal. Line them up perfectly edge to edge and corner to corner. 

3. Use your ruler (again I recommend the clear lucite ones you can get at any fabric store. It really is a dream come true!) and mark a line on the diagonal one corner to the other with a pen. 

4. Now it’s time to sew! Stitch one quarter inch to the right of the line you’ve marked. We’re going to make a continuous stitch from one square to the next so they can drape off the ends of the table. When you get to the end of your square lift your foot off the pedal to stop stitching, then place the next set of fabric squares under your presser foot (that clear plastic thing on my machine keeping the fabric in place). Then continue sewing and feed the next set through.  

5. When you reach the end of your set ( the length you want for your table) trim the thread, turn the set around and begin stitching one quarter inch to the right of the line again. You should already have stitches to the left of the marked line. Stitch all the way down the set. 

6. Now use your ruler to cut  on the marked line, making very sure not to cut the stitches linking one square set to the other. You now have two identical sets of table runners. 

7. Iron the seams open, bottom and then press again on the top. 

8. Now layout the set on the length of the table and decorate! (I cut the linking stitches apart on the identical set and widened the runner by placing squares in the open spaces.)

You can also make much smaller squares to be used in a photo booth, or at an alter, at a dessert table. I also thought it would be fantastic to have guests sign the pieces and then later it can be made into a quilt with your wedding colors and messages from your friends and family. Take it a step further and let guests place their squares on a board and design the quilt for you!

What do you think of this DIY project? Is it doable? Have an event, wedding, shower, birthday or otherwise? Stuck on something you need for the soiree, i.e. favors, place cards, decor, tablescapes, etc? Let me know your color scheme and theme and I’ll give it a whirl. Who knows your project could be featured next! Love the idea but don’t have time to make it? Email me and I’ll give you a quote (meg at megruth dot com).

Check back next Monday for some sweet summer inspiration!