Celebrate the 4th of July in style with this festive table runner pattern from Sujata Ryan. Measuring at 20 1/2” x 47”, this patriotic table runner is made using only two fabrics and easy strip piecing methods, making it a quick and simple project. A charming hostess gift, this quilted table runner pattern is perfect for any indoor or outdoor celebrations and will be a fab focus point of your dining room.
Skill Level: Confident beginner or higher
Finished Size: 20-1/2 inches wide x 47 inches long
Seam Allowances:
- 1/4 inch seam allowances for all seams
- Press all seams away from the white fabric, toward the patriotic fabric.
Abbreviations:
- WOF – width of fabric
- RST – right sides together
Materials:
- Fabrics:
- Patriotic fabric (red, white, and blue print) – 2 yds.
- White fabric (or white on white print) – 1/2 yd.
- Red, white, and blue threads
- Rotary cutter and mat
- Optional: Free-motion foot
- Optional: Walking foot
Cutting Instructions:
Patriotic fabric:
- Cut 6 strips of patriotic fabric 3-1/2 in. wide x WOF for diagonal strips and borders.
- Cut 4 strips of patriotic fabric 2-1/4 in. wide x WOF for binding.
- Cut 1 piece 25 in. wide x WOF for backing.
- Cut 1 strip 14 in. wide x WOF for extra piece for backing.
White fabric:
- Cut 3 strips of white fabric 4-1/2 in. wide x WOF for diagonal strips.
Piecing Instructions:
- Cut 3 patriotic strips in half, so each is about 3-1/2 in. x 20 in. (half the WOF). Cut the 3 white strips in half so each is about 4-1/2 in. x 20 in.
- The half-strips will be referred to as “strips” from this point on.
- There should now be 6 patriotic strips and 6 white strips for creating the diagonal strips of the table runner.
- Place a white strip and patriotic strip RST, pinning the top of the white strip 1 in. down from the top of the patriotic strip. Stitch the seam.
- Pin a strip of patriotic fabric to the white strip, with the top of the patriotic fabric 1-3/4 in. down from the top of the white strip. Stitch and press the seam.
- Continue alternating the white and patriotic strips, with white strips starting 1 in. lower than the previous strip and patriotic strips starting 1-3/4 in. lower.
- There will be a total of 6 patriotic strips with 5 white strips sewn between them.
- There will be a total of 6 patriotic strips with 5 white strips sewn between them.
- Connect the points along the top edge of the runner with a fabric marker. Cut along this edge (shown as a blue line on the image below).
- Measure 14-1/2 inches from the top edge downward and mark this point on each white strip.
- Connect the points on the white strips and trim on the line, forming the bottom edge of the runner.
- Connect the points on the white strips and trim on the line, forming the bottom edge of the runner.
- Form the corner triangles as follows.
- Draw a line vertically downward at a right angle from the top right corner.
- Draw a second line 1/4 inch away from the first line.
- Trim along this line.
- Save the triangle that is cut off for the next step.
- Place the triangle on the leftover (sixth) white strip, with the triangle and fabric both right side up.
- Trace around the triangle 1/2 inch away from each edge. Cut out the white triangle.
- Stitch the white triangle to the diagonal edge of the patriotic fabric, RST. Press the seam toward the patriotic fabric.
- The triangle will protrude beyond the edges of the runner.
- Trim each edge along the straight runner edges to form a square corner.
- Repeat these steps at the bottom left corner.
- The table runner should now be a rectangle with square corners.
- Stitch a border strip to the top edge and bottom edge of the runner, trimming away excess fabric at the end of the strip. Repeat with borders strips added to the left and right edges. The table runner top is now finished, ready for quilting.
- Prepare the backing by stitching the long side of the 14 inch piece to the short side of the 25 inch piece. Trim the excess fabric to form a rectangle about 25 in. x 53 in.
- Place the backing wrong side up on a table or other surface. Lay the batting on top of the batting. Place the runner right side up on the batting.
- Baste the quilt with safety pins, spray glue, or a similar method.
- Quilt as desired. Suggestions include:
- Stitch in the ditch around each white diagonal strip and along the border seam lines.
- Stitch parallel lines in the patriotic diagonals in a contrast color, for example, red.
- Do free-motion quilting swirls of different sizes in red and blue threads on the white strips.
- Do free-motion echo quilting around the swirls in white thread.
- Do free-motion lazy S shapes along the border.
- Bind the table runner using any standard binding method.
- Prepare a name label and sew it to the back.
- The 4th of July Patriotic Table Runner is now finished, ready to decorate a festive celebration!
