Crazy Patch Table Runner

Learn how Pauline Richards applies this faux paper-piecing tecnique to make this decorative table runner.

More from Simply Quilts
Filed under: How To, Table Linens

Instructions provided courtesy of Pauline Richards, publisher of Total Embellishments newsletter and frequent contributor to Creative Machine Embroidery magazine.

Paper piecing is particularly fast and easy when done with an embroidery machine. No more stopping, starting, flipping and turning; just hoop your fabric and stabilizer, stitch the guide lines then begin adding precut fabric pieces.

An embroidery machine will automatically stop while you position each precut fabric piece and wait for you until you're ready to sew again. It will even stitch elegant and elaborate decorative stitching to highlight and separate each crazy patch section.

Materials and Tools:

Husqvarna Viking Embroidery Card #130, Design # 1 with accompanying booklet
1 yard of blue cotton fabric
1 fat quarter of coordinating cotton fabric for binding
6- 1/8 yard cuts of coordinating cotton fabric in a variety of bright prints or fabric scraps of your choice
tear-away stabilizer
1/3 yard of pre-washed flannel cut into 12" x 10" rectangles
1/2 yard of needle punch batting
blue sewing thread to match the fabric
embroidery thread to contrast with your fabrics
sewing thread to blend with the six coordinating fabrics
KK2000 temporary stray adhesive

Steps:

Crazy Patch Fabric Prep and Cutting
1. Make a copy of the stitching guide on page 6 of the booklet which accompanies the embroidery disk.

2. Create individual pattern pieces for the design by cutting along the dividing lines. You will have 10 individual pattern pieces.

3. With the right side of the fabric facing up, cut six each of the first six pattern pieces from the 1/8 yard pieces of coordinating fabric. Include a 3/8-inch seam allowance around each individual pattern piece. You will be cutting enough crazy patch pieces to stitch the design six times, one time for practice and five times for use in making the crazy patch pieces for the table runner.

4. With the right side of the fabric up, cut pattern pieces 7,8,9 and 10 six times each.

5. Prepare the pieces for stitching by laying them out in the position shown in the diagram in the book that accompanies the embroidery card.

Embroidering
1. Place tear-away stabilizer in the machine's embroidery hoop and spray it with adhesive.

2. Center a piece of flannel over the stabilizer and finger press into place.

3. Thread your machine with neutral colored sewing thread and stitch the outline of the desire. Leave this in the machine.

4. Center a #1 fabric piece over the #1 stitched outline and stitch it into place.

5. Position a #2 fabric piece right side down over the #1 stitched piece, matching the cutting line of #2 with the left side stitching line of #1. Start your machine and allow it to sew until it stops.

6. Fold #2 fabric right side up and finger press it into place.

8. Position a #3 fabric piece right side down over the #2 fabric piece, match the correct edge and stitch until your machine stops. Fold the #3 fabric right side up and finger press into place.

9. Position the #4 fabric right side down, stitch. Repeat this process until all of the precut pieces have been sewn into place to create a crazy patch rectangle.

10. When the #10 section has been sewn into place and folded to the right side the machine will sew around the entire crazy patch, creating a cutting guide for use later.

Note: Embroidery Machines are great for quilting too.

Embellishing
1. Thread your machine with contrasting embroidery thread.

2. Start your machine and embroider decorative stitches between and around the sewn patches. Skip the last two color changes (white and yellow that would add flowers to each corner of the design) and remove the hooped project from your machine.

3. Remove the hoop, tear away the stabilizer and trim the excess fabric to within 1/4 inch of the final exterior stitching lines, creating a 5-3/4" x 7-1/2" rectangle. 5. Repeat this process until five identical crazy patch motifs have been stitched and trimmed. Editor's note - Pauline Richards makes each block in about 15 minutes.

Table Runner Assembly
1. Cut six 3" x 7-1/2" rectangles from the blue fabric.

2. Join the crazy patch rectangles with the blue rectangle by placing the pieces right sides together and sewing along the lengthwise edge. A plain rectangle should begin and end the strip and be between each crazy patch strip. Continue joining the pieces until you have one long strip measuring 36-1/4" x 7-1/2". Press the seams to one side.

4. Cut three 3" x 45" strips for sashing and frame the strip on all four sides and press.

5. Cut a piece of blue fabric and a piece of needle-punch batting 42" x 12-1/4". Place the blue rectangle on a table right side down and top with the needle punch rectangle.

6. Position the prepared crazy patch strip on the needle punch, smooth the layers, pin them together and sew 1/4 inch from the edge around the entire rectangle.

8. Prepare binding by cutting the fat quarter into 2-1/2-inch wide true bias strips. Sew the strips together to create one long 2-1/2-inch strip, press the seams open. Fold the strip wrong sides together and press the strip in half lengthwise. Place the prepared strip against the edge of the table runner, raw edges and right sides together.

9. Sew 1/4 inch from the raw edges, mitering the corners as you go. Fold the excess fabric to the wrong side and hand or machine stitch into place.