Christmas Table Runner

The size of the finished quilt is 24" x 42" (unquilted). Yardage in the materials list is based on 44-inch wide fabric.

Materials:

1/4 yard blue print fabric for center squares
1/4 yard brown plaid fabric for center squares
1/4 yard dark red print fabric for inner border
1/4 yard red check fabric for apples
1/8 yard dark green print fabric for leaves
3/4 yard beige print fabric for background
1/8 yard each of four coordinating green print fabrics for trees
1/8 yard brown check fabric for tree trunks
1/8 yard gold plaid fabric for star center
1/8 yard gold print fabric for star
3/8 yard red print fabric for binding
1-1/4 yards fabric for quilt backing
quilt batting, at least 28" x 46"
rotary cutter, mat and wide see-through ruler with 1/8-inch markings

Tips:

• One-quarter inch seam allowances are used throughout unless otherwise specified.
  
• Press seam allowances in the direction that will create the least bulk, and whenever possible, press toward the darker fabric.
  
• Cutting directions for each section of the quilt are given individually. If you like to cut as you go, simply follow the directions. To cut all pieces at the same time, skip ahead to each of the cutting sections and do all the cutting before sewing.

Patchwork Center (figure A)

1. From the blue print fabric cut two, 3-1/2" x 20" strips and one, 3-1/2" x 17 " strip. From the brown plaid fabric cut two, 3-1/2" x 17" strips and one, 3-1/2" x 20" strip.

2. To make strip set I, sew a 3-1/2" x 20" blue strip to each side of a 3-1/2" x 20" brown plaid strip. Press seam allowances toward the brown fabric. Crosscut the strip set into five, 3-1/2-inch segments.

3. To make strip set II, sew a 3-1/2" x 17" brown plaid strip to each side of a 3-1/2" x 17" blue strip. Press seam allowances toward the brown fabric. Crosscut the strip set into four, 3-1/2-inch segments.

4. Sew strip set I and strip set II segments together, alternating colors. Begin and end with a strip set I segment. At this time, the piece should measure 9-1/2 " x 27-1/2".

1. From the dark red print fabric cut two, 2" x 9-1/2" strips and two, 2" x 30 -1/2" strips.

2. To attach the inner border, sew the 9-1/2-inch long dark red print border strips to the short edges of the runner center (figure B). Press seam allowances toward the border.

3. Sew the 30-1/2-inch long border strips to the long edges of the runner center. Press seam allowances toward the border.

1. From the red check fabric cut one, 3-1/2" x 44" strip. From this strip, cut 12, 3-1/2-inch squares.

2. From the dark green print fabric cut two, 2" x 44" strips. From these strips, cut 24, two-inch squares.

4. Cut two, 1-1/4" x 44" strips. From these strips, cut 48, 1-1/4-inch squares.

Piecing the Apple Blocks

1. With right sides together position a two-inch dark green square on the corner of a 2" x 3-1/2" beige piece, Stitch diagonally from corner to corner on the green square (figure C). Trim away excess fabric, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance (figure D). Press seam allowances toward the dark green fabric. Repeat for the opposite corner. Repeat to make a total of twelve leaf units.

2. With right sides together position four, 1-1/4-inch beige squares at each corner of a 3-1/2-inch red check square.

3. Stitch diagonally from corner to corner. Trim away the excess fabric from each corner, leaving 1/4-inch seam allowances. Press seam allowances toward the red fabric. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each of the 12 apple units.

4. Sew a leaf unit to the top of each apple unit (figure E). Sew a 2" x 3-1/2" beige piece to the bottom of each apple unit. Press seam allowances toward the apples. At this point each apple block should measure 3-1/2" x 6-1/2".