How To Make A Quilted Fall Table Runner

My mom has a quilted table runner for pretty much every holiday and as a kid I always looked forward to seeing them pulled out each season. I wanted to carry on the tradition starting with my own Fall themed table runner. This is a free table runner pattern and a great beginner quilting project! This table runner pattern also makes a great charm pack project since I used just one 5″ 40 piece charm pack (plus a small amount of fabric for the backing and binding.)

Look how cute it looks with my knit pumpkins and diy fabric pumpkins arranged on top!

This table runner pattern is made up of just Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs), a really versatile quilting block, and squares. The fabric can easily be switched out for something different or it also makes a great stash busting project. If you look closely you can sort of see a pattern fading in and out throughout the table runner.

This combination of QSTs and squares is also the building blocks for making an Ohio Star quilt block – you would just switch up the colors in the QSTs and add a uniform background color to form the star pattern (see example below).

Some Things You’ll Need

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• A 5″ Charm Pack or 40 5″ squares in your chosen fabric
• 3/4 yard backing fabric
• 1/4 yard binding fabric
• Fabric Scissors
• Rotary blade
• Cutting mat
• Quilting ruler – I use this 12″x24″ ruler for squaring up the fabric and a square quilting ruler when making the Quarter Square Triangles
• Fabric marking tool – I like using a Frixion pen which erases when ironed
• Coordinating thread
• Pins – These patchwork pins are really nice for piecing.
• Batting – About a 48″ x 13″ piece
• Basting pins (optional) – curved safety pins are great for pin basting the layers together.
• Walking foot (optional)

Before You Get Started

I made the table runner in my example with just one 42 piece 5″ charm pack and used what fabric came in the pack. The Awe of Autumn charm pack (shown above) is perfect for this and I loved pretty much all the prints included. You can find precut squares, or charm packs, at places like Connecting Threads, Fat Quarter Shop or your local quilting store. If you want more control of the patterns and colors, you could use two charm packs or cut out squares from fabric in your stash.

The finished dimensions of the table runner is 11″ x 46″ (28 x 116.8 cm). If you want it wider or longer, you could add a border around the outside or add squares to the end. To shorten it, simply take out a few rows!

For the design shown in my example, I made 19 Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs) trimmed down to 4″ and cut out 20 4″ squares. You can also switch up the design and start with QSTs in the corners but then you would need 20 QSTs and 19 squares.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Make The Quarter Square Triangles

Pick out 20 squares to use for your Quarter Square Triangles, or QSTs, and pair them up into 10 pairs.

Note: You will end up with one leftover QST since this method makes two at a time. The other squares, if using a charm pack, will be used for the solid squares in between the QSTs.

Once you have your squares paired up, make the QSTs. Head over to my tutorial How to Make Quarter Square Triangles if you’ve never made them before. I like to use Method 2 so that I can mix and match the patterns within each QST (with Method 1, you end up with two of the same QST). See photo below.

Here’s a quick video of me cutting out QSTs for this project:

Step 2: Cut Out Squares

Next up is to cut out 20, 4″ squares. If you’re using a charm pack you can simply cut the 5″ square down to 4″ like shown below.

If you need some extra guidance on this step, head over to my tutorial How To Cut Out Squares For Quilting.

Step 3: The Design

After all the QSTs are made and the squares are cut out, it’s time to decide on the design and placement!

I first laid out the pattern shown below, starting with QSTs in each corner at the top (first photo), but decided to start with solid squares in the corners instead (last photo). Tip: Take a picture of your final design to refer to if things get out of order during sewing.

Note: If you decide to start with QSTs in the corners, you will need 20 QSTs and 19 squares.

Step 4: Sew Squares Together

Start by sewing the squares together with a 1/4″ seam allowance in rows first. Press the seams either open or to the side, and then sew the rows together.

If you need more detailed guidance for this step, head over to my tutorial How to Sew Squares Together For Quilting.

Step 5: Cut Out Backing Fabric

Prepare your backing fabric by pressing out any wrinkles so it’s laying nice and flat.

Since my backing fabric wasn’t quite wide enough to cut one piece, I cut and sewed two pieces together. To do this, I laid out the table runner on the backing fabric and lined it up straight using the selvage edge as a guide. Cut around, leaving about 1″ to 1 1/2″ space all around.

I then used that backing piece as a template to cut out the second piece.

Square up the short ends of the backing fabric pieces so you have a nice straight edge to work with. Sew the two pieces right sides together with 1/4″ seam allowance and press the seam open.

Then lay out the backing fabric again with the table runner topper on top. I lined up the center back seam with the middle of the table runner. Cut off the extra fabric at the short ends, again leaving 1″ to 1 1/2″ at the ends.

Step 6: Cut Out Batting

Cut out the batting the same size as the backing fabric by laying it on top to use as a template. Smoothe out the batting so there are no wrinkles or bumps and then cut around.

Step 7: Make A Quilt Sandwich

Time to make the quilt sandwich! This is the same way you would make a quilt, just on a much smaller scale.

Lay the backing fabric down first, with the wrong side facing up.
Place the batting down next, making sure everything is nice and smooth.
The table runner top is last with the right side facing up.

Step 8: Quilt The Layers Together

Next up is to secure all those layers by quilting them together. Place a few basting pins to hold everything together making sure all the layers are smooth. I usually use my curved safety pins (aka basting pins) so I don’t poke myself while sewing, but I forgot that they were already being used on a quilt. 🙂

Choose what color thread you want to use for your quilting and where you want to quilt the lines. I went with yellow thread for the top and the reddish orange color for the bobbin to match the backing fabric.

The thread spools shown below are Connecting Threads Essential thread (affiliate link) in the colors Lemon Chiffon and Bronze.

For my quilting lines I decided to quilt diagonal lines to make the center squares a focal point and then quilted straight lines running horizontally and vertically across the table runner. I like to use a walking foot here to help eliminate any puckers while sewing.

I usually stitch around the entire edge as well with a scant 1/4″ seam allowance to keep everything together while sewing the binding on.

Step 9: Cut And Sew Binding Strips

Once the quilting is all done, it’s time to prepare the binding! This is the same method I use when making quilts and my How To Bind A Quilt tutorial goes into more detail.

You first need to start by figuring out how much binding you need to go around the perimeter. I’ve already done the math for you though and you’ll need 3 strips cut at 2.5″ wide and the length of the width of fabric (44″).

Start by folding the binding fabric in half so the selvage edges are lined up. Cut off the raw edge to get a straight edge. Then cut out your 2.5″ binding strips. Remember to cut off the selvage edges before the next step.

Note: If you’ve made your table runner bigger or smaller than my example, you’ll need more or less binding than what is stated.

Sew the short ends of the binding strips right sides together to make one long strip. Press the seams open. Then press the strip in half wrong sides together.

Sew the binding strip to the table runner with the raw edges lined up at 1/4″ seam allowance. I like to start on one of the long sides, making sure to leave a long tail at the beginning and end. This will help you when you need to sew the ends together later.

For help on the corners, head over to my How To Bind A Quilt tutorial.

There are a couple of ways to sew the ends of the binding together and I show my preferred way in my video tutorial below (starting at 24:10).

After the binding is all sewn on, I like to press the binding away from the top to get a nice flat seam and make it easier to fold over to the wrong side.

I like to hand stitch my bindings and again, my How To Bind A Quilt tutorial goes through this step by step.

Give everything a final press and that’s it – your lovely fall table runner is done!

Thanks so much for following along and I would love to hear if you try making this table runner!

Happy sewing!