Since I have a little more time these days, I have been able to focus a bit more attention on my craft projects. I have been meaning to make myself a twisted pole table runner for a couple of years now. A couple of years ago, I made this one as a Christmas gift, and loved how it turned out. I had an Autumn Air charm pack in my stash, as well as a Bella Solids charm pack in natural, that I thought would make a nice Autumn themed table runner.
To start off, I created my twisted pole pattern in my quilt software with the fabric I was using. This helped me decide which charm squares to use, and the order I wanted to put them in.
I needed 36 squares, 24 squares from the Autumn Air charm pack, and 12 Bella Solid squares. Since I only needed 24 squares from the Autumn Air charm pack, I tried to pick out 9 squares that were more green, and 9 squares that were dark orange/brown. These green and orange/brown squares provide the twisted part of the table runner. I also pulled 6 cream printed squares from the Autumn Air pack to be the pole in the centre of the twist. The 12 Bella solid squares surround the twisted pole on the outside.
This table runner is made with half square triangles. To simply make half square triangles, place two squares right side together, and draw a centre line diagonally. After marking the centre line, sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the centre line. To make it even easier, the 1/4" stitch lines can also be drawn.
With the squares sewn together, I cut them in half diagonally down the centre between the 1/4" seams. Once cut, open the triangles and press the seams. I like to press my seams open. In the end, there should be 36 squares that are half solid or cream print and half darker print.
I laid out my half square triangles into the twisted pole table runner layout on my quilt wall. Laying out the fabric on my quilt wall helped me visualize what fabric to use for the border and backing. The decision was between doing solid or print, and whether the colour should be green, burnt orange or a brown. In the end I decided on a dark solid green for both the border and the backing.
For my quilting, I simply marked lines along the seams with my seam ruler and chalk marker. I opted to quilt around each of the overall shapes of the pattern, instead of each individual fabric piece. This created a geometric pattern, which I think looks kind of cool on the back. While this isn't my cleanest quilting back, I'm fine with it's imperfection. Since it is going to be on my dining table, no one is really going to be looking at the back anyway.
To quilt the darker green and orange print fabric, I used a green thread, which stands out on some of the orange fabrics, but blends into the green print. For the light print fabric in the centres, and the natural solid fabric around the outside, I used a natural coloured thread.
When I finished the quilting, I bound the table runner with the same solid green fabric I used for the border and backing.
I am happy I finally made this table runner. I love how it turned out, and can't wait to put it on my dining table in the fall. Since I feel like I keep making table runners, I wonder what table runner I should make next.