Today I invite you to sew with me.
In October, I designed and made a table topper for the
Island Batik Ambassador Pumpkin Fest.
Some readers expressed an interest in how it was made, asking if there was a pattern. In October, I created it as I sewed. Today I am giving you the details on how I made it, with measurements, steps and photos. I am sharing it with
everyone as a Christmas table topper. I named it
Seasonal Pathways.
It is a simple, straight-forward pattern. Scraps can be used, or strips cut from yardage. In fact, in today's share, I cut some strips from a striped Christmas fabric. (Change out the fabrics for a different season.) All the fabrics I used have some shiny gold in them.
Let's start!
- Round up 12 pieces of fabric that work well together. Cut 12 strips 1-1/2" x 12-1/2" and 24 strips 1-1/2" x 6-1/2".
- Cut 2 squares (6-1/2" x 6-1/2") of fabric for two opposite corners that will stand out from all the strips. (My corners read as a solid with some gold.)
- Cut 2 binding strips 2-1/2" x WOF.
- You will need basic sewing supplies, including a rotary cutter, ruler (6" x 24" is good), maybe a 12-1/2" squaring ruler or a mat with graph lines.
- Thread that blends with your fabrics for sewing.
- Thread for quilting.
- Batting piece (scrap will work) 14" x 26"
- Backing fabric (14" x 26")
- A design to fuse to the 2 corner squares OR an embroidery design (machine or hand).
- Fusible for the design.
If you are using an embroidery design, embroider on a larger piece of corner fabric (to account for any pulling in with embroidery) and trim down to 6-1/2" square size.
The fabrics are cut, so on to sewing:
Arrange the 12 long strips in a pleasing plan.
Sew the long edges of the strips together.
You can press after each seam; but, I have
The Strip Stick which allows me to press one seam at a time and not interfere with any other seams. I get no curving or distortion when pressing the seams. (I have no affiliation with the company.) Press the seams in one direction.
Lay out 6 shorter strips as shown below. In each set, I did not want the short gold strip adjacent to the long gold strip on the left, or the greens touching on the right side. I arranged them that way first and the joint stuck out like a sore thumb! I put green next to gold on each side.
Sew. Repeat for the second set. Press.
Sew the 6-1/2" squares to each 6 strip set as in photo below.
I added a fused embellishment, but I could have used a fussy cut square of fabric and made a little less work for myself. I used a soft gold rayon embroidery thread and a tiny zig-zag stitch around the flower.
Layer backing, batting and top. Stitch on the side of the seam, opposite the pressed seam, starting in the center block. I went down one seam, turned the piece and stitched through the next seam, toward one end of the topper.
Sew the shorter strips, starting at the edge, pivot where the strip joins the center, stitch along the center seam.
Turn the piece and sew back toward the edge. Continue along all strips. Repeat for the other side.
I did not quilt in the corner sections, but one could.
Trim so the topper edges are straight. Add binding.
If one sews the center section and one side, a placemat could be made for the table.
I hope you like the pattern and make a table topper.
