In the 10-plus years
I’ve been quilting, I have made a total of three table runners. On one hand, I have limited places in my house I’d display a runner. My children (and/or dogs) may do bad things to a table runner (there was an applesauce incident on the kitchen table just this past week!). And putting covers on my pretty table tops doesn’t seem really “me.”
On the other, if I made more runners, I would have more-frequent finishes, and wouldn’t that be nice?
When designing my Ornament Collection pattern (releasing next Tuesday, November 19), I added a runner option. The sample I’ve made so far is the throw, and it’s a generously sized throw at that. But I figured that some people might want a smaller, faster finish. What I didn’t consider until Anne (@batiksbythebay) mentioned it to me on Instagram is that people who live in the southern hemisphere celebrate Christmas in the summer. They have little need for a Christmas-themed throw. Of course! Why didn’t I consider that? Needless to say, all future Christmas designs from me will include the option of a smaller finish for that very reason.
 |
| Me with a freshly longarmed Ornament Collection. Picture and quilting by Ophelia Chang. |
Because I am a runner newbie, however, I had to ask Anne how she would orient the ornaments in a runner.
Should they all be right side up (as I would prefer on a runner displayed on a console placed against a wall)?
Or should the baubles be upside down (as I would prefer on a runner displayed on a kitchen island)?
Anne said both, and that’s what I’ll do. : )
So, what other runners have I made up to this point?
There was the runner I made for the sideboard in my dining room (and still resides there).
There was the runner I made from Modern Plus Sign Quilts and gifted to a friend.
And then there was the runner I made from a free pattern on Moda Bake Shop and gifted to another friend.
You knew this was coming ... I am soliciting any and all thoughts on quilted runners. Do you sew them? Do you display them? What are your thoughts on the issue of orientation? Thank you in advance!
Follow Me On ...
The pageant rules are simple:
- Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
- Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
- Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.
When we moved into our new house I was gifted a table runner kit that I actually made! I would not have selected this kit, it was very labor intensive, but it was fun to actually have a fall runner I could lay on the old blanket chest this autumn.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could alternate the direction of the ornaments so two sides would be the 'right' side. Happy stitching!
As you might know I make mostly runners!! I mainly do ones that objects going both up and down as I would use them on a dining table. But you have a point if it is displayed on a side board or such up against a wall it would be nice to orient the designs in one direction...options!
ReplyDeleteWhile I have made a few, I only have one table runner on hand as well. I really like the idea of showing multiple orientation options for the ornaments!
ReplyDeleteI've been making more table runners in recent years. It's the perfect use of leftover blocks (see my current blog post!), scraps from a quilt, or charm squares. I store them on 2 small quilt ladders--they're really railings turned table runner ladders! I'm planning on giving some neutral colored ones for Christmas gifts.
ReplyDeleteTable runners and toppers are my favorite projects and I have quite a pile of them in my closet that I use and change out for the seasons and holidays all through the house. Anyone walking into my home would know I am a quilter! I haven't made many full-size quilts mainly because I find it difficult to quilt them on my domestic machine and I am too timid to search out a long-armer to quilt large ones for me. (I do have some ready to go when my courage fills up!) It seems everyone enjoys receiving a table runner or topper as gifts and I can customize them to fit their decor and style.
ReplyDeleteI've hardly ever made any. One or 2 for Christmas I think and that's it.
ReplyDelete