My first pattern...AKA Countdown to Christmas Tablerunner

Here's my very first pattern. I love all things Sweetwater including Countdown to Christmas. You can get some Countdown to Christmas at The Fat Quarter Shop.

Here's the PDF version.

Countdown to Christmas Table Runner

Fabric:

¼ yard Green                                                  16”x40” piece of batting

¼ yard Black                                                    16”x40” piece for backing     
½ yard Red
½ yard White

Note - this can also be made scrappy as long as you get the same number of squares cut.

Strips are always cut width of fabric (WOF)

HST = Half Square Triangle

Cut (the other pieces will be cut according to the technique you use for your HSTs)
12 green 3 ½” squares
24 green 2” squares

You will need to make 8 black/white HSTs

You will need to make 28 red/white HSTs

Note – If you are using a HST ruler make sure you read the how to directions first.

Here’s 2 different ways to make the HST’s.
Using a HST ruler:

( see this tutorial http://craizeecorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/using-half-square-triangle-ruler.html for more info)

Cut

2 - 3 ½” strips of red
3 - 3½” strips of white
1 - 3½” strips of black.

Place a white and a black strip right sides together. Starting with the ruler facing

this direction (like a right triangle) cut your first set of triangles. Usually it’s the direction that has the writing right side up so you can read it.

Flip the ruler and cut the second set of triangles. Continue until you have 8 black/white triangle sets and 28 red/white triangle sets cut.

Starting with the part of the triangle set with the flat tab, line your needle up with the left corner of the tab and sew using a ¼” seam allowance to the bottom of the triangle.

Make 8 black/white and 28 red/white HSTs

** See the pressing directions before pressing.

Traditional HSTs:

Cut
2 - 3 7/8” white strips, sub cut into 14 - 3 7/8” squares
2 - 3 7/8” red strips, sub cut into 18 - 3 7/8” squares
1 - 3 7/8” black strip sub cut into 4 - 3 7/8” squares

Put a black and a white square, right sides together.

Draw a diagonal line on the white square from point to point.
Sew using a ¼” seam on both sides of the drawn line.
Using a rotary cutter, cut along the diagonal line to make 2 HSTs. Trim to 3 ½”.

Make 8 black/white HSTs and 28 red/white HSTs.

Pressing: Very important

Press half the black/white HSTs towards the white and half towards the black.

Press half the red/white HSTs towards the red and half towards the white.

Adding the Connectors:

On all 8 black/white blocks and 16 red/white blocks (8 pressed towards the red and 8 pressed to the white)  you will be adding a 2” green connector to the white half of the HST block.

See this tutorial http://craizeecorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/corner-triangles-aka-connectorsa.html for an easy no-draw way to attach connector squares

OR you can do it the traditional way of drawing a diagonal line on the 2” squares and sew along that line.

I suggest only cutting the middle piece (the unused part of the connector) and not the bottom 2 layers, that will keep the integrity of the square and make piecing easier.

Putting the table runner together:

You will have 4 different squares at this point.

A – 12 - 3 ½” green squares
B – 12 - 3 ½” red/white HSTs with no connectors
C – 8 - 3 ½” black/white HSTs with green connectors
D – 16 - 3 ½” red/white HSTs with green connectors

Layout the blocks following the diagram below. Starting with the top left Block B alternate the direction the blocks were pressed. This will make matching the points easier. Make each star block and put them together.  To make sure the points match nestle the seams together on the diagonal when you are sewing the blocks together. The points will meet at one point.

Baste, Quilt and Bind as you normally would.

There you have it...a table runner that can be made for any season. Instead of the 4 A blocks put together you can fussy cut a 6 ½" square to go there.