How’s a big stack of gifts for some holiday cheer!? 🙂 I’ve been putting off making holiday projects because, well, life has been so busy. You know how it can get. But before I knew it, Halloween had already passed and it’s already mid-November! Yikes! How did that happen? I decided to make time this weekend and put together this quick and fun project to share with you all. It’s doable, even with a busy schedule!
I just love an excuse to buy candies, for “staging purposes.” 😉
The sun came out in Seattle during my table runner photo shoot, so I felt obligated to take a photo of every single possible angle. ;-p
The fabrics I used are Flower Sugar Holiday by Lecien Fabrics – I love the vibrant colors!
This tutorial makes a ~59″ long table runner. If you want it longer or shorter, simply add or subtract some gift blocks to customize the size.
Tip! For a fun alternative (and an even faster finish!), skip sewing in the ribbons as a part of your block, and instead pick out some real ribbons and top stitch them onto the tops of your gift blocks.
I hope you enjoy the project!
Materials for a ~59″ long table runner:
- 5 fat quarters for the top (this will be the gifts)
- 1/4 yard for ribbon (or buy real ribbon and sew it on the top)
- 1 yard backing and batting
- coordinating thread
Step 1 – Cut two 9.5″ x 12.5″ rectangles from one fat quarter. Cut each rectangle in half as shown below. From your ribbon fabric, cut a 2″ strip along the WOF. Then trim the strip to be 2″ x 9.5″. Sew the ribbon strip in between the two halves previously cut.
Step 2 – Then, cut it in half again as shown below, but this time along the length. Sew in another 2″ strip between the halves.
Step 3 – Make 2 more gifts, except the ribbon on these next two will be slightly to the left. To do this, cut two more 9.5″ x 12.5″ rectangles from one fat quarter. Cut each rectangle at the 4.5″ mark as shown below. From your ribbon fabric, cut a 2″ strip along the WOF. Then trim the strip to be 2″ x 9.5″. Sew the ribbon strip in between the two pieces previously cut. Lastly, repeat step 2 to add the cross ribbon.
Step 4 – Next, make 3 smaller gifts: From your remaining fat quarters, cut three 8″ x 10.5″ rectangles. From your ribbon fabric, but 1.5″ strips along the WOF. Cut and add a ribbon strip as shown below.
Step 5 – You should now have a set of 7 gifts. Sew them together as shown below.
Step 6 – Baste the top onto a long piece of batting and quilt the entire top.
This smaller project is a great way to practice free-motion quilting. I always stick to quilting loopy-loops because it’s easy and fun. 
Step 7 – finish it! Cut and sew your backing fabric so that it’s approximately 14″ x 60″ long. With right sides facing together, pin the quilted top to the backing fabric all around the edges. Sew a 1/4″ stitch along the perimeter, but be sure to leave an opening about 6-7″ wide along the side of one of the gifts and away from corners, as shown below by the heart pins. Start and end your stitch with a back-stitch.
Then, trim all the excess backing fabric off.
Trim the excess fabric off the corners too. 
Turn right side out through the 6-7″ opening. Make sure to poke the corners out using your fingers. Iron flat using the steam setting. To close the 6-7″ opening, simply iron the opening 1/4″ inwards to match the seam, and then use fabric glue or steam-a-seam to glue it closed. A quick and clean alternative to binding home decor projects 🙂
Step 8 – Add bows. To make these bows, I cut a 4″ x 20″ strip. With right sides facing together, I ironed it in half along the length (the 20″ side), and then sewed a 1/4″ seam allowance down the length and bottom to close it. Turn right side out and iron flat. Use fabric glue to close the other end. Then, I simply tied a bow and then top-stitched it to the runner with two parallel stitches right in the center of the bow’s knot to secure it. Be sure to use a canvas or denim/jean needle when attaching the bow. A stronger needle makes it easier to attach the bow since the bow’s knot is so thick. Alternatively, you can buy ribbon and attach that instead of making your own. I made 3 bows for this runner.
That’s it! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving in the weeks ahead!
xoxo
-jera
So cute Hers, thanks for the tutorial! BTW, I still have your QAYG Made Modern on my sewing table every day.
^Jera^ stupid spell check!
Aww, thank you so much for your kind comment!! and happy to hear QAYG Made Modern is still bringing creativity! Take care! xoxo 🙂
So pretty, thank you for the tutorial! Will be starting one tonight!
Love this – so cute and unique!
I love this table runner! I will add it to my future projects short list ?I’ve now made a couple of items from your book and truly love the technique! Thanks again for the tutorial!
I love this – thanks so much for sharing it!
adorable. I love it. Thank you for sharing this, a great idea for any season and pile of fabrics.
How do you make the cute bows?
I LOVE this! I want to drop everything I’m doing and make this right now…
Oh my! I have just now come across your blog! I am enamored with it . . . just want to take it all in at once, but there is just so much beauty which makes it impossible! Your fabrics are beautiful! I must get some ASAP. It’s a gray, chilly day here in Pittsburgh, so maybe I can carve out some time this afternoon to curl up with your blog to catch up, take in, and enjoy the beauty and inspiration. I am instantly a follower of Quilting in the Rain. Blessings to you!
Wow, really like this runner. Cute idea.
Hi Jera, I love this! I am going to give it a shot! I am curious, do you have a picture of the back? Did you “quilt” the front and back at all?
Thanks, Bobbi
thanks so much for sharing this! I have been looking to make a holiday runner for my mom to hang on the door of her apartment in assisted living … this would be perfect … signed a Hood Canal, WA quilter 😉
love love this, how creative!
Hi! I love so many things on your blog – your crochet quilt has stolen my heart! This table runner is the perfect Christmas gift (next year!) and I just ordered you quilt as you go book, can’t wait to get my hands on it. I belong a small quilt group (12 of us) and we meet in the East side of Seattle, would you ever consider doing a trunk show at one of our meetings??? We are older but still willing to learn and would so appreciate seeing your quilts in person! Thanks!!!
Hi Nan – thank you so much for your kind, warm words. Really brought a smile to my face. 🙂 I am flattered that you’d like me to visit your group. Thank you for asking! Unfortunately right now i’m spread quite thin with work, so I can’t plan to do a trunk show anytime soon. I am planning to visit the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild towards the end of the year when my second book is released. I’ll for sure make an announcement on my blog when the time comes. Perhaps then you and your group could pop in then? I would love to meet you all. Thank you so much for your interest and reading my blog…comments like yours keep me posting. 🙂 Take care, hugs from the west side ;-p
I’m needing a tv table cover for Christmas. It’s about 30×24 rectangle. I’m wondering if I can modify with over hang.
You show the front quilted , but then you show the back piece also with batting quilted to it. I’m confused. Did you add batting to the front & the backing & quilt both then add them together? It’s beautiful. Would love to try it.
Thank you for one of my best Christmas presents, this tutorial was just what I was looking for to make as a last minute gift. Your directions were easy to follow and this sewed up quickly. After the holidays I’m planning on making another one using floral print to use as a Birthday table runner..Happy Holidays
Love this thank you!
Oh I think my daughters would love one of these! I have an idea to either velcro the bow to the table runner or use some kind of snap, so it can be removed for washing. Thanks for sharing!