Growing up, I always loved seeing the table set in style for the holidays. The magic of a beautifully decorated table wasn’t just about the delicious meal – it was about creating a space where family and friends could gather, laugh, and celebrate.
The combination of colors, patterns, and personal touches makes a table setting truly memorable. Inspired by these festive gatherings, the Table Tinsel runner and placemats are the perfect way to bring that holiday warmth to your table, blending simple, elegant blocks with a playful use of rickrack and a touch of sparkle.
With an intricate yet manageable tree motif and whimsical borders, this project lets you create a charming centerpiece for your holiday gatherings. Designed by Chloe Anderson and Colleen Reale and expertly quilted by Linda Leathersich, this piece brings holiday cheer and an element of crafted elegance to any table setting.
Designing with Rickrack: A Playful Touch for Holiday Charm
Rickrack is not only decorative but gives the Table Tinsel project a sense of movement and a nostalgic touch reminiscent of classic holiday decorations. By strategically stitching this trim along the tree sections, you’ll achieve a delightful, dynamic effect that’s surprisingly simple to execute. Adding a few star buttons or appliqué stars provides an extra layer of festive detail, transforming this runner into a piece you’ll cherish season after season.
Materials for the Table Tinsel Runner and Placemats
To bring this project to life, gather the following materials:
- For Runner (22″ x 54″):
- ¾ yard of striped fabric (for binding and tree components)
- ¾ yard of cream print (background)
- ⅝ yard of red print
- ⅛ yard brown print for tree trunks
- ⅝ yard green print for trees
- 1⅝ yards of ½”-wide white rickrack
- 1⅝ yards backing fabric
- Two 2-inch star buttons or a 4-inch fabric square (for optional appliqué stars)
- Crib-size quilt batting
- Paper-backed fusible web (optional, for appliqué)
- Optional Tools: Fons & Porter Quarter Inch Seam Marker, template material
- For 2 Placemats (22½” x 13″):
- ⅜ yard of striped fabric
- ½ yard of cream print
- 1 fat quarter of red print
- 1 fat quarter of green print
- ¾ yard backing fabric
- Craft-size quilt batting
Preparing for the Project: Cutting and Organizing
Begin by preparing your fabrics and cutting the pieces according to the guidelines below. Take your time with the cutting process; accurate cuts will make the piecing much easier and ensure your quilt has the clean, crisp look intended.
Cutting Guide:
From each fabric, cut the following shapes, keeping seam allowances in mind:
- Striped Fabric:
- Five 2¼”-wide strips (for binding)
- Cut shapes A, B, and C according to the templates.
- Cream Print:
- 9½”-wide strip (cut one 9½” K square and four 5″ x 4″ H rectangles)
- 5¾”-wide strip (cut six 5¾” I squares; if not using the seam marker, cut each into four quarter-square triangles)
- Cut templates D, E, and F (with mirrored pieces for each)
- Red and Green Prints:
- 5¾”-wide strip (cut into 5¾” squares; if not using the seam marker, cut each square into four quarter-square triangles)
- Additional 5⅜”-wide strip (cut two squares each, then halve to make J triangles)
- Brown Print:
- 2½”-wide strip (cut two G rectangles)
Step-by-Step Instructions: Creating the Table Tinsel Runner and Placemats
With your materials prepped and organized, it’s time to start assembling the blocks, adding charming details with rickrack, and putting together the festive tree motifs. Follow these steps for a smooth assembly process.
Full Pattern: Click Here
1. Assemble the Tree Blocks
Each runner will feature two tree blocks, composed of three sections: bottom, middle, and top.
- Bottom Section: Sew a piece of rickrack diagonally across each striped piece A. Then, attach a cream D piece and its reversed counterpart to each A stripe piece, creating two bottom sections with a diagonal rickrack accent.
- Middle Section: Repeat the rickrack and assembly steps using striped piece B, cream E, and E reversed. Make two middle sections.
- Top Section: Sew rickrack along each C piece and join to the cream F and F reversed pieces. Make two top sections.
2. Create the Tree Trunks
For the trunks, join one brown print G rectangle with two cream print H rectangles to create a Trunk Section. Make two trunk sections and set aside.
3. Assemble Each Tree Block
To assemble the full tree, lay out each section in this order from bottom to top: Trunk Section, Bottom Section, Middle Section, and Top Section.
- Stitch the Sections Together: Attach each section carefully, keeping the loose ends of the rickrack free. Position the rickrack along the tree shape as desired, tucking the ends into the seams as needed.
- Secure Rickrack Ends: To ensure a clean look, release a few stitches at the top section’s seam, tuck the loose rickrack end, and re-sew the seam to hold it in place. Repeat for both tree blocks.
4. Assemble the Runner Center
With the two tree blocks ready, it’s time to complete the runner center.
- Join Tree Blocks: Position the two tree blocks with a cream K square between them. Sew the blocks and the K square together to form the center of your table runner.
5. Assemble and Attach the Hourglass Borders
The hourglass borders add a lively contrast around the runner’s trees, bringing in the red, green, and cream prints.
- Create Hourglass Units: Using red, green, and cream I triangles, follow the “Quick Hourglass Units” instructions from the Sew Easy guide. Create a total of 24 hourglass units.
- Assemble Borders: Join the hourglass units into two long side borders (10 units each). For the top and bottom, join two hourglass units with a triangle-square on each end, forming shorter borders.
- Attach Borders: Add the side borders first, followed by the top and bottom borders to complete the runner’s central design.
6. Attach Outer Borders
For a neat, finished look, add green print outer borders.
- Prepare Border Strips: Join the green print strips to match the length of each runner side.
- Attach Borders: Sew the side borders first, then the top and bottom borders to complete the runner’s top.
7. Layer, Quilt, and Bind
With your runner top finished, it’s time to assemble, quilt, and bind.
- Layer Your Quilt Sandwich: Place your backing fabric right side down, then your batting, and finally the runner top, right side up. Baste the layers.
- Quilt as Desired: Choose a festive quilting design – curlicues, snowflakes, or holly motifs add seasonal charm.
- Binding: Use the striped fabric strips to create a continuous binding. Attach binding to the runner edges, folding to create a clean finish.
Instructions for Matching Placemats
- Create Placemat Center Panels: Begin with two cream print rectangles for each placemat as the central background.
- Assemble Hourglass Units: Follow the same process as with the runner, but make 12 hourglass units total.
- Attach Borders: Add three hourglass units as side inner borders for each placemat, following with green side outer borders.
- Layer and Quilt: Layer each placemat with batting and backing, then quilt using a holiday motif.
- Finish with Binding: Bind the placemats using the striped fabric strips as with the runner.
Additional Tips for a Beautiful Finish
- Consider Fusible Web for Appliqué: If adding fabric stars, fusible web makes positioning and securing them easier.
- Use a Quarter Inch Seam Marker: This tool simplifies precision marking, especially on hourglass and triangle-squares, resulting in crisp, accurate pieces.
- Experiment with Quilting Patterns: Quilting with festive motifs like snowflakes or holly can enhance the holiday vibe of your runner and placemats.
By creating the Table Tinsel runner and matching placemats, you’ve crafted more than just decorations – you’ve made a gathering place feel special and welcoming. With each stitch, you add to the joy and warmth of the holiday table, making memories that will be treasured by all who gather around. This festive project isn’t just about quilting but celebrating and sharing the spirit of the season through the art of handmade elegance.