Tuesday Tutorial - Rag Quilted Christmas Table Runner

Today's tutorial is for a rag quilted table runner.    I used Christmas fabrics for this one but you could use whatever fabric prints you would like and make several for the different holidays.   I used three larger blocks in the center making it easier to set bowls or centerpieces on them.

Supplies

1 1/2 yds fabric for backing
1 1/2 yds warm n' natural batting
1/8 yds cuts of 7 different fabrics
1/3 yd fabric for large blocks
matching thread

Cut Out

From Fabric
Cut 3--10 inch blocks from backing fabric
Cut 28-- 5 1/2 inch blocks from backing fabric
Cut 3-- 10 inch blocks from print of your choice for center of quilt
Cut 4-- 5 1/2 inch blocks from 7 different fabric prints

From warn n' natural batting
Cut 28---4 3/4 inch blocks
Cut 3-- 9 1/2 inch blocks

Sandwich each block with a backing, wrong side up,  batting centered on top of this and then your main fabric on top of the batting,  right side up.

   Pin together.    Sew an X in each block from corner to corner.  Yellow lines indicate stitching lines.

After you have all your blocks stitched, lay them out the way you want them to be sewn together.  This is the left section on the table runner.    There are two small squares on each side of the 10 inch square and four squares across the top and bottom.

Next you will need to sew the small squares together.    The easiest way to keep from mixing your pattern up is to take up two at a time and sew them together and put them back.    The two squares on the side of the large block are sewn on the bottom and top edges.
With the back sides together and the fronts facing out,  sew together in a 1/2 inch seam.

I like to clip my seams for fringe as I sew them.   I cut a small clip from each side of the seam to eliminate bulk when the runner is sewn all together.   Then clip the seam in 1/4 inch increments.   Be very careful not to clip into your seam as you do this.

After you have the two side blocks sewn together,  sew the four top and bottom squares together.
Your block will look like this.    Sew the two blocks to each side of the middle square.   Then sew the top and bottom strips of four blocks to the top and bottom of this piece.    This is the first finished section.

Next sew the middle section of blocks.   There are just two blocks on the top and bottom of the middle block to sew together.   Then sew the blocks to the top and bottom of the middle block.

Sew the center section to the first section.

Then sew the last section the same way you sewed the first section.

Once this is sewn together you will sew it to the other side of the middle section.   

The last thing you need to do is to sew all around the outside edge in a 1/2 inch seam.   Clip the seam for fringe and you are done sewing.    I usually just spray all the clipped seams with water and throw it in the dryer to curl the fringe.

 If you are new to rag quilting you might want to read through my earlier post on the introduction  to rag quilting.
http://byyourhands.blogspot.com/2010/07/tuesday-tutorial-introduction-to-rag.html

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you enjoy making one of these for yourself.
Bette

How to Organize Gift Wrap & Seasonal Decorations

I found this video very helpful wanted to share with all of you.  She explains how to organize our gift wrapping supplies and seasonal decorations. I hope you'll find it as helpful as I did.

Thank you for joining us!

Deena Davis

www.byyourhands.blogspot.com

Blog Party Sunday ------ Show Us What You Have For Sale

Only a few more weeks of Christmas selling time.   Show us what you have for sale for the last minute rush.

The rules are simple:

1. Follow our blog

2. Handmade items only.

3. You may list up to 3 items.

4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.

Just click on the Add Your Link button at the end of this post and add your items.

And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg" /></a>

Time Saver Recipes -- Pressure Cooking

Today I thought I would share a new kitchen tool I recently purchased.    It is a digital pressure cooker.

I have always been afraid to use one because I have heard tales of them exploding.  lol   But after seeing this one demonstrated on the Home Shopping Network I decided to give it a try.  
Mostly I was looking for a way to cook beans without it taking all day.    To my surprise the electric pressure cookers are very easy to use.
And my first trial,   I cooked one cup of dry beans in two cups of water.   And in 6 minutes I had 3 cups of beans perfectly cooked!
Next I decided to try making stew.  
I browned some stew meat.   Tossed it in the inner pot with onions, potatoes, frozen carrots and peas,  some chicken broth (I was out of beef broth), 2 cups of water and seasonings.    It took 20 minutes to cook.    The meat comes out so tender it practically melts in your mouth and the vegetables are perfectly cooked.

I am totally sold on this time saver tool.   Clean up is very easy,  too.   There are a lot of brands of digital pressure cookers out there and they can be pretty expensive.   I was very lucky to be able to get a Wolfgang Puck refurbished one from PremierAppliance.com  for $40 including shipping.    

I am looking forward to lots of time saving cooking with this fun appliance.

Welcome To My Studio --- Bette's Tomorrows Treasures

Today I thought I would take you for a tour through my studio so you can see where I spend a good portion of my day.

For many years I have taken over a part of the living area of my home and though it is pretty small, only 8 ft x 12 ft, I finally have a dedicated area to work in and I can close the door on the mess and no one else has to see the clutter.

As you come in the door, on the left is the closet area. I  added several shelves in the closet for fabric and keep the fabrics I use most often in here.   I have a shelf against the wall which has a pegboard behind it for my rulers to hang on.

Right next to the closet is my work table.   It is 6 ft wide but I had a big problem working on it because I always seemed to have piles of fabric in my way.   I recently added a long shoe shelf on top of it, against the wall and that has helped a lot with the fabric piles.   I  am now able to keep an area clean for cutting fabric and getting packages ready for the mail.

Under the work table I have several drawer towers for holding supplies and a small file cabinet for papers and patterns.  

To the right of the work table is my ironing station with another drawer tower.

Above this are shelves.   As you will see throughout my tour,   I have used every available space for supplies.

As you move towards the right,  this wall has the only window in the room.    In the corner of the other side of the room is my sewing station.    The table was a kitchen counter.   I made three wood pedestals for it to sit on.  

Under the sewing table I have some more stacking drawers.

And over one wall is my pegboard seen in an earlier organizing post.

As you continue along this wall I have more wall shelves.  

More drawers underneath them.   The colorful storage drawers hold all my printing papers and my postage scale sits on top of it.

And the final corner is my computer station.   I added shelves underneath the desk and small plastic drawers to the side of it hold more supplies.

I hope you enjoyed seeing where I work and write my posts for this blog.   It is still a work in progress as it is only half painted and needs flooring but I love my little space.

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette