It's Runner month with Marianna - 3D Folded Flowers tablerunner

Hi, I am Marianna from Craftluver Marianna. Thanks to Madame Samm for inviting me again this month and I want to share a 3D Folded Flowers table runner with you. It is also called origami patchwork. The flu bug prevented me from finishing the whole runner, sorry for that!

You need to make 3 sections for the runner. Keep in mind that the layout of the center section needs to be different. Use the picture of the runner below for color arrangements and block settings. Read the instructions entirely before you begin.  One side part of a Folded Flowers 3D table runner top (14”x14”)

 

Use this layout picture as a guideline for the runner (14”x 42”) The yellow squares are in my pieced example white folded flowers, but they can be left out to make the on point square-line of white Folded Flowers (pattern that is created by multiple sections) more visible in the runner. The yellow sashings between the sections must be left out. They only serve the purpose of showing the separated sections in the runner. You can see clearly the difference in layout between the 2 side sections (which are the same) and the center section. If you like to make a longer runner add more sections to it, starting with a center section and a side section and alternate them [A-B-A[-B-A]]. Always end with an A side section! Each section is a nine patch in itself.

Supplies needed:
Fabric wideness is 42” in this calculation. Multiply the amount of fabric per section you add. Add extra if you like to add a border. I recommend one small border at least (min 2” wide), as the tip of the flower petal will be outside its own square. If you like to make bigger blocks you need to double the wide and double the length of a single (not folded flower) square to get the size of the square for a folded flower (so a single sq. is 2” and a folded flower sq. is 4”).

One side section requires (you’ll need at least 2):
41 x 2” sq. dark purple (= 4”x 42”)
20 x 2” sq. lilac (= 2” x 42”)
20 x 4” sq. white (folded flowers units), including the optional 6 yellow squares (= 8” x 42”)

One center section requires:
40 x 2” sq. dark purple (= 4” x 42”)
16 x 2” sq. lilac (= 2” x 42”)
25 x 4” sq. white squares, including the optional 8 yellow squares (= 12” x 42”)

Fabric for 2” wide border (10” x 42”) (add lengthwise borders 1^st.)
Standard sewing supplies.
Optional a Clover finger presser.

TIPS:
1) Use fabric that has not been washed yet or spray some starch and iron the fabric dry.
2) Beware of fraying! You can use fray check to prevent fabric to fray. Use the fray check after folding, as there is only a small amount of fabric that can fray on the edges (backside of the petals). Batiks work best in this patchwork style, as they make sharp creases.
3) Make sure you cut straight squares!!!!!
4) Sewing with a light grey thread will blend into the fabric when you use different colour.

For the folded flower units:
1) Cut 5 squares of 4” for the flowers (small motif or solids, here it is a white solid). Make sure no old creases are visible in these pieces of fabric.
2) Cut 4 squares of 2” of contrasting fabric for the background (here it is dark purple). These will not be folded and serve as “in between” fabrics. Use a good contrasting color, so the flowers stand out nicely.

For the “in between” units:
1) Cut 5 squares of 2” per unit (here it is dark purple).
2) Cut from a contrasting fabric 4 squares of 2” per unit (here it is lilac).
One unit of nine patches should measure 5” when finished, including seam allowances, .
One section should measure 14” square when finished, including seam allowances.

One side section A consist of:
4 folded flower nine patch units sewn in this order:

5 in between nine patch units sewn in this order:

One center section B consists of:
5 folded flower nine patch units,
sewn in this order: 
4 in between nine patch units sewn in this order:

In the center section the folded flower nine patch units come in the center and 4 corners, like this:

Use the runner picture above as a guideline for color arrangements and setting of the nine patch units. The white sq. are the ff 9 patch units here.

How to make the 3D Fabric Flowers

1) Place the wrong side of the fabric up. Fold the square horizontally. Make a sharp crease line with your fingernail. (I used the iron for it or a wooden finger presser). Repeat this for the vertical folding line.

2) Open the fabric with the wrong side up. Fold one corner to the center of the two folding lines. Again, make a sharp crease line.
3) Repeat step 2 for al the corners. Make sure the edges meat in the corners.4) Rotate the block. Make sure all the folded fabric remains in place! Bring the bottom edge entirely to the center. Now create a sharp horizontal fold line. And fold back again.5) Create a square in the centre of the block by rotating the block around and repeat step 4.6) Use the fold lines as guide lines and bring two sides simultaneously to the center of the block and shape an 'ear' in between. Sew together with small neat stitches at the point where the fabric meets. If you do this with yellow tread, this will form the heart of the flower. Do not cut the thread!

7) Repeat step 6 and sew the base together with the same thread.8) Pull the 4 triangles back to front. This forms the final block.

9) Iron this form firmly, so it will stay in good shape.
If you're making a larger block or quilt, sew the patches together (making a nine patch unit) first and then continue to step 10. For the runner: step 10 is the last thing to do, so after quilting and binding!

10) After you completed the quilt, ‘turn the ears' from inside to outside and shape the petals. Make sure the petals are well formed (no fraying visible) and you can stitch the petals down with a tiny stitch to the background (just the top of a petal), but it is not needed at all times.

Color settings can be:

In the left example the white squares are the folded flowers, like the top at the beginning (= 1 side section). In the right example the dark yellow, blue and purple squares represent the folded flowers. The color scheme is trip around the world.

It's a runner month and with Petra....she is ready with a Plus Quilt

I am so happy to be back here visiting with you all and sharing a runner this month!

This is my + runner I made for the fall. At the time I had been wanting to try a plus quilt and the nice thing about runners is they're a great way to try new things with minimal time commitment. I love how it turned out so there is definitely a quilt in the future and maybe a summer runner in some bright colors. For this tutorial I am going to focus more on what fabrics to use and layout then the specifics of the sewing.

I used 10 different fabrics for my runner but you could use more or less. This is a perfect project for using scraps or fat eighths. The trick is picking the fabric, what I think makes a good plus quilt is a balance of pattern and contrast of tone. 
The breakdown is 


 3 solid fabrics (A,C,H)
 4 small print fabrics (B,D,G,J)
 3 medium print fabrics (E,F,I)


 In each group I picked a light, medium, and dark tone for more contrast between the pluses. If all of the prints or colors are too similar the pluses will blend together too much. In the case of the small prints I did two light toned prints the grey Heath and yellow DS fabric.

Laying them out is actually my favorite part but it's not everyones so I am going to make an easy pattern for you to follow. You can follow my suggestions or pick 10 fabrics of your own.


Here's the fabric that I used and how many 2 1/2" squares to cut of each.

• A - Eggplant solid 10
• B-  Brown Heath 16
• C-  Rust 10
• D-  DS Quilts Modern Texture Yellow 10
• E-  Wood grain 10
• F-  Anthology High Society yellow 14
• G-  Kaffe Fassett 7
• H-  Gold 10
•  I-  Anthology High Society mixed colors 14
• J-  Grey Heath 7

Once you have all of your 2 1/2" squares cut lay them out on your cutting table following the pattern above. You will have 6 rows of 18 squares each. To sew a row together I stack the squares left to right keeping the left square on top and start sewing them together using a 1/4"seam until you've completed the row.

After you have your 6 rows sewn press your seams open and lay your rows out in the correct order. Then sew 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6. Sew these 3 groups together and you have your runner top! Your finished runner will be 12 1/2" by 36 1/2".


Make a mini quilt sandwich pinning or spray basting together. Quilt however you like. I went with a simple diagonal but I think next time I'll try something a little more detailed. Sew on your binding and your done. I love the Wood grain fabric for binding I think I need to track down some more of it!

 Thank you again Madame Samm you bring us all together! I've enjoyed the wide variety of runners this month and we're only halfway through. Stop by and visit sometime at Sew Paint Create I'd love to see you!


Pétra

Bonus day giveaway, sleeping beauty by Nel Whatmore!

 Hello Sleeping Beauty(s), 

we lost an hour by springing forward

here in North America, this past week. 

Perhaps some of you are in need of more sleep..

Well wake up to this beauty of Nel's 

Sleeping Beauty

fabric collection

Nel is celebrating her 25th year as an artist...

artwork into fabric designs

all the best for her continued success!

Draw will take place at end of this week

by random generator on Friday!--

Thanks Nel...

( this would certainly make for some pretty pillows)

If you are interested in doing a tutorial 

for fabric boxes and or pillows for May..

Please let me know...

YOUR name will be in the draw x3...

madamesamm@cogeco.ca

And our winner today is

whiz quiltR

please send me your mailing

addy. this bundle and some 

needles and Presencia threads

will find it's way to you.

To all others, thank you!

It's a runner month with Jane and her Seasonal Hexaculture

Hi, I am Jane (Quiltjane) from Want it, Need it, Quilt. Thank you Madam Samm for inviting me to share in the March Runners month.

Today I bring you a detachable runner, using one of my favourite shapes - the humble hexagon. The hexagons can be joined with a simple button and loop to extend the length of a table or divided up into individual pieces.

Materials

• 1/2 yard of 5 different fabrics ( 2 prints and 3 solids)
• 1/2 yard binding
• 1/2 backing fabric 
• 20" x 65" wadding
• 8" 60 degree triangle ruler / or template plastic
• 8 buttons
• Perle Cotton

Clearview 8" 60 degree ruler

To make your own template, draw a 7 1/2" base line. Find the midpoint of the baseline.
Draw a vertical  line measuring 6 1/2".
Draw 2 sides exactly 7 1/2" in length. Measure 1/4" inside the perimeter to mark the 1/4" seam allowance.

Cutting

• Cut 1 - 6 1/2" x 22" strip from one print fabric. Set aside for Summer block
• Cut 6 - 2 1/4" strips WOF for binding
• All other cutting directions are block based.

Assembly


Each hexagon is made up of 6 equilateral triangles cut from pieced fabrics. For each hexagon block made there will be left over strips which can be used in the other blocks.

Winter

• Cut 2 strips, width of fabric (WOF) from each of the 5 fabrics in different widths of 2", 2 1/2", 1", 1 1/4" and 1 1/2". Alternate the strip width for each fabric so no 2 are the same width.
• Cut the strips in half again to yield approximately 22" strips
• Join the strips to make 2 sets 6 1/2" x approx 22".

Hint: Start and finish with a wide strip. You may need to trim back the finished strip sets to 6 1/2".

• Using the template or ruler, cut three triangles from each strip set. Save the off cuts and extra strips as they will be used in the 'Summer' Block.

• Sew 3 triangles together to make a half. Make 2 halves and sew these together to make one hexagon.

Horizontal Strips - Winter

Spring

• Cut 2 strips, width of fabric (WOF) from each of the 5 fabrics in different widths of 2", 2 1/2", 1", 1 1/4" and 1 1/2". Alternate the strip width for each fabric so no 2 are the same width.
• Cut the strips in half again to yield approximately 22" strips
• Join the 10 strips into one large strip set to make length and width approx 22"
• Cut into 6 1/2" x approx 22" sections

Remember to keep all off cuts for use in the Summer block

• Cut 3 triangles from each 6 1/2" x 22" strip set
• Sew 3 triangles together to make a half. Make 2 halves and sew these together to make one hexagon.

Vertical Strips - Spring

Autumn

• Using any extra strips from Spring and Winter, make 2 strip sets 12" x 22". You may need to cut extra
• Place the template on an angle and cut first triangle.

Hint: Mark the three triangles on the fabric to ensure they all fit

• Cut 3 triangles from each 12" x 22" strip set
• Sew 3 triangles together to make a half. Make 2 halves and sew these together to make one hexagon.

Angled Strips - Autumn

Summer

• Using all the off cuts and left over strips, make 1 randomly pieced block 6 1/2" by 22"

• Cut 3 triangles
• From the 6 1/2" x 22" print piece cut 3 triangles

• Sew 3 triangles together to make a half. Make 2 halves and sew these together to make one hexagon.

Pieced Strips - Summer

Quilting and Binding

I chose to do four geometric designs to reflect the four seasons

Doing 60 degree bindings is very similar to a square binding on a quilt.

• Sew to corner of hexagon

• Fold binding up You can see it forms an angle in line with the seam

• Fold the binding down with edge in line with corner top and at right angles to tip. Start sewing 1/4" from tip

• Fold back binding and hand sew at back.

Finishing runner

I have chosen to use a simple loop using perle cotton. If you would like to make a chained loop here is a great tutorial by Oliver + S.

• Add a loop to each end of the hexagon at the widest point.

Bring thread through to point and make a quilters knot. 

Make a loop big enough to fit button through. Thread back through tip and secure again with quilters knot. 

Bring the thread down through layers and trim to hide.

• Repeat for all four hexagons.
• Add button to the tip of each corner that has a loop

• Join hexagons by slipping opposite loop over button.

Configurations

The hexagons can be joined at one point

or at 2 points

and they can be separated to make individual mats.

Try experimenting with different sized hexagons

or even different shapes, such as diamonds and squares.

I hope you have enjoyed todays project. If you make a detachable runner please add it to the Flickr group found here. I would love to see them all.