Sewing with Solids

Are you a fan of sewing with solids? With no fabric motifs to distract, solids are all about saturated color, and all about the quilt design. They work beautifully in any pattern - give it a try, starting with the runner I stitched below!

I had such fun putting together two solid fabric fat quarter bundles - 12 cool colors and 12 warm colors. Today I'm working with the cool colors to create a fresh summer table runner - there's just something about the combination of multiple greens, teals, blues and purples that is calm and relaxing.

I used my fat quarter bundle to stitch a table runner using one of my favorite quilt building blocks - the half-square triangle. By pairing various colors together, the blocks all look different, creating a scrappy look. Keep reading to learn how to make this runner, complete with tips to make the process even easier. And even better - the 12 fat quarter bundle includes everything you need for the runner top, pieced backing and binding! Get your bundle here!

You'll Need:
(12) solid fat quarters (includes backing)

18" x 50" piece of batting

From each fat quarter, cut:
(1) 5" x 20" strip, subcut into (4) 5" squares

(1) 3-1/2" x 20" strip for pieced backing

(1) 2-1/4" x 20" strips for binding

From remainder, cut an additional (5) 3-1/2" x 20" strips.

Tip: Layer 2-3 fat quarters together to cut more efficiently.

Step 1: Draw a line diagonally across the wrong side of (1) 5" square. Layer right sides together with a second 5" square. Stitch 1/4" on each side of the drawn line, cut on the line, and press both HST units open. Square units up to 4-1/2", aligning diagonal ruler line on the seam.
Make a total of (48) HST blocks, varying color combinations.

Step 2: Lay out the HST blocks into (12) rows of (4). Play around with block orientation and color placement - you can create many different design options!

Sew the blocks together into rows, pressing seam allowances in each row in alternating directions. Sew the rows together, nesting seam allowances, to complete the table runner top measuring 16-1/2" x 48-1/2".

Step 3: Lay out the (17) 3-1/2" x 20" strips into a long row. Sew the strips together lengthwise in pairs and then continue joining pairs into a pieced quilt backing. Don't worry if the short ends don't match exactly - you'll ultimately be trimming the backing after quilting.

Tip: To keep the pieced strips from curving as you sew them together, alternate which end you start stitching the strips together for each pair.

Step 4: Layer the pieced backing right side down with batting on top. Layer the runner top on the batting, right side up. Baste the layers together.

Tip: Make sure that the seam lines of the pieced backing align with the seam lines of the runner top so the pieced layers are straight.

Step 5:Choose a coordinating thread color (I used a this blue-green variegated thread) and machine quilt your table runner.

Tip: I stitched straight lines 1/4" on both sides of each diagonal seam line - this meant I didn't need to mark any lines on the quilt and created a clean, modern look.

Step 6: After quilting, trim the backing and batting even with the runner top.

Sew the 2-1/4" x 20" strips together to create a long pieced binding strip. Add the binding strip to the edges of the runner to finish.