Country Style Dove Table Runner

Our three pigeon designs in the photo stitch technique, White Dove, Rock Pigeon and Lahore Dove, can be used on totes, sweatshirts and many other items. We made a country style table runner with them and hope that you'll like our idea.

The finished size of the table runner is 20" x 40". You will need two fabrics, about 1 yard of each. Tan cotton fabric was used for the top, and burgundy cotton fabric was used for the top, backing and binding. You will also need 100% cotton batting and embroidery and quilting threads.
Besides pigeons, the designs from the Rose Pink Redwork Set were used on the quilt top.
Here is a short description of how to make this table runner.
All measurements include 1/4" seam allowance.

Cutting

Out of tan fabric cut:
the central piece measuring 12 1/2" x 32 1/2"
two strips measuring 2 1/2" x 16 1/2"
two strips measuring 2 1/2" x 36 1/2"
twenty two squares measuring 2 3/4" x 2 3/4"

Out of burgundy fabric cut:
eight squares measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"
twenty two squares measuring 2 3/4" x 2 3/4"

Assembling

Step One: Place tan and burgundy 2 3/4" squares together face to face. You'll get 22 pairs. With a lead mechanical pencil, draw a diagonal on the lighter square. Stitch 1/4" from the pencil line on both sides.

Step Two: Cut along the line. Open the new square. Press the seam towards the burgundy. Trim the ears. Repeat for all the pairs. You should get 44 two-color squares, measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

Step Three: Sew the first 6 squares into a strip as shown. Repeat with the next 6 squares. Add 2 1/2" burgundy squares to the beginning and end of each strip.

Step Four: Sew 16 squares into a strip. Repeat with the last 16 squares.

Step Five: Stitch the strips to the central piece. Press the seams towards the central piece.

Step Six: Stitch 2 1/2" burgundy squares to the ends of 1 1/2" x 16 1/2" tan strips.

Step Seven: Stitch the tan strips measuring 2 1/2" x 36 1/2" to the working piece; then attach the strips from step six. Press the seams towards tan strips.

Embroidering

Now mark the places for the embroidery. You can either use your favorite stabilizer, or stabilize the fabric with your batting, which is what we did. You'll need 100% cotton batting. Cut out a piece slightly larger than your working piece and place it under the top. Do not attach the backing yet! Spread the top evenly and pin two layers together in a few places. Do the embroidery. Here are some close-ups of the embroidery.

Finishing

Now place the backing on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with batting. Spread your working piece over it. Pin all layers together with 1" pins and start quilting. We did stippling on the central, embroidered part and stitched in the ditch on the borders.

After the quilting is finished, square the work -- all angles should be 90 degrees and the opposite sides should be of the same length.
Finish the raw edges with the binding.

The table runner is ready. Enjoy!

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