Hello and happy Fall! If you found me through the Janome Canada blog and website, welcome!
I designed this table runner to add some fun and cheer to your fall decor.
This project is a good scrap-buster so dig out your fave bits and pieces and let’s get started!
If you want a longer or shorter table runner, simply create the background panel to be the length you want plus 2” in length (to allow a bit extra for shrinkage/shifting during quilting) and add or remove branches, berries, and leaf motifs as needed.
You can also play with colour schemes for different seasons, using whites and blues for winter, or brilliant greens and yellows for summer, or any wild and crazy combination that you love!
Final size of my example is 10” x 40”
Supplies
You’ll need:
Fabric Scraps:
Background:
An assortment of neutrals, lights, low volume, tone on tone, in creams, light browns, whites,light yellows, naturals
Berries:
An assortment of autumn colours, reds, oranges, yellows, purples, browns
Branches/stems:
Approx. a Fat Quarter of black or dark brown
Heat n’ Bond Lite (or Medium)
Quilt batting:
11” x 42”
Backing fabric:
11” x 42”
Binding fabric:
3 strips cut at desired binding width by WOF (Width Of Fabric), dark solid or print- black or dark brown
DIRECTIONS
Make the background panel: 11” x 42”
Start by sewing your neutral scraps together as desired. This is basically an improv piecing piece, so you can play with it however much you like. I made pieced chunks of approximately 11” wide by various lengths, then sewed them together until I got to the length I wanted of 42”. You’ll be trimming this down later so don’t worry if your chunks are a bit wider, it’s all good!
Press well, and set aside.
Make the branches
Print the pattern pieces and trace the required number of each piece as noted on the pattern sheets onto the paper side of the Heat n’ Bond Fusible adhesive.
Link to download at the end of this tute!
Cut each piece out roughly then apply to the back of the fabrics, following manufacturer’s instructions.
Cut each piece out along the lines and remove the backing papers as you go.
Assemble the runner top
Following the tutorial photos, and assembly layout in the pattern pdf, position the branches, berries, and leaves on the runner top.
You may have to do this in two sections, depending on how big your ironing board is!
Fuse the pieces to the runner background with your iron, following manufacturer’s directions.
Assemble the runner
Make a quilt sandwich of the runner top, batting, and backing.
Quilt as desired, I did fairly tight matchstick style quilting using a brown variegated thread, and added a swirly breezy twist on one side to add interest.
Tip:
Since we’re using a lightweight fusible applique, a dense quilting design is preferred to help keep the applique pieces in place and add durability. If you wish to do a lighter quilting design, consider using a firmer weight of Heat n’ Bond, or add stitching around each piece, so the pieces stay put over time!
Trim to 10” x 40” (or finished size if you adjusted it).
Make and apply the binding as usual.
Enjoy your new runner!
If you make this pattern I’d love to see!
Tag me on Instagram at @cynthiafrenette and add this hashtag: #patternbycynthiaf
Feel free to share with your friends!
For personal use only • Please note this pattern and tutorial are copyright by Cynthia Frenette 2015
Thanks for supporting indie pattern designers!

love it, thanks so much for sharing! i have GOT to get my sewing machine fixed…
Like the previous commenter, my sewing machine is in the shop. I love everything you do, so inspiring! I’m itchin’ to get stitchin’!
Thanks Kat!! & hope to see you at an upcoming FV meeting!!
After seeing your Autumnal table runner, I was inspired to make one of my own. Thank you for the inspiring tutorial.
You can see it here: http://runningwithrocket.blogspot.com/2015/11/autumn-table-runner.html
Wow it looks so amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing, I love it! Great job!!
Love this runner, thank you for the pattern and the introduction to matchstick quilting.
Very neat pattern. Thank you so much!