4th of July Tumbler Table Runner

Do you love table runners? I DO. I don’t know about you, but I love decorating my table with fun, festive and FABulous table runners that are specific to the holiday, season, or occasion that is just around the corner.

I also love table runners, because as of now…I am a little better than a beginning seamstress but not quite to an intermediate level, so table runners are PERFECT for me! However, my goal is to become one of the advanced seamstresses out there, like our contributor today. Because she is at the advanced level table runners are easy peasy for her, and she can whip them out in NO TIME at all from the design of the table runner to it’s completion….she is AMAZING!!!

Please help me welcome, Annalee! She is part of The Ribbon Retreat team. She is our Fabric Store Manager, and this lady can sew, sew, sew. If you haven’t had a chance to visit our fabric store in Shelley, Idaho…if you are within driving distance, you should come for a visit and see just how talented this lady is. WOW!

This fabulous 4th of July Tumbler Table Runner tutorial is brought to you by our wonderful Annalee, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Enjoy!

Step 1: Choose 7 different fabrics. I have done this with Riley Blake’s Stars & Stripes Fat Quarters, or you can use 1/4 yard of fabric. You can also just use scraps that you have.
Once you have decided on your fabric you are ready to cut your tumbler blocks out.

Step 2: You will need to cut out your 3 ½” tumbler shape using this Tumbler Template.
The Accuquilt 3 ½” Tumbler Die Cut works great for this. You will then cut out 14 tumblers of each of the 7 fabrics that you have chosen. If you are using scraps just cut a total of 98 blocks.

Step 3: Arrange your blocks in the order that you want them for your table runner. Lay out 6 blocks per row. I did 13 rows total. You can make yours wider and longer if you want. You will just have to cut out more blocks.
Step 4: With right sides together. Using a ¼” seam allowance. Take your 1st block and sew it to the 2nd block.
NOTE: When you sew your blocks together, your 1st block will have the narrow end at the top and the wider end on the bottom. You will flip your 2nd block so the wider part of your block is on the top and the narrow end is at the bottom. Then when you sew the 3rd block you will start with the narrow end on top and the wider on the bottom. You will do this with each block. See diagram below.

If you don’t flip your blocks, you will not end up with a straight row.
Press your seams to one side.

Step 5: Sew your 2nd row together. Press your seams the opposite direction as the first row. Repeat these steps for each row. NOTE: You are going to match the rows together so you will want to match the narrow ends and the wide ends with the row above. See Diagram below.

Step 6: Sew your rows together. Start with row one and sew it to row two. Repeat with each row. It is very important to keep your seam allowances the same. If you do your seams will match up. Once you have all your rows together press your seams to one direction.
Step 7: When all of your rows are sewn together, layer your backing (you will need 1/2 yard of fabric) and batting with the top of your table runner.

Step 8: Quilt as desired. I quilted mine on my own machine using a decorative stitch. I used what they call a serpentine stitch down each of the rows.
Step 9: Trim off the extra batting and backing fabrics. If you want you can straighten up the outside edges so they are straight not curved.
Step 10: Attach your binding (you will need 1/4 yard of fabric for your binding).
If you keep the curved edges you will need to use a bias binding.

You are all finished. You did it!

Look how cute this table runner is in different colors. This table runner is perfect to make for all holidays, seasons, or occasions!

Thank you Annalee! Isn’t this table runner so fun and festive?!? And…didn’t Annalee do such a FABulous job? I love it, and I love decorating for the 4th of July and all holidays! Table runners are the perfect home decor for every holiday and this table runner is so easy to make for all your holiday decorating endeavors.

Happy Sewing and Happy Creating!