How to make crazy quilted setting triangles for a tablerunner

Yesterday on QUILTsocial we followed 6 basic steps to create some fun bobbin work embroidery with THE Dream Machine 2 from Brother.

Today, we use these embroideries to make setting triangles for our table runner and tomorrow we start quilting!

First, let’s trim the three large embroidered blocks to 10″ square.

The four small embroideries can be trimmed to 4″ x 7″, or whatever size works with the design that you’ve chosen.

I recently made a pineapple quilt and had all of these leftover strips of batiks left over. The colors work well with the threads I chose to embroider the blocks. These strips are all either 2″ or 3″ wide, but you could use any size or shape of fabric. Scraps work well for this technique too!

Draw some guidelines on the background fabric of all four small embroideries. Don’t worry about the angle being different for each of them, the more variety the better. Just make sure that there’s more than ¼” of space between the embroidery and the lines.

Next, lay one fabric strip along the guideline, right side down and sew with a ¼” seam.

Flip the strip over so that the right side is showing and press. Cut away any excess fabric on the back a ¼” away from the seam. Sew another strip to the next line, flip and press and continue until all four sides are sewn.

Trim the excess fabric from all four edges of the block, making sure to leave a seam allowance around the bobbin work embroidery that was stitched with THE Dream Machine 2.

Now use the straight edges on the sides of the embroidery to line up a second round of strips. Sew each in place, flip over and press. Trim the edges straight again.

Keep sewing more strips randomly around the embroidery until it’s a triangular shape.

Make a setting triangle template by cutting a 10½” square of paper in half diagonally.

Lay the template on top of the pieced setting triangle. Use a ruler and rotary cutter to trim away the excess fabric so that the pieced setting triangle is the same size as the paper template.

Here’s my first finished setting triangle made using the bobbin work embroidery which was stitched with THE Dream Machine 2.

Repeat this process to make a total of four setting triangles.

Now we can start assembling everything into the tablerunner top! Sew one setting triangle to each of the large embroidered blocks, aligning the straight sides and having the point of the triangle extend past the edge of the embroidered square (as shown in the circle).

Sew a second setting triangle to the center embroidered block in the same manner as above, making sure that the point of the triangle extends past the edge of the square.

Use THE Dream Machine 2 to sew the three sections together to make the tablerunner, making sure to line up the seams between the blocks and the setting triangles.

Now we can layer the tablerunner top with batting and backing! I like to use 505 Temporary Fabric Adhesive Spray to stick all of the layers together when quilting small pieces like this.

Now that all of the blocks and setting triangles have been pieced together and our quilt sandwich has been made, we’re all ready to get quilting! See you tomorrow when we’ll use THE Dream Machine 2 to quilt and embroider at the same time!