Machine basting and topstitching a spring table runner

Yesterday I showed you how to finish the house quilt made with both hand and machine stitching on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 sewing and quilting machine. Today I’ll be using the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 to do both piecing and applique to create a table runner.

It was so exciting to receive this fabric from the Banyan Batiks Sugar Crystals collection. This colorway is called Cotton Candy. It just made me think of Spring, and I know we’re all ready for that right now! It also comes in another colorway called Sea Sprinkles.

I’ll show you how to make a quick table runner using this fabric and more raw edge applique techniques. Because I’m using batik fabrics, the edges will not fray as much as with regular cotton fabrics.

Sugar Crystals collection by Banyan Batiks

Here’s what you’ll need to get started making this 16″ x 36″ table runner:

• 4 fat quarters for the table runner
• 2 fat quarters for the binding and applique shapes
• 18″ x 38″ piece of lightweight batting or fleece
• 18″ x 38″ piece of fabric for the backing

 Prepare the backing and batting

1. Place the batting or fleece on the wrong side of the backing fabric.

2.Put the MuVit Digital Dual Feed Foot on the machine. I prefer the open-toe foot with the system, but you have four other feet to choose from, so find the one you like best.

MuVit Digital Dual Feed Foot

3.Baste the layers together using basting stitch 1-08 on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 Make sure the two layers stay flat. You can press the layers together after the basting is finished so you’ll have a smooth surface for the next step when you add the fabric strips.

The basting stitch is easy to see on the bright LED screen.

Baste batting and backing together with the 1–08 basting stitch.

Cut the fabric

1.From each of the 4 fat quarters, cut 2 or 3 wedge-shaped pieces that are 4″ – 5″ at the widest point. The angles at which you cut each piece don’t need to be the same for each strip.

2.Arrange the strips as desired, right sides up, on the basted batting/backing piece, alternating the wide and narrow edges. Overlap each strip by ¼” – ½”. Don’t worry if the outside edges don’t line up exactly. They’ll be trimmed later.

Overlap wedge–shaped strips on the basted batting/backing

3.Topstitch the strips, one at a time, on top of the batting. The raw edges will be exposed.

Topstitch strips on the basted batting/backing.

4.Add additional quilting lines on the strips as desired. I used a straight stitch, but you could use decorative stitching if you like. There are lots to choose from when you’re using the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050!

Sew additional quilting lines using the open toe foot.

5.Square up the outside edges.

Square up outside edges.

6.Cut the binding from the two darker fabrics in the Banyan Batiks Sugar Crystals I alternated the fabrics for the binding strips to give a bit of a scrappy look.

7.Sew on the binding.

Sew on the binding.

Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to finish the table runner using several different methods of raw edge applique that can all be done on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 sewing and quilting machine! I hope you’ll join us again here on QUILTsocial.

Finished table runner using Banyan Batiks

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: Applique houses – basted by machine but stitched by hand

Go to part 5: Springtime applique flowers with the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine

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