My Latest Fall Finish: A Charm Pack Table Runner

I’m having fun catching up on some fall quilting projects, and this easy charm pack table runner was next on my list! I used a charm pack of Butternut & Sage fabric by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda Fabrics, and I love how it turned out. The pattern is called Strips & Salsa from the Stripology Quilt Strip Pattern Book by GE Designs. It was such a quick and rewarding project that also gave me a chance to put my Stripology Squared Mini Ruler to good use!

About the Strips & Salsa Table Runner

I work at my local quilt shop, The Granary, and as you can imagine, it’s full of inspiration and temptations! There has been a sample of the Strips & Salsa Table Runner hanging in the shop for several years (inspiration), and I’ve always wanted to make one. In addition, there’s the cutest charm pack of Fig Tree’s latest fabric collection, Butternut & Sage, that was calling my name (temptation). I finally gave in to both and made this beautiful table runner – in just two days!

The table runner measures 12″ x 36″ from point to point, so it’s a rather petite runner – but could be made longer by adding units to each end. I used 16 five-inch charm squares plus extra yardage for the borders, backing and binding. The Strips & Salsa pattern is not written for charm squares, but it turns out they are perfect for making each of the interlocking squares. The interior background fabric came from the light charm squares in the collection. I still have 26 charm squares leftover – plenty for another table runner!

The Stripology Book

The pattern for this table runner came from the Stripology Quilt Strip Pattern book. It’s a companion book that works with Stripology Rulers, but you can use standard quilting rulers as well. There are six quilt patterns in the book– each offered in three different sizes using predominately 1 1/2″ wide strips. I like the variety of patterns, but to be honest – the cutting instructions were a little difficult to read. The format is not what I’m used to, but eventually it made sense once I got familiar with them.

Quilting and Binding the Table Runner

I chose a simple grid design for the quilting. It was easy and natural by following the larger seams of the interlocking squares. The quilting lines are spaced 2″ apart, and it was quilted with a walking foot and Aurifil 50 wt. thread. The binding was done all by machine for a fast and easy finish!

An added detail – I used Pellon Thermolam Plus Sew-in (TP970) for the batting. It’s a needle-punched fleece that is my favorite to use with table runners and placemats. It washes well and does not shrink. It’s also an effective heat barrier for warm/hot dishes – but it should not take the place of a trivet or hotpad for extremely hot dishes.

Using The Stripology Squared Mini Ruler

If you’re like me, you’ve collected a few specialty quilting rulers that eventually get buried and forgotten. I’ve had the Stripology Squared Mini Ruler (CGRGE3) for several years, but I’ve only used it once. I’m so glad this project gave me a reason to pull it out again because I loved using it!

The ruler has cutting slots spaced 1/2″ apart with easy-to-read markings. As the name suggests, it’s designed to make cutting fabric strips quick and easy. The non-slip backing keeps everything in place, while the cutting slots allow you to make multiple cuts without constantly repositioning the ruler. It’s a real time-saver! The mini size is especially handy for cutting charm squares and fabric scraps into usable pieces. If you’d like to learn more about these rulers, you can read my Stripology Ruler Product Review.

Tips For Success

• Get familiar with the measuring increments and aligning fabric with the markings.
• Practice cutting some scrap fabric first.
• Works best with a 45 mm rotary cutter.
• Use a rotating cutting mat when using the Stripology Mini Ruler. This is helpful so that you don’t disturb the cut fabric pieces when sub-cutting into smaller pieces. Just rotate the mat after making the first cut, then pick up the ruler and re-align it for the second cut (if one is needed).
• You can stack up to 4 layers of fabric.

Final Thoughts

There’s something so satisfying about making a seasonal project in just a few days, especially when you have fun along the way! This table runner was such an easy make, and I love that I could put a favorite charm pack to good use for a perfect fall finish. Getting reacquainted with my Stripology Squared Mini Ruler was an added bonus!

If you have a charm pack waiting for the perfect project, this might be just the inspiration you need to put it to use!