Whether it’s the seasons changing or the prospect of Thanksgiving company, it’s satisfying to add some style and personality to your rooms.  Table runners and table toppers are an easy way to do that.  They are usually quick projects and you can make a second one to use as a hostess gift.

Dining Delight by D. Hall Designs comes with instructions for different sizes so you can choose the length you want.  The design is fairly simple, with just a few pieces, but the on-point setting and the pointed ends add interest.

Table Dressings by Nelly of Artela Quilts is made of just a few large pieces. Nelly’s directions are clear and easy to follow. This pattern is perfect for showcasing a favorite medium to large scale print. And, bonus, it’s reversible! Two table runners in one! Two gifts in one!

This one, Swing It!, looks a little complicated, but it’s not as hard as you might think!  Designs to Share With You has an easy quilt-as-you-go method for curves.  So, sew one up, and learn a new technique.

Table Talk is a fun little table runner with lots of visual interest.  You could rotate that center block a quarter turn and it would look like the dark blocks are tumbling down, back and forth, from top to bottom.

The Roulette table topper uses off center log cabin blocks to create the illusion of curves. Designer Genii Lehmann says it looks great if you use 4 color gradations in one color family. I agree!

There are many more table runner patterns.  Choose one or two and start stitching.  You’ll be dressing up your tables before you know it!

Don’t you just love the fall colors. Bring them inside with table runners.

Fall Table Quilt from Kathie’s Kreations measures 26″ square.  Use reproduction prints in several shades of autumn colors with a neutral, warm background, or go for the splash with bold batik autumn colors.

Fall Into Winter offers two table runner patterns.  The Dresden pieces for the winter pattern are pre-cut and included!

Paper pieced candy corn and buttoned down 3D triangles combine to make A Corny Runner.  Perfect for the season!  Finished runner measures 14″ x 25.25″

Medley of Leaves looks like a beautiful piece of art, doesn’t it?   Make this one as colorful or as subdued as you like and it will be an eye catcher either way.  Use as a table topper or as a wall hanging.

Check out the rest of the table runners…. there are eight pages of them!  Some are seasonal, some are not but can be made seasonal by the choice of fabric.

Until November 1st, all quilting books by The Quilt Branch are available for 10% off! We all love our patterns, but books offer so much more.   Except in the case of larger, more complicated patterns (like samplers or intricate piecing), most quilt books contain several patterns.  You will also benefit from the designer’s experience as the author/designer ofter shares helpful tips and shortcuts for the piecing process, suggestions for fabric selection, and sometimes even quilting ideas instead of the dreaded ‘quilt as desired’.

The Six Halves Make a Whole book series contains patterns that can be made from bundles of six half yard cuts of fabric.

Six Halves Make A Whole Sampler not only has instructions for a 62″ x 72″ quilt, but also patterns for using the blocks in a table runner and to make a tote.  Any of the blocks would look good by itself as a mini- quilt.

Six Halves Make A Whole Christmas quilt book has instructions for six different projects using six half yard cuts of fabric.  Make Christmas stockings, a tree skirt, pillow shams, and lap quilts.

Other titles in the series are Six Halves Make A Whole Quilt (6 projects), Six Halves Make A Whole Lot More (6+ projects), and Six Halves Make A Whole Starburst Quilt (Quilt and Table Topper).

Cottage Creations Quilt Book gives complete instructions for using the Creative Grid Cottage Ruler to make 45 degree patterns.  The book includes three quilts, pillow shams, a table topper, and placemats.

And then there is the Table Topper Series with 4 books…. one for each season.

Table Topper Series Book #3 Fall has patterns for three octagon shaped table toppers, one each for September, November, and December.

Choose a book (or two, or three!) and take advantage of the discounted price.  Use coupon code CB2013 at checkout.

Happy reading and happy sewing!

Spring is going to be here one day.  Though it’s the shortest month, February always seems so loooooong.  Makes me feel like Spring can never come!  But it will!  It does every year – so I’m counting on it!  In the meantime making a Spring table runner just might make the time pass more quickly.  Busy hands, and all that.

Briarwood Cottage’s Spring Pocket Table Runner has beautiful, delicate looking applique in the corners, leaving the center open to showcase your quilting. The table runner measures 14″ x 30″.  The pocket pattern (just $5!) includes instructions for matching placemats.

What a fresh looking design!  Searching for Direction can be made with normal square edges. Or use the Easy Scallop tool for the scallop edges and add a new technique to your arsenal of talents!

All Things Spring is just packed with projects in a Spring theme.  Many of the projects have instructions for multiple sizes.  Enjoy  piecing and applique as you make wall quilts, table runners, placemats, table toppers and more.

This cute Spring Pickins’ table runner by MH Designs features paper pieced tulips.  Never tried paper piecing?  What are you waiting for?!  You might just love the technique.  It give you ‘perfect’ results! And if you do fall in love with paper piecing, Mary Herschleb has several dozen beautiful patterns, all constructed with paper piecing.  Bonus tea towel instructions are included in this pattern.

Spring is on the way . . . . get your table runners ready!

Susan Michaels of Dragonfly Fiberart has been exploring fibers of some sort since she was a young child.  Although she won’t steer away from unusual materials, Susan considers herself to have more of a traditional aesthetic.  She focuses on “fast and fabulous designs for the creative spirits tight on time”.

The Bracket Brigade table runner would look great on a dining room table.  The lines of the quilt design would frame a centerpiece nicely.  This fat quarter friendly pattern features row construction for a quick finish.

Day Stripper, a quilt-as-you-go project, will make good use of your favorite strippy scraps.  The pattern finishes at 20″ x 37″ but the size is easily adjusted to fit your needs.

Garden Path will showcase your favorite large scale print.  Another option might be to use a few charms for the center blocks.  Finishing at 19.5″ x 57″, this is another easily adjusted pattern for just the size you want or need.

And speaking of charms, How Charming To Sew You is a great pattern for charms.  Finished size is 17″ x 40″.

Dragonfly Fiberart also offers a couple bag patterns.  With five interior pockets and two exterior pockets, Newporter Tote will keep all of your day’s needs organized . . . .no fumbling!

Browse all of Dragonfly Fiberart patterns to find just the right one (or more!) for you.

Quilt patterns from Pine Tree Lodge (located in Minnesota – have you ever noticed how many talented quilters and quilt designers come from Minnesota? – must be something in the air there!) are full of variety.  Simple pieced patterns, intricate pieced patterns, colorful, muted, applique, piecing mixed with applique, quilts, table toppers, samplers, totes and more!  No matter your skill level, or the type of quilt you prefer, you’ll probably find several patterns that you like.

Homegrown Winter is a sampler with snow scenes, bells, a bright red cardinal, and several traditional blocks : friendship stars, log cabin, flying geese.  Easy applique templates are included in the pattern.  The wallhanging finishes at 34″ x 44″.   Swap this out with the other Homegrown sampler patterns: Spring, Summer and Fall.

 A Parade of Seasons is another group of seasonal samplers.   Both of these sets of samplers are great for cleaning up some of those fabric scraps that seem to keep multiplying.

It’s called Heartstrings, but you can choose pine trees or stars if you prefer.  Use flannel or chenille to add texture.  This makes a great baby quilt.  Grandkids, anyone?!

Daisy Dash uses a modified churn dash block to simulate daisies sprinkled across the quilt.  The pattern includes instructions for four sizes: bed quilt, lap quilt, wall hanging and table topper.  Check out that unusual vine-y border on the lap quilt.

Miss Mabel’s Garden (I have to say I just love this one!) is a collection of patterns with multiple techniques . . . piecing, applique, embroidery.  The book includes placemats, table runners, wall quilts and bed quilts.  Fifteen projects in all for all skill levels.

Be sure to visit the Pine Tree Lodge website where you will find extra downloadable projects to go with some of these patterns.