Good Morning
I finished my friend’s rag quilt table runner yesterday. I made a practice one first, which I love and am happily keeping for my table. Wow, this rag quilt project was easy! Each one sewed up in about 20 minutes. But snipping all the seams took at least 30 minutes and gave my hand a serious cramp from which I quickly and thankfully recovered.
Rag Quilt Table Runner for my friend’s 30th birthday
Tomorrow I’ll be spending the day with my college friends. The occasion for the day is to celebrate one friend’s 30th birthday. First stop: Aveda salon. I’ll just be visiting with the three of them who will be having things done. I could use a haircut but the prices are too high. 
Second stop: lunch at a nice French restaurant, where other friends will be joining us. Then they all will go on to movie, and I will go to Trader Joe’s to do our bi-monthly shopping before returning home. I’m so excited about going!
I mentioned before that when I am gone, I’ll have Haniya serve the lunch of baked burritos. Today I’m making the whole wheat tortillas, refried beans, shredded chicken and spanish rice. I need to shred the cheese and slice the olives and onions. Then in the morning before I leave, I will assemble the burritos in the baking pan and refrigerate them. All Haniya will have to do is bake and serve them and Jeff can help her as she needs. The family should have a good day without me. I’m sure the tractor will keep them all busy!
Wardeh - I love it!!! So the rag quilting thing is that easy? It looked like it would be. Question: I want to cut the squares for my queen size rag quilt in 11″ squares, is there such a thing as a 11″ square template? I’ve seen smaller size templates at Walmart, but not bigger than 7″. I think it would be easier if I had an acrylic/pastic template thingy.
Traci, it is easy! You’re going to enjoy doing it. It goes so fast and is so satisying.
I don’t know anything about square templates so I can’t advise you on what sizes they come in.
I think the easiest way to cut your squares is by rotary cutting. But you can also use a rectangular plastic ruler and scissors, too.
You would fold your fabric twice parallel to the salvages (match salvage edges and then match the resulting folded edge with the salvage edges). This will result in a long tube with 4 layers of fabric that is about 11″ wide and as long as your cut of fabric is (2 yards or 3 yards or however much you bought).
Then you should cut off 11″ strips that are perpendicular to the salvages. From each strip you can cut off 11″ squares. Each strip will result in about 4 squares (provided the fabric is 45″ wide). The easiest way to make these cuts is by using a cutting mat and rotary cutter with one of those clear acrylic rectangular rulers (unless you already have these). It will be handy for so many sewing projects.
Here are two links that explain rotary cutting:
http://www.quilt.com/HowTo/RotaryCuttingDirections.html
http://quilting.about.com/od/rotarycuttingskills/ss/cutting_strips.htm
I hope this helps. If you need me to clarify anything, please ask!
I have a rotary cutter and mat and use that exclusively for any type of sewing - I even use sewing weights, not pins. Mark called and is at Walmart and bless the man - he walked over to the quilting section and found me a 12″ square template!! YAHOO!! I just wanted to be able to put the square down and cut. I have some fabric that’s not as wide as the others, so I do understand the logic for 45″ fabric, but not all of mine is.
I’m repainting the kitchen table and chairs tomorrow, and depending on how soon I get that done, I may start cutting out squares. If not, then Sunday after church. I’ll let ya know how it goes! LOL
Sounds like you’ve got it all set! I’m glad they had the right size template. I assume you’re planning to lay it down and use your cutter and mat. At first I thought you were just going to use scissors and cut around each square. I should have had you clarify what you meant!
Anyway, I can’t wait to hear what progress you make. Your quilt is going to be so pretty!
Your runner looks great, Wardeh! I’m amazed how much you get done in a day and you make time to be creative! Good for you. I’m really getting “hungry” to sew something! Anything! But three coats of primer on a bench isn’t bad. Especially when it means I ignored the boxes that usually swallow me whole in this new house.
Blessings to you,
Beth Ann
The table runner looks just beautiful! You’ve inspired me to get started on something like that to give to a friend who has allowed me to use her sewing machine for months
How pretty, Wardeh! What a nice accent for your table. So homey and lovely.
I’m thinking the book Such Treasures will be coming out soon? You’d have a lot to offer!
Love ya! Robin
Thank you, Beth Ann, Sylvia & Robin! You’re all dear. Love, Wardeh
Sylvia, I hope you do make one for your friend. That is sweet of her to loan you the machine for so long.
Beth Ann, you’re getting there! 3 coats of primer when you’re in the middle of moving is great!
Robin, you’ll be the first to know if I ever write a book!
I love you, Wardeh. You do such beautiful work. It was a JOY talking to you this morning. My love and hugs to you and Jeff and to my precious grandchildren.
Oooh! How pretty!