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Porcelain Table Runner

This beautiful table runner features a simple and elegant layout, with pleasant blue colors. It was inspired by traditional Dutch Delft porcelain, which has been famous worldwide since the Renaissance. It uses the designs from the Porcelain Tea Set.

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The finished size of the tablerunner is about 40" x 18".

Batiks with watercolor patterns are best for this project. You will need 4 fabrics: pale yellow or light cream for the central parts of the blocks (3 squares measuring 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"), bright blue for the blocks and the second border (about 1/4 yard), pale blue for the blocks and binding (about 1/2 yard), navy blue fabric for the first border (1/8 yard). You will also need backing and batting, each piece measuring about 20" x 42".

Cutting:

Out of pale yellow (or light cream) fabric, cut 3 squares measuring 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".

Out of bright blue fabric cut 12 squares measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2", 2 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 36 1/2" and 2 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 18".

Out of pale blue fabric, cut 3 squares measuring 8 3/4" x 8 3/4", 2 strips 2" wide and the length of the width of the fabric for the binding.

Out of navy blue fabric cut 2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 34 1/2" and 2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x. 14".

The Block

On your working table, place the pale yellow 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" squares face up. Position the bright blue 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares in the corners, face down. Align the edges.

Draw a diagonal as shown. Stitch along the diagonal.

Cut 1/4" from the stitchline.

Open the corner. Press.

Repeat for all corners of all 3 yellow squares to get 3 blocks.

Assembly:

Cut one pale blue 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" square into 2 triangles along the diagonal.

Stitch the triangles to the left and right edges of one of the blocks. Press the seams to the triangle.

Cut the second pale blue 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" square into 2 triangles along the diagonal.

Stitch a triangle to each of the remaining blocks, as shown below. Press the seams to the triangles.

Stitch the rows together:

Cut the remaining light blue squares into 4 triangle along the diagonals.

Stitch the new triangles to the edges of the first and third blocks. Preass the seams to the triangles.

Add the first border. First attach the upper and lower navy blue strips measuring 1 1/2" x 34 1/2", then attach the left and right strips measuring 1 1/2" x 14".

Add the second border. First attach the upper and the lower pale blue strips measuring 2 1/2" x 36 1/2", then attach the left and the right strips measuring 2 1/2" x 18".

Embroidery:

Stabilize the central part of each block with iron-on cut-away stabilizer. Make the embroidery of the designs from the Porcelain Tea Set. Cut away the excess stabilizer.
You can also use polyester craft felt instead of the stabilizer. In this case we recommend to baste the quilt top to the felt in the ditch along the colored borders. After the embroidery is finished, rip the baste and cut away the excess felt around the embroidery.

Quilting and Finishing:

Now place the backing on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with batting. Spread your working piece over it.

Pin all three layers together with 1" pins and start quilting. We quilted along the lines of the embroidery and made stippling all over the mat.

After the quilting is finished, press the work with heavy steam and square the work -- all corners should be 90 degrees and opposite sides should be of the same length.
Finish the raw edges with the binding.