I was cleaning up my sewing room earlier today and came across a few "orphan" blocks from another project. Normally I toss these blocks into what I call Area 51. That place where all UFO's land.
Instead of adding to the overflowing pile, I decided to make a runner for my new kitchen using the Perfect Rectangle Ruler. This ruler is excellent for turning ho-hum blocks into interesting shapes.
First, I had to enlarge the blocks to a more suitable size. I suggest a 12" finished block for this project. I added white triangles to set the blocks on point. Here's a tip: Clean your iron before sewing with white fabric! I wish I had ; )
To fit a 12" finished block you will need Perfect Rectangles cut from a 6 1/2" strip of the background fabric in your block and another set cut from fabric for the outer edge of the runner. The fabric should be folded, the way it came off the bolt, so that you are cutting 2 pieces at the same time. Those pieces will be mirror imaged. Make the first cut, rotate the ruler and make the second cut. Don't forget to trim those tiny clipped corners. You will be happy you did when you stitch these pieces together.
Once you have the pieces cut from both the background fabric and the fabric for the outer edge, stitch the triangles into Perfect Rectangles. Then stitch those units together, matching the ends that are background fabric. Make 12 units.
Stitch these to the top and bottom edge of your center block.
Remember, the center block can be ANY 12" finished quilt block
or even a single square of beautiful fabric.
Now add border fabric squares to each end of the remaining units.
Stitch these to the right and left side of the center blocks.
Make three of these and stitch them together end to end.
I added nice wide borders to my runner, because I plan to put it on the longarm
and practice some fancy quilting with rulers, just for fun.
It's going to look great in the pantry area of our new kitchen remodel.
But first I need the countertops!
If you would like a .pdf of the step-by-step instructions for this runner,
drop me an email me at:
Put "Any 12" in the subject line and I will send them to you.
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