No-Hassle Triangles Table Runner

Last summer my staff and I designed an easy-to-sew table runner, featuring a handful of half- and quarter-square triangles. Somehow, we missed featuring it in our blog until now. The featured photo was taken in the backyard of Birch Haven Retreat, a sewing and quilting getaway. Compared to the gray, snowy skies outside my window, this scene makes me lonesome for summer!

Many of you commented on the ease of creating triangles with the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge and wanted additional projects. I’m confident you’ll add the No-Hassle Triangles Table Runner to your to-do list. Made in the same style as the projects featured in  Quick Column Quilts, triangle blocks plus column strips make for fast, easy, and no-hassle assembly of this 22″ x 58″ table topper.

Notions, Fabrics, and Supplies:

Two yards green fabric (background & backing)
2/3 yard blue fabric (triangles & binding)
Pellon Fusible Fleece Batting piece measuring 22″ x 58″
No-Hassle Triangles Gauge
Bordeaux Embroidery Scissors
Mechanical pencil or other fine-point marking pen
Fearless Quilting Finishes  book

Cutting Directions:

Green Fabric:

Cut one 21″ crosswise strip (backing).
Cut one 10″ crosswise strip (backing).
Cut one 5-1/4″ crosswise strip  (triangles).
Cut one 4-7/8″ crosswise strip (triangles).
Cut six 4-1/2″ crosswise strips (background).

Subcut the following  from the six green 4-1/2″ background strips:

Subcut four 4-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ squares.
Subcut ten 4-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ rectangles.
Subcut two 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ rectangles.
Subcut four  4-1/2″ x 18-1/2″ rectangles.
Subcut one  4-1/2″ x 20-1/2″ rectangles.

See Cutting Diagram Below:

 

 

Blue Fabric:

Cut one 4-7/8″ crosswise strip (triangles)
Cut one  5-1/4″ crosswise strip (triangles)
Cut four  2-1/2″ crosswise strips (binding)

First Step, Building the Half-Square Triangle Units

Create 12 Half-Square Triangle Units using the  No-Hassle Triangles Gauge .

 

Set the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge  to 4-1/2″ block size on the left side of the gauge.  The left side notes Half-Square Triangle sizes. The gauge tells you what size blocks to cut, 4-7/8″.

Cut 4-7/8″ crosswise strips of green and blue. Layer a 4-7/8″ green strip on a 4-7/8″  blue strip and cut six square pairs, measuring 4-7/8″ x 4-7/8″.

Position the  No-Hassle Triangles Gauge  on a pair of squares.
Use the fine point marking tool to draw a diagonal line.

Use a 1/4″ presser foot as a guide to stitch 1/4″ from the right and the left sides of the marked line.

Chain piece these half-square triangle shapes. Stitch one set of squares right after another. After creating a long “chain,” simply clip the threads, using the  Bordeaux Embroidery Scissors  to separate the units.

 

Take the stitched units to the rotary cutting mat and cut the two halves apart along the marked line.














Open and press the seam allowances to the darker, blue side.












Second, Create the Quarter-Square Triangle Units

Set the  No-Hassle Triangles Gauge  to 4-1/2″ block size on the right side of the gauge.  The right side notes Quarter-Square Triangle sizes. The gauge tells you what size blocks to cut, 5-1/4″.
Cut 5-1/4″ crosswise strips of green and blue. Layer a 5-1/4″ green strip on a 5-1/4″ blue strip and cut square pairs, measuring 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″.
Place a blue and green square under the gauge and mark the diagonal line.
Stitch 1/4″ from the marked line, following the guidelines for the Half-Square Triangle Units, in the first step, above. Cut the units apart and press. These blocks should measure 4-7/8″ x 4-7/8″.
Lay one Half-Square Triangle block on another, matching right sides. It is important that the diagonal lines lock. You’ll feel this “lock” as the seams meet.
























Set the   No-Hassle Triangles  Gauge  to 4-1/2″ on the left side of the gauge.
Mark a diagonal line, perpendicular to the seamline.















Use a 1/4″  presser foot as a guide to stitch 1/4″ from the right and left sides of the marked line.













Chain piece the three units, stitching one right after another.














Use rotary cutting tools to cut the units apart.














Press the Quarter-Square Triangle Units.













Third, Arrange the Table Runner Columns



Arrange the table runner into columns as detailed below.
Stitch the pieces using 1/4″ seam allowances.














Assemble the runner by joining the columns to each other, using 1/4″ seam allowances.



















Press the column seam allowances in one direction.

After all five columns are stitched, the No-Hassle Triangles Table Runner top is complete.

Create the Backing

Cut the backing piece measuring 10″ x 42″ into two pieces measuring 10″ x 21″ each. Use those two pieces and the larger piece, 21″ x 42″ to assemble the table runner back as described below, using  1/4″ seam allowances.

 Quilt and Finish the No-Hassle Triangles Table Runner

Layer the quilt backing, seam-side-up, the Pellon Fusible Fleece Batting, and the table runner quilt top to create a quilt sandwich.
Fuse the layers per the package directions to prepare for quilting.
Using tips and techniques featured in  Fearless Quilting Finishes , quilt the table runner by stitching through all three layers.














Trim away excess batting and backing fabric.
Join the 2-1/2″ crosswise strips of  blue binding fabric, end-to-end, using 1/4″ seam allowances.
Press the binding strip in half, lengthwise.
Bind the table runner, using your favorite technique. Click here for binding instructions.


Read and Watch More

Please see these blog posts for more detailed instructions on the Half-Square Triangle and Quarter-Square Triangle units. And, watch the online video instructions: Sewing With Nancy Half-Square Triangles and Sewing With Nancy Quarter-Square Triangles.

Bye for now,

Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswoman, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of the popular show Sewing With Nancy®, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s blog at NancyZieman.com/blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for the latest news in Sewing, Quilting, Creating, and Block of the Month updates.
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