Category: Free Pattern

I am delighted to be part of the Nifty Novelties blog hop. Novelty fabrics can be a challenge to use in a project – or they can be an inspiration! The bloggers that are part of this blog hop have created new ideas for using these fabrics. I have made an easy table topper pattern for you that only uses three fat quarters. 

Free Braided Table Topper Quilt Pattern

This 12″ x 38″ table topper makes up very quickly out of three different fat quarters. Fix yourself a cup of hot tea and I bet you are done before it cools!

For illustrative purposes, we are using the color names shown in the example. You are free to use whatever color you please, of course:-))

A 1/4″ seam allowance is assumed.

Cutting

Start by cutting a 9-1/2″ x 21″ strip from each of the (3) fat quarters. Cut the remainder of each fat quarter into (4) 2″ x 21″ strips.

1. From both the orange and green 9-1/2″ x 21″ strips, cut a piece 9-1/2″ x 12″. Set aside the remainder for use in another project.
2. From the novelty 9-1/2″ x 21″ strip, cut a 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ square. Set aside the remainder for use in another project.
3. From both the orange and green 2″ x 21″ strips, cut (6) 2″ wide x 9-1/2″ long strips, for a total of 12 strips. Avoid using the selvage. Set aside any remaining fabric for use in another project.
4. From the novelty 2″ x 21″ strips, cut (2) that are 12″ long. Set aside the remaining strip for use in another project.

Sewing and Cutting

Sew a 2″ x 12″ novelty strip to the short side of the 9-1/2″ x 12″ orange piece, making an 11″ x 12″ block. (see below)

Repeat for the green. Press to the dark. Cut these blocks into (6) two-part strips 2″ x 11″ long.

For this project, you will need: 

• (6) 9-1/2″ x 2″ strips of orange
• (6) 9-1/2″ x 2″ strips of green
• (6) 11″ x 2″ two-part strips of orange and novelty
• (6) 11″ x 2″ two-part strips of green and novelty
• (1) 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ novelty square.

Now it is time to put them together, but first a note on pressing. It is almost impossible to keep your strips pressed to the dark. Rather, you should try to keep them all pressed away from the center square. Pin carefully as you piece this top together. Nesting the seams will help you keep your intersections sharp.

Sewing

Sew a 2″ x 9-1/2″ long green strip to either side of the 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ novelty square. Press to the center.

Sew a two-part green strip to the other two sides, placing the small square at opposite corners as shown to the right. Note that the strip will not go all the way to the end of the block. It feels really odd, but don’t worry about it, you are doing okay.

Sew an orange 9-1/2″ x 2″ strip to the two-part green strips on both sides of the table runner, starting with the end that has the little square. Remember, this strip won’t reach all the way to the end of the previous strip.

Now add a two-part orange strip, again starting at the end that has the little square. Double check to ensure that the seams fold in opposite directions.  Keep adding strips, alternating colors and making sure to place the square on the correct corner. Do you see how it is going together almost like a log cabin?

After you have sewn all your strips, press carefully. Get all those seams going in one direction on the back so the top lays flat. Now place your ruler in the body of this top and rotary cut it straight. Make sure your 1/4″ mark lines up with the point of the center square so you don’t cut off your point when you sew on the binding. (The diagram below shows where you should lay the 1/4″ mark on your ruler.)

You are almost done! Just add batting and backing, quilt as desired. You can “pillowcase” this topper to finish it or use 92″ of commercially prepared bias binding or make 92″ of 2-1/2″ wide straight-grain binding from the leftover white. Don’t worry about the Quilt Police, they don’t write tickets on any straight grain binding under 100″ long.

(Yes, this is our original pattern from 1996:-))

Enjoy!

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