Bright Spark Table Runner

INSPIRED BY: Forever Blue from designer Valerie Langue

QUILT TESTER: Colleen Tauke

Yardages and cutting instructions are based on 42" of usable fabric width.

• 10" square each of four aqua prints (blocks)
• 10" square each of four orange prints (blocks)
• 10" square each of four lime green prints (blocks)
• 2/3 yard solid cream (blocks, middle border)
• 1/4 yard black print No. 1 (blocks)
• 1/4 yard each black print Nos. 2 and 3 (outer border)
• 3/8 yard binding fabric
• 1-1/2 yard backing fabric
• 26×49" batting

Finished quilt: 18×40-1/2" square

Finished block: 10" square

Cut pieces in the following order.

If you prefer to make your triangle-squares and Flying Geese units larger than necessary and trim them to the correct sizes, cut 3-1/2" squares instead of the 3-3/8" squares listed in cutting instructions, 2-1/4" squares instead of the 2-1/8" squares, and 4" squares instead of the 3-3/4" squares.

From each aqua, orange, and lime green print No. 1, cut:

• 8—2-1/8" squares

From each aqua, orange, and lime green print No. 2, cut:

• 8—2-1/8" squares

From each aqua, orange, and lime green print No. 3, cut:

• 4—1-3/4×3" rectangles

From each aqua, orange, and lime green print No. 4, cut:

• 1—3" square

From solid cream, cut:

• 2—1-3/4×35-1/2" middle border strips
• 2—1-3/4×15-1/2" middle border strips
• 6—3-3/4" squares
• 6—3-3/8" squares
• 24—2-1/8" squares
• 12—1-3/4" squares

From black print No. 1, cut:

• 6—3-3/8" squares

From black print No. 2, cut:

• 2—1-3/4×33" inner border strips
• 2—1-3/4×13" inner border strips
• 2—1-3/4×10-1/2" sashing strips

From black print No. 3, cut:

• 2—1-3/4×38" outer border strips
• 2—1-3/4×18" outer border strips

From binding fabric, cut:

• 4—2-1/2×42" binding strips

Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Press seams in directions indicated by arrows on diagrams. If no direction is specified, press seam toward darker fabric.

1. Gather one set of aqua print pieces (sixteen 2-1/8" squares, four 1-3/4×3" rectangles, and one 3" square), one set of solid cream print pieces (two 3-3/4" squares, two 3-3/8" squares, eight 2-1/8" squares, and four 1-3/4" squares), and two black print 3-3/8" squares.

2. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each aqua print 2-1/8" square and black print 3-3/8" square.

3. Layer a marked aqua print No. 1 square atop a solid cream 2-1/8" square. Sew together with two seams, stitching  1/4" on each side of marked line (Diagram 1). Cut apart on marked line; press open to make two small triangle-squares. Each small triangle-square should be 1-3/4" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 16 small triangle-squares total.

4. Using marked black print squares and solid cream 3-3/8" squares, repeat Step 3 to make four large triangle-squares (Diagram 2). Each large triangle-square should be 3" square including seam allowances.

5. Referring to Diagram 3, align two marked aqua print No. 2 squares with opposite corners of a solid cream 3-3/4" square. Sew a scant  1/4" from drawn lines on both sides of lines. Cut apart on drawn lines to make two triangle units (Diagram 4). Press triangle units open.

6. Referring to Diagram 5, align a marked aqua print No. 2 square with solid cream corner of a triangle unit. Sew a scant 1/4" from each side of drawn line; cut apart on drawn line (Diagram 6). Press aqua triangles open to make two Flying Geese units. Each unit should be 1-3/4×3" including seam allowances. Repeat with remaining triangle unit to make two additional Flying Geese units.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to make eight Flying Geese units total.

8. Referring to Diagram 7, lay out one solid cream 1-3/4" square, four small triangle-squares, and one large triangle-square in two rows. Sew together pieces in top row. Join small triangle-squares in bottom row; add large triangle-square. Join rows to make a corner unit. The unit should be 4-1/4" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four corner units total.

9. Sew together two Flying Geese units and one aqua print 1-3/4×3" rectangle to make a side unit (Diagram 8). The unit should be 3×4-1/4" including seam allowances. Repeat to make four side units total.

10. Referring to Diagram 9, lay out corner units, side units, and aqua print 3" square in three rows. Sew together pieces in rows. Join rows to make a block. The block should be 10-1/2" square including seam allowances.

11. Repeat steps 1–10 using orange prints and lime green prints in place of aqua prints to make three blocks total.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks and black print 1-3/4×10-1/2" sashing strips in a row. Sew together pieces in row to make the quilt center. Press seams toward sashing strips. The quilt center should be 10-1/2×33" including seam allowances.

2. Sew black print 1-3/4×33" inner border strips to long edges of quilt center (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Add black print 1-3/4×13" inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward inner border.

3. Sew solid cream 1-3/4×35-1/2" middle border strips to long edges of quilt center (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Add solid cream 1-3/4×15-1/2" middle border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward middle border.

4. Sew black print 1-3/4×38" outer border strips to long edges of quilt center (Quilt Assembly Diagram). Add black print 1-3/4×18" outer border strips to remaining edges to complete quilt top. Press all seams toward outer border.

1. Layer quilt top, batting, and backing; baste. Quilt as desired.

2. Bind with binding strips.