Stars at Dusk Table Runner

Inspired by "Mix It Up" designer Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts

Quiltmaker: Laura Boehnke

• 1/2 yard total assorted dark brown prints (blocks, outer border)
• 3/4 yard total assorted light to medium prints in brown, tan, rust, and green (blocks, border)
• 1/2 yard total assorted blue prints (blocks, outer border)
• 3/4 yard brown tone-on-tone (inner and outer borders, binding)
• 1-5/8 yards backing fabric
• 31x56" batting

Finished table runner: 25x49-1/2"

Finished block: 6" square

Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order.

From assorted dark brown prints, cut:

• 12--3-7/8" squares
• 24--2-5/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 44 triangles total (11 sets of 4 matching triangles)

From assorted light and medium prints, cut:

• 16--4" squares
• 12 sets of one 2x9" strip and one matching 3-7/8" square
• 36--1-3/4" squares

From assorted blue prints, cut:

• 4--4" squares
• 12--2x9" strips
• 36--1-3/4" squares

From dark brown tone-on-tone, cut:

• 4--2-1/2x42" binding strips
• 2--3-1/2x18" inner border strips
• 2--3-1/4x36-1/2" inner border strips
• 12--2-5/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 24 triangles total

1. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each assorted dark brown print 3-7/8" square.

2. For one Jacob's Ladder block, gather a marked dark brown print square, a 3-7/8" square and 2x9" strip from one light or medium print, and a blue print 2x9" strip.

3. Layer marked dark brown or medium print square atop light brown print 3-7/8" square. Sew together with two seams, stitching 1/4" on each side of drawn line (Diagram 1).

4. Cut pair apart on drawn line to make two triangle units (Diagram 1). Open triangle units and press seams toward dark brown print to make two triangle-squares. Each triangle-square should be 3-1/2" square including seam allowances.

5. Sew together light or medium print and blue print 2x9" strips to make a strip set (Diagram 2). Press seam toward light brown print. Cut strip set into four 2"-wide segments.

6. Join two 2"-wide segments to make a large Four-Patch unit (Diagram 3). Press seam open. The unit should be 3-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second large Four-Patch unit.

7. Referring to Diagram 4, lay out triangle-squares and large Four-Patch units in pairs. Sew together pieces in each pair; press seams open. Join pairs to make a Jacob's Ladder block; press seam open. The block should be 6-1/2" square including seam allowances.

8. Repeat steps 2–7 to make 12 Jacob's Ladder blocks total.

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out blocks in six rows, rotating every other block a quarter turn. Sew together blocks in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction with each row.

2. Join rows to make quilt center. Press seams in one direction. The quilt center should be 12-1/2x36-1/2" including seam allowances.

1. Sew long brown tone-on-tone inner border strips to long edges of quilt center. Add short brown tone-on-tone inner border strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward inner border.

2. Referring to Diagram 5, sew together two assorted light or medium print 1-3/4" squares and two assorted blur print 1-3/4" squares in pairs. Press seams in opposite directions. Join pairs to make a small Four-Patch unit. Press seam in one direction. The small Four-Patch unit should be 3" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 18 small Four-Patch units total.

3. Sew matching dark brown print or brown tone-on-tone triangles to opposite edges of a small Four-Patch unit (Diagram 6). Add matching dark brown print or dark brown tone-on-tone triangles to remaining edges to make a Square-in-a-Square unit. Press all seams toward triangles. The unit should be 4" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make 18 Square-in-a-Square units total.

4. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, join six medium brown print 4" squares and six Square-in-a-Square units in a row to make a long outer border strip. Press seams toward squares. The long outer border strip should be 4x42-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second long outer border strip. Sew long outer border strips to long edges of quilt center.

5. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, join two each of blue print and light brown print 4" squares and three Square-in-a-Square units in a row to make a short outer border strip. Press seams toward squares. The short outer border strip should be 4x25" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second short outer border strip. Add short outer border strips to remaining edges to complete table runner top. Press all seams toward inner border.

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

2. Bind with brown tone-on-tone binding strips.