Sew SwapIt Runner

I have joined a group on Facebook called "Sew SwapIt" and items are made and swapped among the group members. The swap this month is a table runner, and could be either a Halloween or Autumn theme, and these are the fabrics I have decided to use - an Autumnal collection called Gobble Gobble by Sandy Gervais for Moda..... 

---

.....I received only a little bit of information about the person who I'm making this runner for - she had requested autumn colours - and she'd said that although she was just starting to get into "modern quilting", she was not totally embracing it yet, but was trying to broaden her horizons, so this fabric range is ideal for the project I had in mind. Traditional piecing, but with a modern layout and quilting design. I thought my "swapee" would like these autumnal fabrics, in a variety of colours - greens, rusts, oranges and browns. Pumpkins, leaves, flowers and spots. Funky and modern patterns but traditional colours. I decided to design my own pattern for the runner - a modern layout, but made with traditional piecing.  So, I started off by cutting out lots of 2½" squares.....

---

.....I joined the squares together to make a nine-patch block, pressing my seams as I went along - then I joined 5 of these nine-patch blocks together..... 

---

.....asymmetric crisp linen borders were added on each side of the runner..... 

---

.....the runner was finished with simple machine quilting, using a dark brown Mettler quilting thread (top tip - I always use Schmetz Topstitch needles size 90 for quilting). I used a Clover Hera marker to mark quilting lines 1" apart, then quilted in the middle of these lines by using the edge of my walking foot as a guide.....

---

.....I have used matching prints from the same fabric range for both the backing and for the single-fold binding. And one of my labels as a final flourish? But of course.....  

---

.....and finally - here is the finished runner! This will be winging it's way across the sea to America - and no I'm NOT going to say who it is for yet, I don't want to spoil the surprise! Oh and I might just add a couple of extra "treats" for the lucky swappee!

---