I finished my runner kit that used the "pile" of fabric that I showed you in my last post.  The pattern was free from  Samelia's Mum, called Stack & Slash, and was really quick and easy.  In a nutshell, you use 4-10" different squares of fabric, stack them, then slice them in half-ish at an angle.  Then you mix them up, and sew them back together.  You could use different sized blocks or more blocks to make a longer runner.  

 

I used my Pinmoors for the first time to baste this runner.  I really liked the ease of insertion and it was even easier to remove the pins and Pinmoors as you quilted.  I think I would have still preferred to use my usual spray basting method on this small project, but these were certainly fun to try.  The next time I use them, I'll use a shorter and sturdier pin as I bent a  couple of pins just slightly when I was attaching the Pinmoors to the pins.  

       

 

 

 Here's the finished runner.  It's 36 1/2" x 10 1/2", a nice size for my small table.

 

 

 

Backside.  I like both sides and will switch them back and forth.

 

 

My friend Kathy introduced me to a new binding technique.... new to me, anyway.  I had never tried this before, in fact, had never even heard of it.  This is a tutorial from Pat Sloan that shows you in great detail, how to use this technique.  (Interestingly, the fabric in this runner is also from Pat Sloan.)  The binding is machine sewn on both sides for a quick, finished binding. You use a blanket stitch sewn from the front side.  I really like the look of this finish and you could certainly use other decorative stitches for more variety.

 

 

Now here's a picture of what NOT to do.  Pat explains this clearly in her tutorial.  When you sew your binding on the front of the quilt, you are to follow the stitching line that you made when you sewed the binding to the back.  If you stay on this line, your blanket stitch will fall neatly on the binding on the back.  When you don't use this line, your blanket stitch will be off kilter.... like my back side.  Now that I fully understand what I'm doing, I'll make sure that I stay on the stitching line the next time.  I don't object to this line of stitching and chose to leave it as is.  (I meant to do this....right?)

 

 

For my quilting lines, I just made several straight lines at 1/4" apart between the block pieces, then filled in the open space that was left with a wavy squiggle. 

 

 

 

 

"Action shot" (my runner at work on my table)

 

 

 

I hope you'll check out the links above and give them a look-see.  The runner went together in an afternoon from start to finish....would be great for gifts!