I think it's made like the free runner pattern from Quiltbug.
http://phoebemoon.com/Patterns/tabletopper.htm
You add a block to one end of the strip for the braid before you sew them together. You'd not use the block in the center of the table topper - just sew all strips and then cut the size you want. Quilts Galore has easy directions for a braided border. You could add the little squares and then make it wider by using longer strips.