? about braided table runner
 

Hi there wonderful folks...this is tapper.

I want to make a braided runner similar to the free pattern one at quiltbug.com. I had planned to use a focus block for the center area. When I looked at the fabric, I realized that the block I want to use is rectangular. It is a block from a panel and it measures 9"X10.5"
My question is ...can I use a rectangular block with this pattern? If I can,...do I make any changes with the strips?

Thanks for any help.

http://quiltbug.com/free/table-topper.htm

Hi tapper & welcome. Unfortunately, this topper needs the center block to be square. So you could add some strips to the 2 short sides to square it up, but looking at the pattern, I think the block would also need to be cut on the diagonal. If your focus block was square, and the picture or whatever was on the straight of the fabric, it would be tilted in the runner.

I hope to try it soon.

best wishes with it and be sure to show us a pic

Hi PaperPrincess......this is tapper.
Thanks for the info.
I went back and sized up the pattern and I think you're right. The block...square or rectangular....will end up being tilted.
Don't know why I didn't see that!
Back to the drawing board...or, in this case, back to google images to find another runner pattern.
I want to try different patterns for the runners I'm making.

Thanks again. I appreciate the help.

I thought about this some more (I really should be cleaning, but this is way more fun). You could add strips to the sides of your panel to make it square, then add triangles to each of the 4 sides to put it on the diagonal, like a square in square block:
http://www.equilters.com/library/PFP...in-square.html
Again, depending on your table placement in the room, and what the image is in the panel, you are looking at a one direction runner, but that might be OK.

Okay. So make the rectangle into a square by adding to sides, then make it a sq.-in-a-sq.
My image is a sweet shop
Will it work? I am trying to see the finished block in my mind's eye.
I can get the image squared up but not sure after that.
I drew a square on a scrap paper and sketched a house in the center. Then I drew the triangles on each side and I think it will work but I can't seem to wrap my mind around how it will look once the braids are added.
I'll give it a try after the Xmas rush and see how it goes.

Thanks for being a friend. I'll let you know if it works out.

I am cleaning tonight. Just took a break. I did most of the heavy cleaning last week so I'm not overwhelmed.

I was making this same runner the other night and was dealing with the "tilted" center square issues, and ended up just using an all over star fabric. Anyway, when I put it on the table, the first thing I did (as I always do) was to put the centerpiece right over the center block. If I'd have thought about it, I'd have saved myself a lot of time worrying about the center design as it gets covered up anyway. Live and learn!

You can take your piece of fabric that is going to be your center and make a photo copy of it and work from that. I do this often .

I'm afraid that putting a directional scene or design in a table topper may be a problem no matter what the shape. People on three sides of the topper will see the center on its side or up-side down. Viewing it from only one side will be correct. A long table that is up against a wall might work but that's about it.