Need some inspiration ...
 

I just finished piecing a holiday table runner made with some really pretty purple, green and gold fabric. I really want the finished runner to look nice, so I'm not going to FMQ it because I am bad at FMQ. Really, really bad. I'm also a little tired of the same old stitch-in-the-ditch, but I'm not really sure what else I could do with it. Does anyone have any ideas? Photo is attached and thank you in advance!

How would you feel about doing stitch in the ditch just around the big blocks, then doing a series of echo stitching in straight lines with square corners that you could do with a walking foot. I think it would look really cool in gold metallic thread.

Your runner is beautiful.

I love that fabric. It would go great in my plum living room.

I have done SID with a narrow zigzag and also with a serpentine stitch (looks like a continuous S). My sister quilted one of hers with a decorative feather-type stitch. SID looks really different when you change to a non-straight stitch and it's easier also -- more forgiving!

When I get sick of stitch in the ditch. I do diagonals one way then back the other. So it looks like diamonds. I use a washable marker to draw the lines.

oh! pretty!

what about using metallic embroidery thread and echoing the elegant shape of those ornaments in your print on the nine patch block?

you wouldn't have to do a lot of hand quilting and it would add such a lovely sparkle without taking away from the piecework.

aileen

I did diagonals using blue painters tape. Lay the tape on a diagonal line across the runner, stitch along one side using your presser foot at the edge of the tape as your guide. Then move the tape next to the other side of the line you just sewed and stitch again. Keep going until you have filled in. The tape comes in different widths.

Stitch Christmas trees in the 9 patch blocks, tack down the ornament blocks by stitching on sequins.

I think this is a great idea and make it also look modern..you can use painters tape on your fabric as a guide

it's a beauty. you could sid on the focus squares and diagonal through each 9-patch square

Beautiful. I love bling, so I like the sequin idea with diagonals through the gold patches.

Maybe do aN "X" in the smaller squares and outline the ornaments in the larger squares?

If not FMQ meandering, then I would outline the center squares and do diagonals on the rest. No matter what, it's gorgeous fabric!

I like TanyaL's idea! Great runner by the way.

I am so glad you posted this I bought this fabric and just wasn't thrilled with it. Your table runner is lovely and gives me inspiration. I would add a thin purple border perhaps then another round of that green to seal the deal. Not sure about the quilting though maybe some of the ornament motifs in the larger areas. What are you using on the back?

no quilting suggestions for you, but it is surely lovely! ;0)
great job!

I like the idea of diagonal lines in the smaller squares and sequins and stitch in the ditch with decorative stitches for the larger blocks. Maybe stitch an occasional star in the smaller squares if you decide to do the Christmas tree pattern instead of the diagonal lines.

I'm glad I read this. I'm getting ready to SID my Thanksgiving runner and a feather-type stitch would probably go great. I knew there was a reason I was procrastinating.

Thank you for all the suggestions! I went with SID around the big blocks and diagonals through the nine patch blocks. It looks really nice!

I loved the suggested about SID with the decorative stitches but I was too scared to try it with this project, since I never really use those stitches so am not familiar with them. I will try it on another project, though.

Thanks again!
Becki

This is just so pretty. I love the fabrics. Nice work. Just SID