Twelve foot table runner - how to quilt?
 

I have been requested to make a 12 foot table runner for a friend's Bed and Breakfast island to protect the top of the island.

She didn't want it pieced, so it is a 12 foot x WOF continuous piece. It will end up being reversible.

So I have it all basted and I am ready to quilt it.

I thought I would section it - and do FMQ sampler style in each section. Maybe divide each section with straight line quilting or a bit of cross hatching for some continuity.

What would YOU do if you were me? I have attached a picture of the robins egg blue front and the red and white back - she picked out the fabric.

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I think either your idea about the sections is good or look at the site that Tartan suggested. That is a long table runner.

I made one that was 56" by 132" and I quilted it close in a stiffle or meandering style that way it is not unlevel for glassware.. good luck it is very pretty design

i like your idea of the sampler... maybe make 'blocks' of sampler quilting and use the same background quilting for the 'sashing'. would love to see it when you are done.

I agree with pw6. If she is going to place dishes and glassware on it, you need to make sure things are not going to tip over.

I agree with keeping the quilting close so that is it stable for items placed on it. If she didn't want it pieced I wonder how she would feel about the quilting varying by section. I think I'd be inclined to ask about it being consistent throughout, or having some variety along the way, before doing the work.

I've done this for my kitchen bar....I just used thermolane for batting(very thin) and sewed two fabs and batt, birthed it, sewed 1/4"around all edges, then just bartacked at intervals in the body of runner.......easy peasy.......wash fabric first....so there is no shrinkage...I wash, throw into dryer, take out warm, smooth over fab, fold and ready to go.....quick and colorful. Even did one for dining room tablerunner one year for Easter...some cute holiday fabs......

Wait..you said 12 foot x WOF........ 12 feet long by 45" wide..that's a banquet sized tablecloth!

Yup...

She didn't want it pieced to save me the trouble (and her the cost)! I think it is mainly for large gatherings (as well as a B&B it is a retreat centre) when she puts out hot dishes. I will have to ask her about putting stemware on it. If she is going to, I will quilt it densely for stability.

Thanks for all the input folks!

That is a big tablerunner. I admit, that I didn't realize WOF at first either. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I just made a 6 foot x 24" table runner. I cross-hatched every 3" for the quilting. I used a low loft (warm and natural) batting and it did not create any "tipping" problems.

How about following the design on the red/white side a la Maureen Noble. She did that a lot in class I took from her many years ago. I find it saves me all kinds of frustration about How to Quilt it.
Use red on that side and a pale blue on top. Just asuggestion

I did a runner that was 1 ft by 30 ft. I appliqued the first digits of PI 3.14159... For my math classroom. The applique was boring but I used fruit and meat fabrics. Took a long time for students to think Apple pie, cherry pie, chicken pie,... The hard part wasn't the quilting but the binding! I'd want to buy premade binding if possible. Good luck!