I am trying to make a table runner that looked pretty simple but I'm stuck. No surprise there,huh. lol
I don't know how far to sew when attaching a strip.
Here are some pictures of what I've done so far.
I also don't know if I should be using a dry iron or steam.....?
Should I backstitch?
I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Aren't those overlaps just your seam allowances for the corner blocks?

i am not a pro by far, just a beginner but i would probably sew the little squares on the corners onto the sashing before attatching it to the middle square and iron with steam on just cause it seems to work better that way.

Is it going to be one of the braided looking ones with the big square in the center and then strips going out from there? If so, I think you just always add equal-length strips and then trim the excess before adding borders or binding. It looks like you are off to a good start.

Have you already sewn the side, green, strips to the center print block? I don't think that'll work. Don't you need to sew the little squares to ends of the green strips before you sew the green onto the yellow/orange print?

The "little corners" were attached to the green strip before I sewed it to the center block.

Yes, it is a braided table runner pattern.

I don't know if this is the official way to do this, but it is what I do.

1) Sew left and right side sashes (strips) on the block. Your square is now a rectangle.

2) Sew the little squares on the top and bottom sashes. This should make the sash equal to the length of the rectangle you created in step 1.

3) Sew the longer sashes(strips) created in step 2 onto the top and bottom of the block. Make sure you match the corners with the left and right sashes.

Hope this helps!

You are doing it correctly. The sides without the cornerstone is the side that you will trim off evenly after you put the rest of your french braid strips on. After you put the next row on it makes more sense - honest.

Good job keep up the good work.

Sherryl
candlequilter

Just thought I'd provide an opinion on some of the questions people haven't answered yet.

Dry Iron Vs. Steam - I used steam doing this same pattern. Mine came out a liiittle wonky, but that could be due to me measuring or sewing wrong and not necessarily the steam. ;)

Backstitch - It might be a good idea to backstitch on the ends that are near the cornerstones. The outside edges will get cut off or sewn over so no real point in backstitching there. Just my opinion though!

Best of luck to you, this pattern can be a bit confusing at first, but once you get it down you'll fly through it! :)

Agreed, it doesnt feel "right" when you are making it, but you are doing it correctly. If you turn your square sidewayts so it is a diamond, with teh corner stones on the left and right, this is how your runner will finish up.
The little green bits that are top and bottom will be trimmed off before you add a boarder, if you want to!

I have made 2 of these, and it feels so wrong when sewing it together, but you are doing it right! LAyer your nxt colour at the cornerstone ends, begin sewing from the cornerstone end.

You are doing well!