Charming Table Runner For Spring

Charm Squares

Got any?

 5x5" of delightful color and pattern!

If you are a quilter or if you have ever shopped at a quilt fabric store then I need not explain what a charm square is or might be used for- but do you actually use them? More often than not they sit quietly, waiting in my sewing room for that day in the distant future when I might finally decide to sew some together!
It's not that I don't want to use them, I really do!
It's just that once I use them up, they will be gone and I really like looking at them. It's the only time I really get to own a complete line of fabric.
I usually buy novelty fabrics by the yard and have never had a whole colorway of any one line , though I continue to try!

OK, well, I finally opened my treasure box of charm squares and after clearing  off the dining room table, I began arranging them in rows and after finally selecting a nice arrangement I started sewing them together.

It couldn't be easier to stitch each row together, press and then go to the next row.
After all 3 rows were stitched I trimmed the edges and then sewed each row together.
I used neutrals with a few Rachel Ashwell samples from her Shabby Chic line a few years ago. I tried to blend linen, cotton, and jacquard woven squares with some quilt fabrics to make a mellow back ground.
I then tore some wide sections of linen fabric for the ends and sides.
 I am going to embroider and applique some gnome houses and
flowers along the linen sections.
The center section will be mostly covered with rabbits, chicks and gnomes anyway!
I know you are probably thinking about Easter right at this moment but I tend to think about the whole season of Spring and Easter is just one day in that season.
The older I get, the less time I want to spend on house work and that includes decorating!
So, next I will be making some mushroom houses and clotheslines with tiny gnome clothes and daffodils and daisies pushing up everywhere!
I wanted to make something wider than a normal runner  so that I wouldn't have to also use placemats. We'll see how it turns out!
I hope that the Easter bunny has a nice warm sweater and some snow boots!
Happy Sewing!
calamity kim