Boards Up
One project with Deena Rutter's Offshore 2 from Riley Blake Designs was never going to be enough, so here's another with a FREE download.
As you can see, It's a table runner! (And yes, we just happen to have appropriate vintage tableware and cookbooks laying about for props.) This is a simple scrappy project that could easily become a place mat or a full blown quilt.
If you bought the Offshore 2 2.5" Rolie Polie, these surfboards can be cut from the 2.5" strips! Perfect for leftovers.
The raw edge applique surfboards are the same as the ones from the Beach Row quilt but enlarged to slightly over ten inches. We've put them on this FREE download so you wouldn't have to figure out the enlarging yourself.
Let's go through how to make one!
What you need: 1 yard RBD Confetti Cotton "Sand", this includes binding.
2- 2.5" by WOF strips "Red Plaid"
2- 2.5 by WOF strips "Blue Plaid"
Fat Quarter "Retro Sign Tan" for fussy cutting surfboard trims
12 assorted scraps approximately 11" by 2.5" for surfboards
Backing fabric and batting 18" by 50"
What you do:
Cut "Sand" fabric into 12 pieces, each 4.5" by 12.5" these are surfboard background. Starch these pieces if you can.
Cut "Sand" fabric into 12 pieces, each 4.5" by 2.5" these are flying geese units.
Cut "Red Plaid" strips into 24- 2.5" by 2.5" squares for flying geese.
Cut "Blue Plaid" strips into 24-2.5" by 2.5" squares for flying geese.
Cut "Sand" fabric into 4-2.25" by WOF strips for binding
NEXT steps:
Trace the surfboard templates onto paper backed fusible web, such as Wonder Under. Iron the fusible to the backs of the fabric scraps you've chosen to make your boards. Cut the stripes, flowers or other trims with contrasting fabrics.
Apply fusible web to the back of the Fat Quarter square of "Retro Sign Tan" and fussy cut any images you want to iron on to your boards. See the pictures for ideas.
We used a teflon sheet to iron our board parts together.
When your boards are ready, iron each one to the center of a "Sand" 4.5" by 12.5" rectangle. Sew in place. You can use decorative stitches or not. We like to use a quilting cotton when we want the stitching to stand out. In our shop that generally means Signature 40wt.
After the boards are done:
Each board needs a flying geese unit sewn to each end. Make the units by sewing a plaid 2.5" square to the two upper corners of a "Sand" 4.5" by 2.5" rectangle.
Make 12 red units and 12 blue units. Sew to surfboard units as shown in pictures.
Finishing the table runner:
We sewed the blocks together in the 'quilt as you go' method. If you've not done this before, you may want to do a bit of research but it's super easy on a table runner.
First, iron your backing fabric. Place it right side down on a table and center the batting on top, smoothing as best as you can. With a long ruler and a pen that will draw on batting, mark the center line horizontally and vertically. Draw another vertical line about 5" from one end as shown:
Fold your block to crease the center and line it up, centered, right side up, along that line. Pin in place.
Take block #2 and place it right side DOWN directly on top of the first block. Nest the seams of the flying geese as shown, and sew a 1/4" seam along your vertical guideline, through both blocks, the batting and the backing.
Fold block #2 back along seam line and press. Place block #3 face down on top of block #2 and proceed the same as before. Here's a pic after a few blocks have been sewn:
Keep adding blocks, making sure your centers line up on the horizontal guideline. Press after each block is sewn.
With this method you are basically quilting as you go along. When all blocks are in place, add more quilting how ever you like. We just shadowed the flying geese a couple times and outlined each board. When satisfied with your quilting, trim the runner and bind as usual.
Then before Jesse gets out her lights and props, clip it to a pant hanger and snap a pic on the sewing room door. Send the pic to your sister. Then say to yourself, "Wouldn't this make good place mats?"
Next up....an Offshore 2 Pillow tutorial!
V.