A new pattern for a Thanksgiving table-runner has just been launched in the Etsy shop. I have wanted to make the table-runner and write the pattern for some time and now here it is!
One of my sons is currently living in Canada, so I have learnt the date of Canadian Thanksgiving (11th October this year) and recognised that it is distinct from Thanksgiving in the US, which falls in November. Fortunately, since all my patterns are instantly downloadable, there is still time to make a table-runner before either the Canadian or American celebrations!
I definitely wanted the finished product to display warm autumn colours and I also thought it would be good to design a ‘scrappy’ quilt, so that there would be lots going on, on the surface. I pulled out a whole collection of autumnal hues (twenty-four different colours in all) and also chose to vary the low-volume prints in the background of the leaves – again to add interest.
The leaves just had to be maple leaves, with a fond nod to Canada.
I devised a set of letters that would fit well into the size of blocks planned for the centre of the runner and stitched together these squares first. Next, I made the star block at the end of the word which has eight different fabrics in, picking up the colours in the lettering.
Finally, I made up the leaf blocks and used my design wall to try them out in different positions with reference to the letters until I was happy that there was a good colour balance across the whole piece.
There’s a narrow border and a neat red binding to pull the whole thing together.
I think the runner would also work well as a banner: with a hanging sleeve stitched to the back for a batten to go through, it would make a decorative wall-hanging for Thanksgiving.
I like the idea of choosing to be thankful. I’m thankful we have managed to make our move to the South-East after nearly two years of trying, I’m thankful that I now see more of my daughter, son-in-law, grand-daughter and my other son than was ever possible previously. So, I’m planning to have a UK Thanksgiving meal on 11th October with a possible internet link to the son in Canada, with the new table-runner on the table!
You can buy the pattern here.
Amanda Jane Textiles offers unique fabrics for sale here, quilt patterns here and classes here