Seasonal Trees Mini Table Runner

I made this Seasonal Trees Mini Table Runner to go onto a wooden bread box which has been in my family for many years. This delightful wood box used to hold bags of flour and even has a wood panel inside to store yeast blocks. Now this lovely box has it's pride of place in my lounge and I use it as a small coffee table. It's almost like having my own treasure chest in my lounge.
I wanted a mini table runner to go onto this lovely chest but I wanted the wood to show as well. The runner in this photo measures 24" x 7"
I used the Seasonal Trees Designs found here for this project, but you can use quilt block designs that measure 5"x5".  This project was really quick to make.




For this project you will need:
4 x 7" x 7" plain cotton
3 x 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" strips in a quilters cotton.
2 x 23" x 1 1/2" strips in a quilters cotton
2 x 7 1/2" x 1 1/2" strips in a quilters cotton
1 x  7 1/2" x 25 1/2" piece in a quilters cotton for the backing.

Let's get started!
                                                           

First use a print out of the design to mark the center of your fabric and where you will be stitching your designs. Mark the 4 plain pieces of fabric with an air marker. Stitch out your designs. 

Trim back each design to create a block 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Now to join the blocks to each other using the 3 short strips of fabric. 

Place one strip to the side of the one block. Right sides facing. Sew a 1/4" seam. I used a 1/4" foot, also known as a quilters foot. It sure makes sewing these sized seams a lot easier.

Flip the strip so over and finger press the seam.

Add the next block to fabric strip in the same way. Keep adding the fabric strips and the blocks.

You should now have a strip that looks like this.

Next we will add on the 2 long strips. 

Your runner should look like this. Now to complete the front of the runner, just add on the 2 remaining strips to the ends. Before adding on the backing, give your runner a light steam press.

Place the backing fabric to the front, right sides facing. Sew a 1/4" seam right round the runner leaving open a space on the side to turn the runner right side out.
Turn the runner right side out and close the opening with a few hidden stitches. And that's it. Your mini runner is ready to be used.