how to make a Christmas raggedy table runner, sewing for Christmas

How to Make a Christmas Raggedy Quilted Table Runner

This is one of my favorite Christmas decorations for my home. I love the shades of forest green and cranberry together. Plus it is fun and easy to make. I have given plenty of these Christmas Raggedy Table Runners as gifts to friends, teachers, and family members.

	Please read through ALL the directions first then start here: First find plenty of cranberry and green homespun fabrics. (I use homespun's and calico's, but homespun's "rag" the best.) You will also need some quilt batting. (I use Warm & Natural. It cost more money, but the results and the feel of it makes it worth the extra $$)
	Next you are going to be cutting squares. For best results use a rotary cutter. If you do not have one then just cut as straight as you can using scissors and a ruller. You will need to cut twelve 6" squares of quilt batting, twelve 8" squares of green fabric, and twelve 8" squares of cranberry fabric. (For the red and green fabrics, I cut 4 of 3 different red colors, and then 4 of 3 different green colors as you can see in the photo.)
	Now you are going to place one quilt batting square in the middle of two red squares. You want the pretty sides to be on the outside. Place one quilt batting square in between the ugly sides of one red square as shown in the photo.
	Once your quilt batting is in between the fabric squares pin them as shown in the photo. Two pins in the middle of the square should be fine. Do this to all of your sets of squares. You should have 12 sets of squares pinned at this point.

	Now you are going to stitch an "X" on each square of 3 layers. Unlike most other quilts where the quilt top is done first and then the 3 layers are quilted, raggedy quilts are quilted as they are being made. Now stitch each square of 3 layers caddy-corner as shown in this photo. Do not back tack at the corners when you start and finish. If you don't back-tack, when your quilt is done and is ready to be cut, it makes it easier to cut and it rags much nicer. Do this to all of your 12 squares.
	Once you have one caddy-corner line sewn on each square, you are going to stitch the other side from one corner to the other. This forms an "X" as shown in the photo. Do this to all 12 sets of squares.
	Now that all 12 squares are have an "X" sewn through them, it is time to put your quilted table runner together. Arrange the squares the way you would like them to look on your table runner.
	We are going to sew one row together first, then the other. Start with your top row. You will start by pinning them together on the side seam as shown in the photo. Stitch down the side using a 1" seam. Continue this process until you have sewn all 6 together on your top row.

	Stitch your bottom row in the same manner. This is what your two sewn rows should look like when done.
	Now you have to sew your two rows together. Pin them pretty sides together matching seams. Sew down the long seam with a 1" seam allowance.
	This is what your runner should look like when the two rows are sewn together. Now stitch a 1" seam allowance around the whole outside of the runner. This helps hold it in place when you start your cutting slits and washing and drying it.
	To get the "ragged" look we need to cut slits. Begin cutting slits on EVERY seam allowance. Lots and Lots of cutting... Just keep cutting those slits... Yeap, I know...more cutting... The smaller the slits, the more "raggedy" your table runner will look!!!

Now, once you have cut all of your slits, wash your raggedy table runner in COLD/COLD, and then dry it in the dryer. Shake it out!!!

Your beautiful, country, Christmas Raggedy Quilted Runner is done!!!