It isn’t the season but Christmas themed quilted table runners are what i’m currently working on. I started them last April and went as far as piecing the tops. Then they just sat in pile of UFOs.
Five Pieced Table Runners
Two were finished right before Christmas. The runner in the top picture was gifted this Christmas as was one the lower left in the second picture.
The Joy
I just finished this third one just after Christmas and I’m very happy how it turned out!
I love the backing fabric. Using such a large print on the front of a quilt isn’t something I’d likely do however, as a backing, it’s perfect.
The Sorrow
After that one was finished I started quilting the Christmas themed table runner that has the cardinal and chick-a-dee fabric. It’s such a pretty print. The fabric line is called Holiday Botanical by Jane Shasky for Henry Glass & Co. I did not wash it prior to using it as that’s not my habit. Besides, quality quilt store fabric shouldn’t run, right?
The first quilting plan was using various size star motifs in the bird panels. Then I washed out those lines because I hated how it looked in practice. I then used a Crayola ultra washable marker in purple to mark vertical lines. I didn’t like how those looked either so I ended up stippling the centre panel. However, while doing that Irealised the red in the bird print fabric ran when I was washing out the first set of marks (the Crayola washable marker used the first time however came out perfectly).
While the piecing is simple, I really like how the table runner is turning out (other than the fact that the colour has run), and am hoping to salvage it. So the plan is now to finish most or all of the quilting and bind it and then see if I can get out the colour that has run. I’ve heard submerging it in water mixed with blue Dawn dish soap for a minimum of 24 hours can work magic. After that I’ll try washing it with Synthrapol and drying it with colour catchers. If all that works – great! If not lesson learnt – I’ll know to wash fabrics with red prior to starting a quilting project.
Linking to Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Songbird Designs, Melva Loves Scraps, Quilting Patchwork Applique, My Quilt Infatuation , Quilt Schmilt, From Bolt to Beauty, Alycia Quilts and Nina Marie
I hate when red runs, because I love reds! Hopefully you can salvage it. All are very nice, but I love the 4 patch one.
I make an effort to pre-wash fabrics now because I had a similar experience with a finished quilt. You runners are sure pretty!
Have you looked up how to remove color that has run on Google? There are a multitude of answers. There is a dyer in the Richmond area who has some good ideas about removing the dyes that have migrated. (I can’t remember her name or blog! Sorry.) I always use Carbona Color Grabbers. They do an amazing job of absorbing the lose colors out of fabric. Carbona actually has a product to take the “run” out. I haven’t ever used it but I might. I have a Christmas quilt that I hand quilted and the red ran. It doesn’t look terrible if you hadn’t seen the quilt pre-run. So it bothers me. I may have to get some of that product to see if it will help. You might want to check out this link to my blog showing the difference between Color Catchers and Color Grabbers. https://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/2025/08/monday-meanderings-8-10-2025.html. I wash all of my fabric with Color Grabbers before they make it to my sewing area. I just don’t want to have any dye migration!
What pretty runners! Hope you can fix the red
What a shame. I have been using table toppers on our kitchen table for several years. Drips and spills happen, so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about the red. But I do hope you have some success in removing it! Thanks for sharing in Sew & Tell.
You have some very fun holiday runners finished and in progress. I prewash all my fabrics, but I had a red run on a Christmas quilt when I washed it as a whole. I need to try the dawn trick too. Fingers crossed you get all the red out!
Those runners are so pretty. I’m so sorry about the red running. Reds and dark colors are some of the worst, but, like you, I don’t prewash either. I mostly use batiks and so far have never had a problem with colors running. I hope you are able to get the run out. Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings. Have a great week.
So sorry about that red! I don’t prewash either and I use color catchers in the wash to help grab any loose color. I have had one incident with running and I followed the soak in the tub method and it worked wonderfully. Hope it will for you too.
Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss. It’s nine years old! Be sure to enter the giveaway.
https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2026/01/21/wednesday-wait-loss-468
My eyes aren’t seeing the color run. I do love the cardinals.
I didn’t see the red bleeding at first either. Have you tried to get it out yet? I’ve used the advice from “Save my bleeding quilt” before and it worked for me. It involves soaking in Dawn with very hot water. Is that what you’re working with?
Your runners are beautiful, sorry about the red bleeding. Despite the red issue, there is a lot of joy here! Thank you for sharing and linking up with Patchwork & Quilts.