I carved out a small bit of time the other day to make a quick table topper for my dining room table. I'd like to share with you how I made it in case you would like to try one for yourself. First, get four fabrics that you like. To make it scrappier looking, grab a few more.
From each of the four fabrics cut:
2 - 4 1/2" x width of fabric strips
cut each strip into 4 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles
Lay out the fabrics to make a square. This is where it's up to you to determine the size you want. I kept adding rectangles till I got the size square I wanted for the topper. Sew all the pieces together. I knew it needed something to jazz it up a bit so I decided to add the word "Joy". I went to my go-to book "The ABC's of Words on Quilts" by Elizabeth Scott. Trace the letters onto fusible web and iron the web to the back of the black fabric. Carefully cut out the letters, peel off the paper and iron them to the front of the quilt. I machined stitched the letters, using the blanket stitch, onto the fabric. Next, get a piece of fabric large enough for the backing and a piece of batting as well. Quilt the fabric anyway you'd like. I machined stitched on either side of the seams along the rectangles.
To make the circle fold the fabric to find the center and put a pin on the back of the fabric in the center. Take a piece of yarn and tie one end to the pin and one end to a sharpie pen (or whatever pen you'd like) Once you determine how long the yarn has to be to go all around the square to make the circle and have adjusted and tied the yarn to fit, very slowly draw the circle. When that is finished, carefully cut the circle from the quilt square.
I made bias binding because it stretches to fit the shape of the circle nicely. There are many tutorials on the web for making bias binding if you haven't made bias binding before. I machine stitched it to the front of the circle and hand sewed it to the back. My finished topper is 29" round.
If you decide to make a topper, I'd love to see it! I think it would make a nice Christmas gift, don't you? Have a wonderful day!
Smiles,
