Monday, February 24, 2014

Appliqued Heart Table Runner

Greetings!
Fussy cutting. You guys know what that is, right? It's when you cut pieces of fabric so that a particular part of the printed design is centered or featured.

The weekend leading up to Valentine's Day I got a wild hair and started fussy cutting hearts out of some hot pink flannel fabric that I've had in my stash for a long time (and which I used in small doses for this project a couple of years ago). Mainly I was just playing with my new scalloped scissors and getting the feel of them, but the more I cut, the more I realized how much I liked those printed hearts. The fabric on the whole is just too bright for my tastes (and that's really saying something, because you know I love bright colors) but all those darling hearts! So what to do with them?

I know, I'll make a table runner!

Appliqued Heart Table Runner

I cut a long, wide strip of canvas and without any plan whatsoever, just started spreading out the hearts across the fabric in all directions. I stepped back and squinted a couple of times just to make sure the color was evenly distributed (very scientific, aye?) and when it was, I pinned them down and started stitching.

Here's a picture I posted on Instagram just as I was getting started. I never thought I would like it as much as I do, but I'm really starting to love Instagram for quick little WIP pictures.
Pinning down the hearts

Once I started I was a stitching machine. I queued up a book on Audibles (kind of "meh" as far as books go, but an easy listen, and one of my book club picks so I had to get through it anyway)
Stitching progress, hearts table runner

Somewhere along the way I fell in love with the stitching on the back and decided that I wasn't going to back or quilt this piece, I was just going to add binding and call it a day.
Back side of hearts table runner

I mean really, look at that! It's kind of accidentally pretty isn't it? I'm not fussed about the knots, it's a table runner, not a hard wearing pair of jeans...
Accidentally pretty reverse side of heart appliqued table runner

Speaking of binding, Instagram is also great for quick opinions. Like choosing which binding to go with, hot pink or aqua gingham?
Choosing the binding

Gingham for the win! I loved the pink, but there was a lot of pink in those hearts already, and I thought the aqua was a good balance, and besides... gingham!!
Appliqued Heart Table Runner

I'm pretty much in love with this runner now, it's one of my all-time favorites out of ALL the things I've ever made and that just tickles me because I really didn't put any thought into this. No planning, no worrying, I just cut a bunch of hearts out of some too-pink fabric and stitched those babies down. Talk about pretty accidents.
Appliqued Heart Table Runner

Valentine's Day has come and gone, but the runner remains out on the coffee table in the family room. It's just too pretty to put away.
Appliqued Heart Table Runner

Finally this fabric which has been sitting on a shelf for years met it's best potential (or at least the best I could give it) and has struck the right balance of bright & pretty and just a little bit tame. I love it!

Happy Monday everyone! 
oxo,
Lisa

10 comments:

Melissa said...

It is beauuuutiful! I love how you can just make something without a pattern or a plan.

Becky said...

So adorable! Quick and clever your mind is!

beadgirl said...

Cute!

Unknown said...

Cute cute cute!!

SewAmy said...

Your runner turned out so adorable!

Kim said...

So pretty - I love all the colors I think you made the right call with the blue gingham. It really makes a great border.

Beedeebabee said...

Lisa...this is just too darn cute!!! Something as sweet and adorable as this, that makes you smile every time you pass by...should stay out ALL YEAR! I LOVE IT!!! xoxo

Beth H said...

That's adorable! Good job!

Pat said...

Much to cute and pleasing to the eye to pack away!

parTea lady said...

Your freestyle hearts table runner is very pretty. Maybe I'll do a similar one with teapots sometime. ☺