Quilted Sunflower Table Runner

The quilted sunflower table runner is finally finished!  These were the first Dresden Plate squares I've made and I have to say I kinda like them - there may be more in my future quilting.

Materials:
*assorted colors of batik fabric - I used Time Less Treasure's Harvest Tonga Treats strips which I ordered from The Fat Quarter Shop.  The picture to the right is their collection of five inch squares, which I also have.
*1 1/2 yard backing/contrast fabric (I used a green batik/ice dye type fabric)
*1/4 yard brown fabric for the sunflower centers (I used a brown batik/ice dye type fabric)
*1/2 yard off white cotton fabric 
*thin interfacing
*template for Dresden Plate pieces - I don't have access to a scanner at the moment, so I can't provide one, but I found a nice, inexpensive heavy plastic template at JoAnn's.
*low loft batting
*4 yards of single fold bias tape or make from the backing material

1.  Using a Dresden template, cut 40 4-inch pieces.  Fold in half and iron.

2.  Sew across the top (the widest end) - just keep sewing them without stopping and breaking the thread.  Much easier!  You'll end up with what looks like a long flag banner.  Snip threads to cut each piece off.

3.  Open up and fold the top down, forming a point.  Iron.

4.  Sew together ten Dresden pieces, repeat, then sew the two halves together.

5.  Cut out four 12 inch squares from the off white cotton fabric.  Fold in quarters and iron - open up and using the fold lines as a guide, center the flower, pin in place and hand sew on as an applique.

6.  Cut 13 strips of backing/contrast fabric measuring 12 inches by 1 1/2 inches.  Sew two along opposite sides of each flower square.

7.  Cut 10 squares measuring 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches from one of the batik fabrics.  Sew one onto each end of 5 backing/contrast strips.  Sew one of these strips onto each open side of one square.  Sew this square to another flower square and add another strip to the open end.  Repeat until all flower squares and strips have been used. 

7.  Cut four 4 1/2 inch circles from brown fabric and four more from the thin interfacing.  I found that the lid from a large yogurt container makes a good template.

8.  Pin an interfacing circle to each brown circle and pin.  If you are using iron-on interfacing, make sure you pin the side that will stick facing out.  Sew completely around the edge in a 1/4 inch seam.

Cut a long slit down the middle of the interfacing ...

.... and turn right side out and iron.

9.  IMPORTANT!!  Disregard the brown circles already being attached in the photo below!  After quilting the first square I thought of a better way, but it was too late for a new photo.

Pin the long strip of flower squares (minus the brown centers) to a piece of batting and a piece of backing.  I find it's easier to quilt when I make the batting and the backing about an inch beyond the quilt top.

10.  Quilt around the petals.

11.  Now pin on the brown centers and hand sew the on around the edges.  Free motion quilt in a pattern that has circles and loops to look like sunflower seeds.  See this past post for free motion quilting help.

12.  Freeform free motion quilt in the empty off white spaces.

13.  Use stitch-in-the-ditch quilting (sewing in the seam line) to sew around each strip and square.

14.  Trim all edges even.  Attach bias tape.  If you're new to bias tape, see this past post.

Happy Creating!  Deborah