Basketweave Fabric Table Runner

A while ago I pinned a basket weave quilt pattern that I saw here at honeybear lane.  I thought she did an awesome job and I wanted to try it.  I decided to start small so it would be easier to handle – besides, I needed a little runner for a corner cabinet.

This was fun and so quick and easy!  The part that took the longest was choosing the fabric!  I cut the fabric into strips – can’t even remember what size I did.  I think it was 1 1/2 inch wide strips, and obviously the lengths varied as you can see.

I securely pinned each strip to my batting piece which was actually just a piece of a dropcloth – it was just to add a little weight to the project so it was perfect.So first I laid down my bottom piece (right side out), my dropcloth piece, and then pinned my strips through it all.
Then I pinned my first piece to be woven and just took it through the strips.And then I just kept adding more and more strips and wove them though, pinning securely at each end, and sometimes in the center.
I love that you can see how it’s going to look as you do it.
There it is – all woven and pinned.
Next step was to sew up and down every line.  Yes, you’re going to get poked a few times – wear gloves if you must!
The sewing lines as seen on the backing.
And there it is, all sewn with the edges trimmed – how easy is that?
I think the frayed edges add to it’s charm!
It needed an edge though so I just cut a thin strip, diagonally sewed pieces together to make it long enough, and then ironed in a fold line.
(The other day my 20 year old daughter approached me looking all thoughtful and asked, “Mom, what’s the opposite of ‘irony’?”  I thought she had been studying or something so I started wracking my brain to try to be of some help to her.  “Um, let’s see, opposite of ‘irony’ , um . . .” (as I’m trying to recall my grammar lessons from so long ago).  And then I admitted defeat.  “I’m not sure Elle,” I humbly answered.  “Do you know?”   Then she got the cutest sheepish little smile and said, “Yes, ‘wrinkley'”.  And then she scampered off giggling, leaving me standing there, shaking my head, feeling more than a little bit foolish!  And even more so when I tried the same joke on one of my other daughters, and she knew the answer!)
The iron thing made me recall that little incident!
Anyway, I pinned and sewed it on, leaving the raw edges showing again because I like that look.
There is the finished back side . . .
. . . and the finished front side.
I didn’t bother to wash mine.  When I do, the edges will fray up a little more. That added a little more colour to the corner.  Kat approves!
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