Part 1 of 4 in our Sherbert Sparkle series.
This four block table runner mixes rainbow pastels with white for a cheerful feeling! You can make it with our kit, or your own materials (DIY). We'll give instructions for kit or DIY.
- Skill level: Confident beginner
- Technique: Magic 8 method for half square triangles
- Makes: A 42" x 11" table runner, or a 22" x 22" mini quilt wall hanging
The whole table runner starts here: one printed panel of ombre color blocks and marked sewing grids.
The kit:
- Printed yardage in 100% cotton
- 140" x 2.5" printed ombre binding, so the edge finish matches the top
- Solid color 100% cotton for the backing
- Batting
- Printed instructions
DIY materials list:
- Qty 4 squares measuring 7.5" x 7.5" in 4 different colors: blue, green, pink, orange
- Qty 8 squares measuring 7.5" x 7.5" in white
- Binding: 110" x 2.5"
- Backing: 46" x 15"
- Batting: 46" x 15"
What you're looking at
Hold the panel up and you'll see two halves doing two different jobs.
On one side, blocks of color in soft ombres. Bright pinks melting into orange, greens sliding into teal and blue.
On the other side, a printed grid. Squares crossed with an X, some lines dotted and some solid. That grid is the Magic 8 block, and it's the reason this kit is friendly to beginners. The dotted lines tell you where to sew. The solid lines tell you where to cut.
If you don't have the kit, we'll teach you how to draw your own guide lines below.
Step 1: Cutting
Start by cutting your fabric squares trying to be as accurate as possible. A rotary cutter and acrylic ruler are ideal. If you don't have a rotary cutter, scissors will do.
DIY: If you don't have a rotary cutter, draw your 7.5" squares with chalk or a pencil then cut them out using scissors.
Step 2: Drawing your sew lines
Take a pencil and ruler. On the back of each white square, draw a diagonal line from each corner forming an X. If you feel you need a pencil line to sew on, you may draw an additional line 0.25" from each side of each diagonal line.
Drawing additional cut lines: then, on each square, draw the center line running horizontal and vertical.
Now lay your white square on top of a colored square, right sides together. The pencil lines should be facing up. Pin them together securely.
The full series
Across four posts we build the whole thing start to finish:
- Part 1: Materials list & Prep
- Part 2: Sewing: Magic 8 HST hack
- Part 3: Arranging the blocks
- Part 4: Quilting & Binding
Common questions
What is a pre-printed quilt panel?
It's fabric that arrives with the cutting and sewing lines already printed on it. Instead of measuring and marking your own squares, you sew on the printed dotted lines and cut on the printed solid lines. The measuring is done for you before you start.
Can I make this without the kit?
Yes. The DIY materials list above gives you everything you need: four 7.5" squares in different colors, eight 7.5" white squares, plus binding, backing and batting. Step 2 walks through drawing your own sewing and cutting lines.
What is the Magic 8 method?
It's a way of making eight half square triangles from a single marked square in one go, rather than piecing each triangle pair separately. We cover it step by step in Part 2.
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