Christmas Tree Table Runner Tutorial

The only thing I love more than a Christmas sewing project is a fast Christmas sewing project! Table runners and pillow covers have long been favorites of mine because they are quick to make and fun to change out with the seasons.

Today, I’m sharing a fast and easy Christmas Tree Table Runner tutorial! These cute trees are the perfect block for a table runner since there are right side up trees when looking at it from either side (a crucial element for a table runner pattern, in my opinion). 😉

The trees are all made from 2 1/2″ strips, so the pattern is a great stash buster, too. I made each of my trees from a single print, but the trees would look great with scrappy prints in the same color, too! I’ve even included a downloadable PDF Coloring Page at the end of the post to easily test out color combinations before cutting fabric.

Enough talk–let’s get right to the tutorial:

Christmas Tree Table Runner Tutorial

Finished Block Size: 10″ x 8″
Finished Table Runner Size: 64″ x 12″

All seams are 1/4″
Width of fabric is abbreviated as WOF and is assumed to be 42″
A PDF Coloring Page is available as a download at the end of this tutorial

Materials Needed:

• Christmas Trees: (12) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips (one for each tree)
• Border: 1/3 yard
• Backing: 1 yard
• Batting: 18″ x 70″ piece
• Binding: 1/3 yard

Cutting Instructions:

• Choose (6) of the 2 1/2″ strips to be the main trees and (6) to be the upside down trees. It helps to lay out the strips in the order you’d like them in the table runner. Starting with the first strip, every other one will be a main tree. The remaining strips will be the upside down trees. The last strip will be a partial upside down tree with half at the beginning of the table runner and half at the very end of the table runner. The photo below shows how the main and upside down trees will be assembled into blocks with the upside down trees spanning two adjacent blocks.

• Cut each of the (6) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for the main trees into:
  • (1) 2 1/2″ x 10 1/2″
  • (1) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
  • (1) 2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″
  • (1) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
• Cut each of the (6) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for the upside down trees into:
  • (2) 2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
  • (2) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″
  • (2) 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
  • (2) 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
• Cut the border fabric into:
  • (4) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips. Cut (2) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ pieces for the left and right borders.
• Cut the binding fabric into:
  • (4) 2 1/2″ x WOF strips.
• Cut the backing fabric into:
  • (2) 18″ x WOF strips.

Assembly Instructions:

1. Lay out the pieces for the first main tree, along with the pieces for the adjacent upside down trees as show below. The main tree pieces will go from shortest to longest (2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ piece on the top) and the upside down trees will go from longest to shortest (2 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ piece on the top).

2. From the top row, flip the upside down tree segment from the right side of the block on top of the main tree piece, right sides together, with the right edges lined up. Draw a line on the wrong side of the upside down piece as shown below (the line goes from the top corner of the upside down piece down to the bottom corner of main tree piece).

3. Sew directly on the drawn line, trim off the excess corner 1/4″ away from the seam, and press away from the main tree fabric.

4. Repeat with the remaining main tree and upside down tree pieces from the right side of the block.

5. Repeating the process for the upside down tree on the left side of the block, first flip the upside down tree piece on top of the main tree unit, lining up the left edges.

6. Sew a line on the diagonal, trim off the excess corner, and press away from the main tree fabric.

7. Repeat with the remaining upside down tree pieces on the left side of the block.

8. Sew the four tree pieces together and press the seams down. The completed block should measure 10 1/2″ x 8 1/2″.

9. Repeat the process for the remaining six blocks, pressing the final block seams in an alternating order (first block press seams down, second block press up, etc.). Remember to keep your cut pieces in order as you assemble the blocks so the fabric for the upside down trees transitions from block to block.

10. Sew the blocks together into one long row. Press seams open.

11. Gather the border strips. Sew the 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ border strips onto the left and right sides. Press seams toward the border.

12. Gather the remaining 2 1/2″ border strips. Sew one long strip and cut into (2) 2 1/2″ x 64 1/2″ border strips.

13. Sew the long border strips to the top and bottom of the table runner, press toward the border strips.

14. Layer the table runner with the batting and backing. Baste the layers and quilt as desired. Trim the batting and backing to line up with the table runner top.

15. Sew the binding strips end to end and press in half the long way with wrong sides together. Sew binding onto the front side of the table runner, fold binding over the raw edge of the table runner to the back and stitch into place by hand.

Your finished Christmas Tree Table Runner should measure 64″ x 12″.

It really is surprising just how fast these little trees sew up! Before you know it, you’ll have one made for your home. Plus maybe a few more as gifts. 😉

As promised, you can download and print out the Christmas Tree Table Runner Coloring Page below. It’s the perfect chance to test out different color options and get the order of your trees just right before committing to the design.

Christmas Tree Table Runner Coloring Page

If you make your own table runner from this tutorial, please tag me in your social media posts! I always love to see your creations!

Happy sewing and Merry Christmas!