When we released the Peanut Butter Pattern back in March of this year, I had no idea how well received it would become. Ya'll love this pattern! It is simple and easy and very customizable. I guess what isn't there to like?! The Peanut Butter Quilt Pattern has been downloaded over 10,000 times! If you want to read more about the three different Peanut Butter Quilts we've made, follow these links:
I have really gotten into using table clothes and table runners in the last year or so. And you know what I've never had? Homemade napkins! I thought the Peanut Butter design would be such a fun one to make into a table runner and then we decided to enlarge a single Peanut Butter block to make a coordinating napkin.
The Peanut Butter Runner is written to include two different sizes - one to fit a standard 6' table and one for an 8' table. And then you can choose three different ways to make it - 3 Colors, 5 Colors (contrast border) or scrappy! Our sample we made using the 5 color design.
And the Peanut Butter Napkin is written to show you how to make a single napkin but also material requirement information to make a Set of 4 Napkins. The napkin can be made using 3 colors or scrappy! Our sample shows how to use 3 colors.
First up, let's talk about the Peanut Butter napkins! We used all Moda Bella Solids quilting cotton for these in Baby Pink, Geranium and Avocado. We decided to enlarge a single Peanut Butter Block and then finish it out with border sashing and squares. All the edge pieces will be cut slightly larger than any interior pieces to account for how we finish the patterns - using a 1/2 seam allowance.
Here are my cut pieces for making a Set of 4 napkins.
Just like the Peanut Butter Quilt Pattern, these napkins can be chain pieced and batch sewn. And all the seams are nested again, my favorite! We do press the final seams open to make a nice smooth napkin top.
My suggestion when picking a backing fabric for your napkins and runner is to either choose the same fabric as the majority of your border color. For this, it would be our Geranium color. Or to pick something very similar or neutral. You will see just a smidge of the backing fabric around the perimeter of the napkin if laid flat but definitely will see a lot of it if folded or pulled through a napkin ring. And I personally would like them to match.
We did not add batting or quilt the napkin tops before adding the back. Instead, we put the top and backing, right sides together, and then sewed a 1/2" seam allowance all around the edges but left around a 5" opening unstitched. This is where you will put your hand in and flip it inside out - like a sock! We also clip the corners about 1/4" away from the seam to reduce bulk in the corners. Once it's right side out, we press the napkin and sew a finishing stitch about 1/8" away from the edge.
For the finishing stitching, I used a fun coral thread color that matches the Geranium color well but then we also sewed a few finishing stitches within the four big squares and inside the very center square. But you can finish the napkins however you please. No extra stitching after the edge finishing, you could hand stitch, you could quilt it, you could tack it, you could tie it. Whatever you please!
Now for the Peanut Butter Runner in Peppermint, we choose to make the 5 color option. This one allows you to have a contrasting or different colored border if you'd like. We used the same three Bella Solids as the napkins but also added Chartreuse and Porcelain. Also, the colors are used in different positions between the runner and the napkin.
For our sample, we decided to make the 8' runner. This runner will finish at 17.5" x 111". The idea is an 8' table is 96" long and having the runner be 111" gives you around 7.5" to cascade over the side of the table. Here are our cut pieces.
For the runner we are using the Porcelain as our large squares and the Avocado and Geranium as our sashing and small squares for the interior of the runner. For the border, we added Baby Pink as the sashing and then the Chartreuse for the small squares. Again, this is an amazing time to chain piece and batch sew your pieces.
I was so in the groove of making this runner that I forgot to snap a photo of the entire top being finished. Woops!
Because the main border color is Baby Pink, that is the color we used to back the runner. I pieced the back (it requires 2 seams) and then did the same process as the napkins. I used a soft pink thread to sew my finishing stitches around the border of the runner. And for this one, we didn't add anymore internal top stitching. And it lays so nicely and is very pretty!
I knew right away I wanted to make a table scene to show how this PB runner and napkin look. And because we chose to make this sample in a holiday palette, we of course made a fun festive scene! We are calling this holiday palette Peppermint!
The quilt hanging on the ladder is my Inside Out Star Quilt pattern. I love the cozy feel of a starry flannel quilt. Felt perfect for this little moment.
One of the things we hope to encourage with this new pattern is that it is such a great thing to make as gifts. You could make a loved one some new napkins for any occasion. Or you could make an entire table scene and make a runner as well.
Also, a runner doesn't have to go soley on a table. You could use it for a buffet or a sideboard. It's a nice little nod to comfort when serving drinks or food or cookies.
We hope you guys love the new addition to the Peanut Butter Collection! The Collection now includes a Throw Size Quilt, a Table Runner and Napkin design. Happy sewing!!