East meets West in a simple runner to give or cherish.

You'll need
20cm x 4 different Asian inspired craft prints
1.2m black craft cotton fabric
2 small tassels
Gold metallic thread
Assortment of coloured embroidery threads to match fabric print
Black sewing thread
Size 80 machine needle
Metafil machine needle
Iron-on pellon
Tear-away stabiliser.
Equipment: self-healing mat and rotary cutter, Brother embroidery cards No. 29 Lace and No. 49 Folk Art

Here's how

Note: 6mm seam allowance is used throughout.

1 Cut 86 x 7cm squares from print fabric.

2 Thread machine with embroidery thread and embroider eight rose designs from card No. 49 on black fabric. Allow enough space between to cut a 7cm square around each motif.

3 Using a lace flower from card No. 29 reduce size of design and stitch out 11 motifs on black fabric in metallic thread. Allow enough space between them to cut a 7cm square around each motif. Tip: Use a Metafil needle when using metallic thread and a spool cover or finger bandage to stop thread from kinking and forming knots.

4 Cut out embroidered squares and arrange them with the craft-print squares to form an attractive pattern in five rows of 21 squares. Stitch each row of squares together and press seams to one side. Alternate the direction of the pressed seams on each row.

5 Stitch rows together, matching seams. Press entire patchwork piece.

6 For side borders, cut strips of black fabric 7cm wide by the width of the fabric. Decorate with two rows of decorative stitches sewn in metallic thread. Sew each side border to a long edge of the runner, right sides facing. Press seams towards black border.

7 Using your mat and cutter, trim each end of the runner to form a point. Using the completed patchwork as a pattern, cut back runner from black cotton fabric.

8 Iron pellon to wrong side of facing. Lay facing pellon-side down on back of patchwork. Baste all edges together.

9 Stitch a tassel to each point.

10 For binding, cut four 6cm strips of black cotton fabric x the width of the fabric. Join together using 45 deg seams. Press in half, lengthwise, wrong sides together. Starting in the middle of along side and with raw edges together, stitch the binding to the top of the runner. Mitre the corners. Turn binding to back of runner and slip-stitch folded edge to seamline.

Hints

• For a special gift, embroider the recipient's name, the date and a message on the back of the runner. Embroider messages on facing before attaching to patchwork panel.
• If your machine has decorative stitches built in, you could use them as an alternative to the embroidered design oil the black squares. Simply stitch roses oil the diagonal of each block, the width of the machine foot apart.

Source: All Sewn Up. More projects.
Sponsored by Brother International sewing machines. www.brother.com.au

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