Little autumn leaves

Yellowing birch leaves in our corner of the world means autumn is truly here. Every year, I love seeing their return, the colours so pretty against the backdrop of the sky.

On bright, sunny days, they become golden….

From these little leaves grew the idea for the “Little leaves” mini-kit.

Each kit contains a sprinkling of 10 bondaweb backed leaves and a few cloudberry coloured berries.

Perfect for making mini-quilts, totes, trimming T-shirts and clothes, or making table-runners, like the one in our post.

We can’t wait to see how you use your “little leaves” – if you’re sharing on social media, please use the hashtag #AutumnLeavesKit

From our little kit, we made a table runner to brighten up the dining table, teaming it up with some left-over strips, in low volume duck egg blue prints, and white on white – to represent the misty autumn skies.

If you’re making a table runner from your kit you will need:

• Light coloured cotton strips 2 ½” wide

• Little leaves mini-kit (found in the autumn section of the store)

• Lightweight Iron-on interfacing

• Insulating wadding (optional)

• Backing fabric

• Thread

The length and width of your runner can be as long or short as you need it to be, so amounts of backing, wadding, interfacing, and strips will vary depending on the size of your runner. If you’re making a long table runner, and need more than one pack of 10 leaves, additional Autumn leaves Mini-kits are available in store for just £2.

To make the background:

• Sew 2 ½” wide strips of different length end to end, till you have at least 5 long strips measuring the length of your finished item, plus ½” allowance. Press seams open.

• Place the long strips alongside each other, sew together and press seams open.

• Apply lightweight iron-on interfacing to the back of the panel.

Applying the little leaves:

• Simply peel off the bondaweb backing and scatter the leaves on top of the block.

• Once the leaves are in position press for a few seconds using a hot iron.

Then over to the sewing machine….

• Stitch close to the edge of the leaves using either straight stitch or blanket stitch.

• Dark grey thread is used to stitch the centre vein on each leaf and twigs.

To complete the runner

• Simply place quilt top and backing right sides together.

• Sew ¼” from the edge, leaving a small gap through which to turn the runner right side out.

• Using thumb and forefingers, pinch the edges, shaping them to give a nice crisp edge, then press.

• Slip stitch the gap closed.

• Topstitch as close as possible to the edge.

Alternatively, if you prefer the runner can be padded, simply layer your top and bottom layer, right sides together, then insulating wadding. Sew around the edges and leave a slightly bigger gap through which to turn right side out. Quilt to complete.

Now your runners complete, time to pop the kettle on.

Hope you enjoy the little wonders of autumn.

Happy sewing x X