Binding Tool Table Runner Tutorial: Jenny Doan's Scrap-Busting Diamond Runner
Got a drawer full of leftover jelly roll strips? A bag of scraps that's too beautiful to throw away? Jenny Doan has the perfect solution — a stunning Binding Tool Table Runner that turns those odds and ends into an elegant diamond design that will dress up any table.
This scrap-busting project uses the MSQC Binding Tool to cut angled pieces from your jelly roll strips, then builds out from a center square in concentric rounds. The result is a gorgeous diamond-patterned runner that looks like it took hours but comes together in a fraction of the time. Jenny makes it look effortless — and with this step-by-step guide, it really is!
What Is a Binding Tool Table Runner?
This table runner uses The Binding Tool — a specialty quilting ruler designed to cut consistent angled pieces from 2½" strips. Instead of fiddling with complicated angle measurements, you simply lay the tool on your strip and cut. The result is perfectly angled pieces that, when sewn around a center square, create a radiating diamond pattern.
Think of it as building outward from the center — you start with a square, add angled pieces on all sides, then keep expanding round by round. Each round creates a new "ring" of the diamond pattern, and you can make your runner as small or as large as you like by adding more rounds.
What You'll Need
📐 The Binding Tool — the specialty ruler that makes the angled cuts easy. Shop TQM products.
🧵 1 center square (8½" × 8½") — a solid or feature print for the center of your runner. Shop quilting fabric.
🎀 Assorted 2½" strips — leftover jelly roll strips, scraps, or cut your own. You'll need about 15–20 strips for a full-size runner. Shop precut fabrics.
🟫 Several 2½" squares — for the corner accents on half of your angled pieces
✂️ Rotary cutter & cutting mat — Shop rotary cutters.
🪡 Sewing machine with a ¼" foot
🔥 Iron and ironing board
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut Your Angled Pieces
Take your 2½" jelly roll strips and fold each one in half. Lay the Binding Tool on the folded strip, lining it up with the edges. Cut along both angled sides of the tool. Because the strip is folded, you'll get two mirror-image pieces from each cut — one angling left and one angling right.
This is a key detail! You need both angles to build the diamond pattern, and cutting through two layers gives you a matched pair every time.
Step 2: Add Corner Squares
For half of your angled pieces, sew a 2½" square onto the wider end. Place the square right sides together on the back of the angled piece and sew a straight seam. This creates a small accent corner that adds visual interest to the finished runner.
The other half of your pieces stay as they are. When you lay them out, the pieces with squares and the pieces without will alternate, creating the diamond pattern.
Jenny shows how the binding tool makes cutting angled pieces a breeze!
Step 3: Build From the Center Square
Start with your 8½" center square. You're going to build outward from this center, adding angled pieces in rounds. For the first round, take one short piece and one long piece (one with the corner square, one without) and sew them to opposite sides of the center.
Think of it like stacking — a short piece on one side, a long piece on the other. Then add the next pair to the remaining two sides. Press seams outward after each round.
Step 4: Continue Adding Rounds
Keep building outward! Each new round adds another ring of diamond shapes around the center. Alternate between short pieces and long pieces as you go, always sewing right sides together with a ¼" seam.
After each round, press your seams outward and check that your runner is staying straight and symmetrical. The beauty of this pattern is that small imperfections get absorbed into the overall design.
Step 5: Add the Border Strips
Once your runner is the size you want (typically 3–4 rounds for a dining table runner), add a simple 2½" strip border around the entire piece. Sew strips to the long sides first, press, then add strips to the short ends.
This border frames the diamond design, giving the runner a polished, finished look. Choose a coordinating solid or a fabric that complements your center square.
Step 6: Quilt and Finish
Layer your runner with batting and a backing fabric. For a table runner, simple straight-line quilting following the diamond pattern looks fantastic — just "stitch in the ditch" along the seam lines. You can also do a gentle meander or echo quilting.
Bind the edges using your favorite method (Jenny's binding tutorial is perfect for this!), and your runner is ready to grace your table.
Pro Tips for Your Binding Tool Runner
💡 Organize before you sew: Sort your cut pieces into two piles — those going left and those going right. This way you won't accidentally sew two pieces going the same direction next to each other.
💡 Use high-contrast fabrics: The diamond pattern pops most when there's strong contrast between your strips and the corner squares. Dark strips with light squares (or vice versa) create the most dramatic effect.
💡 Perfect for gifting: Table runners make wonderful gifts and only use a fraction of the fabric a full quilt requires. Make several in different colorways for holiday gifts!
💡 Try different center squares: A fussy-cut feature print in the center square makes the runner extra special. Look for a large-scale print with a motif that fits in 8½ inches.
If you've got scraps piling up and a table that needs dressing, this project is calling your name. Jenny's Binding Tool Table Runner turns leftovers into something truly beautiful — and it's one of those projects that looks way more complicated than it actually is. Grab your binding tool, raid your scrap bin, and let's make something gorgeous!