Each summer, our suburban garden bursts into life, and tomatoes quickly become the stars of the show. From tiny cherry varieties to big heirlooms, we grow them all—and every year feels like a new adventure. This post is a little peek into our tomato-growing season, which started in January with tiny seedlings in the greenhouse to the final jars of sauce. 

Using a self-healing cutting mat, rotary cutter, and quilting ruler, I cut my fabric into 6" squares. While you can purchase precut 5" charm squares, I find them to be a bit pricey. Just for reference: a fat quarter generally measures about 20"x20", which easily yields nine 6" squares.

In addition to using my own stash, I bought a few extras. My favorite source has always been my local fabric shop, Needles—they carry high-quality cottons in the most beautiful patterns. Over the years, some of my very favorite fabrics have come from there. For more budget-friendly options, Walmart sells fat quarters for around $1 each. The quality and prints are usually more basic, but still usable. I also tried Amazon and was pleasantly surprised: I purchased a 7-piece bundle of fat quarters, and the fabric quality was excellent. They offer dozens of color families to choose from, and I wouldn’t hesitate to order from them again—especially helpful if you don’t have a local shop and want to coordinate colors.

I knew I wanted my tablecloths to be 70" square—just right to cover my outdoor tables while leaving a nice overhang. Accounting for a ¼" seam allowance, each finished square would measure 5.5", so I needed 13 squares by 13 squares, or 169 squares per tablecloth. I cut a mass—probably 250–300 squares—from my stash. I can’t imagine tackling this without a rotary cutter; it’s absolutely essential for this kind of project. (The set I used from Amazon is well-priced and includes everything you need—highly recommended!)

Once all the cutting was done, I stacked my squares in random order and threaded my machine with beige thread. To speed things along, I used the chain piecing method: I fed square after square into the machine, one at a time, without lifting the presser foot or clipping the threads between pieces. This saves time and thread. I did use a quick backstitch at the beginning and end of each square to secure the seams.

After I had a long chain of two-piece sets, I clipped them apart and began sewing them into four-piece sets using the same method. Then I joined three of these sets together, creating a 12-square strip—just one square short! I added one more to complete a full 13-square row. After piecing several of these 13-piece strips, I sewed the strips together, row by row, until I had a full 13-by-13 square cloth.

My layout was completely random—I didn’t mind if similar colors touched, but I did try to avoid placing the same pattern side-by-side. That said, I love the carefree, scrappy charm of true patchwork. It’s that kind of joyful imperfection that gives these cloths their magic. And I didn’t iron until the very end!

Lastly, finish the edges with bias tape. I used a combination of Wrights Wide Single Fold Bias Tape and Wrights Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape—both worked equally well, and I used them interchangeably. I happened to have a large stash of both in various shades of white and tan (why do I have so much bias tape? I honestly don't know!), so I leaned into the patchwork spirit and used what I had. Once the tablecloths are in place, the different shades blend in beautifully and are completely undetectable.

If you don’t already have a drawer full of bias tape (and truly, why would you?), and you don’t have a local fabric store, Amazon is a great option. I used to rely on Joann’s for this kind of notion, but sadly, these stores have recently closed. I’ve heard that Michaels has purchased Joann’s exclusive fabric and yarn lines, so I’m hopeful they’ll soon be expanding into more sewing supplies. Thank you, Michaels!