Here is a quick little tutorial for some Simple & Quick Table Runners. There are a couple of things I love about these runners:
- This is a total 'naptime' project or can be done in no time at all.
- Involves NO pinning! Yay!
- Requires little fabric so you can use that last 1/2 of a yard that you just have laying around.
- Brings to life the saying "a fast project is a fun project"
- Make a couple and it makes a great gift!
Materials
1/2 yard each of two different cotton fabrics, prewashed and pressed
(The fabrics don't necessarily have to coordinate since you will only see one side at a time.)
matching thread
Yep. Two materials sweet. Oh and a screaming hot iron is a must for this project.
Notes
WOF = Width of Fabric
RST = Right Sides Together
1. Cut your fabrics to your desired width x WOF. I cut mine to 15" wide. You can make it any width you want.
2. Place your fabrics RST matching the selvedges and edges. (The selvedges may only line up on one end. The other end may be short depending on the widths of your fabrics.) Press the two fabrics with a hot iron. By doing this the fabrics temporarily 'stick' together and therefore no pinning!
3. With fabrics still RST, head back over to your cutting mat and cut off the fabrics to the desired length. I have little hands at my house so I didn't want my runner dangling over the edge for little hands to pull off. I cut my length to 37". (Since your fabrics are RST together, now your fabrics will be perfectly lined up.)
4. Now sew both fabrics together using a 1/2" seam allowance. I stared on one of the long sides, continued all the way around and left an opening. Your opening doesn't have to be huge, just enough to fit your little hand.
5. Head back over to the iron. Press along all seams, this helps make the seams nice and crisp. Clip the corners.
6. Lets talk about that opening right quick. Press the opening back as shown in the second picture. Flip the runner over and do the same to the other side as shown in the third picture.
7. Turn the runner right side out and poke the corners. A poking device such as a bone folder is great.
8. The opening should already be nicely pressed inside! When you topstitch the opening will be invisible. Now press around the rest of the runner at the seams. Press so that you can't see any fabric from the other side. Flip over the runner and make sure you can't see the other fabric from that side either.
9. Now start sewing close to one of the ends using about a 1/4" seam allowance. Sew all the way around the runner. Give it a final good press and be amazed!
10. Tie it up with a ribbon and a gift tag. Done and done.
Fabrics shown:
left: both fabrics from Joann's
right: holly from Joann's & Red Snowflake from Candyland Christmas by Moda (My absolutely favorite Christmas print ever. I bought a bolt of this fabric and it is almost gone.)
Happy Sewing!
LeAnne
This is a great idea. I actually was thinking about giving table runners to my mother in law and grandma, but I was going to do some applique, and it was stressing me out thinking about TWO weeks, and alllll the stuff I have to do. This is pretty and simple and perfect. You can dress them up by just choosing fancy fabrics. I really love that red fabric too. Thanks!
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