Sewing on the Homestead: Make an Easy Table Runner

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I have wanted to make a table runner for awhile now and with all of life’s busyness as of late I did not have the time. I looked at stores and on ebay to see if I could buy something and did not really want to pay the prices I was seeing. I knew I had lots of fabric around that I might be able to put something together. I liked the idea of “shopping at home” for my fabric! Something just feels good about being resourceful with what I already have in my hand.

So I had a calm easy going afternoon over the weekend (have not had one of those in awhile! LOL) and I looked through my fabric, found some scraps that would work and came up with a plan. Here is what I made (all seams were ¼ inch):



I had a fat quarter (the green farm fabric) and I cut it to 10 ½ inches wide (and left it 18 inches long).


I had another red fabric that has black outlines of chickens on it. I used this for the boarders. I cut 2 pieces of fabric 4 ½ inches wide and 10 1/2 inches long. And the other 2 I cut 2 ½ inches wide and 27 inches long.

I sewed the 4 ½ inch pieces to the short ends of the main green fabric and pressed my seams open…



I then sewed the 2 ½ inch pieces to the long ends and pressed my seams open…




I cut a piece of interfacing the same size as my runner. If you use fusible interfacing you can iron it on. Mine was not fusible.….




I cut a piece of fabric from my red chicken fabric the same size as the table runner for the back. I put this on top of the table runner, right sides together…





I sewed around the runner leaving space to turn it right side out. When it was done I turned it right side out…






I ironed around the edges, turning the seam allowance for the unsewed area in. Then I top stitched all the way around the table runner, closing the open space in the process.




Then I put it on my table and enjoyed my creation..




I’m not really sure how much fabric you would need if you were to go out and buy what you needed… but my guess would be, 1 fat quarter and a yard or maybe less of the contrasting fabric for the sides and back and some interfacing.  But if you do a lot of sewing you (like me) most likely have scraps left from projects and fabric that you bought and never used..  this is a great project to use up some of that fabric and making something pretty for your home.

Comments

  1. tjenkeJanuary 18, 2010 at 7:56 AM

    So pretty. You are so resourceful and creative. I wish I had the coordination to make such pretty things for my house.

    ReplyDelete
  2. goatldi2January 18, 2010 at 12:13 PM

    If it pleases the eye and brings you joy then it is good!

    So often we forget what we have under our noses.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2010 at 1:02 PM

    Beautiful! Thanks for the idea. I need to make one of these...maybe a couple of them in different prints or themes so I can change them out. :-) I have LOTS of scraps around and could come up with something, I'm sure. :-) Thanks again for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2010 at 1:34 PM

    It turned out just lovely! I, too, enjoy shopping in my attic store.


    Blessings, Lea


    (Hope my comment works!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. PenniJanuary 19, 2010 at 12:38 AM

    Thanks for the tutorial this is very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2010 at 2:51 AM

    The table runner turned out great! I love the fabric. And thanks for the idea about seaming up 3 + sides and then turning the table runner, that seems a whole lot easier than binding! I've got one ready to finish and I will use this technique.


    Donna

    http://mississippimamaof7.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. jolynJanuary 20, 2010 at 8:18 AM

    This is not a table runner-a table runner spans the length of a table and even hangs a little over the edge. You made a centerpiece!

    ReplyDelete

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