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Home > Blog Post - Christmas Table Runner Tutorial
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Home > Blog > Christmas Table Runner Tutorial
Christmas Table Runner Tutorial
During the holiday season my family entertains often, and I just love to deck out the house in Holiday décor. For Christmas Eve dinner, we bust out all the good china and spend all day preparing food. So, naturally we need homemade table dressings! And who doesn’t love to hear, “Did you make that?” Oh, yes I did. The following project may seem long and complicated, but it’s actually quite simple. If you don’t want a detailed table runner, you can skip the decorative elements and stick to the basic construction. So, shall we dive in? Yes!
Required Supplies:
- At least 12 6 1/2 by" 15 1/2" strips of fabric for a 5ft table. Add more strips to fit larger table. These strips can be all different prints or colors or fabric types. Have fun with it!
- At least 2 1/2 yards of backing fabric for a 5 ft table. Add more length to fit larger table.
- At least 2 1/2 yards of batting for a 5 ft table. Add more length to fit larger table.
- All purpose Thread
- Universal Needle
- Pins or Basting Spray
- Hand Sewing Needle
- Monofilament Thread (clear thread)
- Rotary Mat
- Rotary Cutter
- Large Cutting Ruler
- Iron
Additional Required Supplies for Decorated Table Runner:
- At least 5 1/2 yards Decorative Cording or piping
- Cording Foot or Zipper Foot
- Monogram Foot
- Metallic Thread or Embroidery Thread
- Winged Needle
- Topstitch needle
STEP 1 The Prep.
Measure your table and adjust fabric amount accordingly. I suggest adding two extra strips for every additional foot over 5 feet. So, if your table is 6 ½ feet, you will need 14 strips. If your table is 7 ft, you will need 16 strips.
Decorative: If your table is longer than 5 feet, add 24 inches of cording for each addition foot.
Arrange your 12 (or more) 6 ½ by 15 ½ inch strips in to a pattern you like, and sew together. Press seams open.
Measure the length and width of this top piece and cut out your backing piece to match. For instance, my backing is 72 ½ inches long and 15 ½ inches wide. You could also simply pin your top piece on your backing and cut it out along the edges. Just make sure it is flat.
Take out batting and lightly coat with basting spray. *Tip: Before spraying, try pressing batting with an iron (on low heat, no steam) to get it extra flat.
Neatly roll up your top piece like you would roll up a poster board. Then, starting an inch from the top of batting, slowly unroll top piece on to batting. Go little by little, stopping to adjust every few rolls. Check to make sure the fabric is lying flat.
Trim off extra batting to fit top piece.
Decorative: Go to your sewing machine and sew a 5/8 inch basting stitch along all edges. We are going to use this as a guide for our decorative stitching and cording.
Decorative: Install Monogram Foot, Winged Needle, and Metallic or Embroidery Thread.
Decorative: Choose a decorative heirloom stitch. I choose the star stitch. Use the basting stitch as a guide and sew two parallel lines along all edges. You can sew more lines if you wish. Press
Decorative: Time for cording! First, determine the right from the wrong side of the cord. Observe:
Everyone: Install your cording or zipper foot, all purpose thread, and universal needle.
Decorative: Line up edge of cording with edge of fabric, right sides together. The silk twisted cord should line up with your basting stitch. Slowly sew as close to the cording as you can, adjusting often.
Decorative: Curve your corners. If you have to, snip into the cord tape like so:
Decorative: The cord end is a little tricky. Try to sew as closely as you can and leave a 3 inch tail. Make sure you tape around the end of the cord before you cut or the fraying will be epic.
ADDING BACKING
Everyone: Place the backing on to your top piece, with right sides together. Smooth out any wrinkles and pin starting from the middle and working your way out.
Decorative: Stop pinning about 5 inches from the edge of backing. You will need to slightly tug on your backing to bring it up and over the cording and line it up with the other piece
I pulled the backing over a little too much and had to adjust. That was bad. ::slapping hand::
Everyone: Sew along all edges, leaving a space at the end large enough to put your hand in and pull the right side of the fabric out. (Just like when you are turning a pillow case right side out)
Pull right sides out through opening. Press.
Decorative: To finish ends of cording can be tricky. Maneuver your cording together to see where the ends would butt up. Wrap with tape and cut.
I cut mine a little too far apart, but it is a simple fix. You can dab some tacky glue on the ends for extra fray protection. You could also dab hot glue on the ends if you are feeling extra fray-phobic.
Cut out a 4 inch by 4 inch scrap fabric and fold twice. We are going to be using this to cover up the cord ends. Since this isn’t a very inconspicuous method, let’s embrace it. Add the same decorative stitching to this strip as you did before. I wanted this piece to look especially decorative, so I added 2 additional long stitches in a contrasting color. Snazzy!
Because I cut my ends too far apart, I need to cut my new decorative strip in two. Wrap the strip over the ugly cord ends and hand stitch with mono-filament thread.
Hopefully, your ends actually touch and you don’t have to repeat this part as I had to.
Hand sew the remaining opened section (one you used to turn fabric right side out) closed. Make sure to fold in the raw edges.
If your corners look sloppy (mine did), go back and secure with a few hand stitches.
Congratulations! You now have a fabulous table runner to display this holiday season! Enjoy all the compliments - ;)
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