Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Shabby Chic Table Runner


What you need:
fabric of your choice
thread that matches your fabric 
straight pins
a measuring tape
scissors
sewing machine

I told y'all in my post about the Monogram Button Pillow that I had more plans for the fantastic curtain I bought on sale from Target... Well, here is project #2! I have been searching (with no luck) for either a table runner or place mats to go on the gorgeous table my hubby made us that coordinate with the dishes we got as wedding gifts. When I saw that curtain, with its vintage-y embroidery, I knew I wanted to make my perfect table runner instead of purchasing one. 

Since we are currently living in a temporary, fully furnished apartment (yay, Army life), none of our furniture is up here. So, I wasn't able to measure our table to get the dimensions for my runner, like most of the websites I found were suggesting. Then, I randomly found a website (which I can't find now, sorry!) that suggested 13" x 60" as a good, generic size, so that's what I went with. 

First, I cut the embroidered section off of the bottom of the curtain & cut that into two 15" sections, with a little still left over. (I decided to give myself an inch on each side so the finished product would be 13.")


Next, there came a bit of math my 2nd worst subject not my favorite thing. I measured & cut a strip of fabric for the main part of my table runner. I had to allow for the embroidered bit of fabric that I was planning on attaching to each end. All in all, I wanted it to equal 60" after it was sewed up. I also cut the width of this strip 15" like the embroidered parts. The next step was to attach the embroidered ends to the main strip of fabric. I pinned & then sewed this together. Make sure you sew both ends on the same way... I got distracted on the phone while I was pinning & had to rip out & redo one end... 

After that was done, I started pinning the edges to hem. This was a bit of a task... I was trying to manage it while fighting off a kitten who thinks fabric is REALLY fun to play with. I kind of guestimated (once again) my hems. They are a little crooked by not enough to tell unless you look really closely.


After pinning to my little heart's content, I sewed up the edges, trimmed up any leftover threads, & voila! It still needs to be pressed, but I was so excited to show y'all that I saved that final step for a little later. 


My lovely new shabby chic inspired (custom!) table runner. I love it! And, it cost me next to nothing since I used the same fabric & thread from my button pillow. What do you think?! 

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