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Handmade Home: How to Sew a Table Runner

Can you love the handmade appearance? Would you want to produce something amazing for your property? You are in luck. Creating a burlap table runner is simple, low price, fast and flexible. Runners are a staple when I am decorating. They enable the beauty of the furniture to be viewed while adding a layer of softness, unlike a conventional tablecloth. Burlap is a superb way to add an organic element to any table or piece of furniture.

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Susan Duane

My finished runner provides the finishing touch to a dresser I refurbished to our property. The rustic quality of natural burlap plays beautifully against the creamy blue-green painted wood.

Among the things I adore about burlap is its low price. It is just a couple of dollars a yard that makes it ideal if you’re making on a budget.

With this project you’ll need:
A yard or two of burlap, determined by the length of your runnerA lawn of cotton or other accent fabric for your ruffle — I used a bit from a vintage sheet I had on handScissorsPinsSewing machine, needle and thread or fabric glueLiquid seam sealer, such as Fray CheckOptional: cutting mat and rotary cutter

First, decide the width and length of your runner. Create a cut in the burlap and pull apart slightly showing among the threads.

Gently pull this particular thread, working it from the fabric all the way across the piece.

You are going to be left with an ideal line to cut along.

I utilized the long finished edge on one side. The burlap will fray so you’ll need to use a lineup of liquid seam sealer or stitch down the side. If you don’t obey the frayed look it’s possible to make it raw.

Determine the width of your ruffle. I made mine about 8 inches. As a guideline you need about twice the width to the ruffle. For example, if the width of your runner is 18 inches, you should cut on your prized material 36 inches . I cut on my ruffle 8″ x 36″.

Sew a very long running stitch down one side of your ruffle. Do this on your sewing machine using the longest stitch length. I did so down the unfinished side. The other side of my sheet includes a nice finished edge so there’s no demand for hemming.

If you don’t have a sewing machine, then use a needle and thread and create a very long running down one advantage of this cotton.

If your cotton does not have a finished edge you’ll be able to make it raw or create a little hem by folding up two roughly 1/4 inch and stitching or cutting edge down.

As soon as you’ve sewn your running stitch along the duration of the ruffle, pull on the bottom thread lightly and work your way across the fabric to make a ruffle.

You can move the gathers around until you are pleased with how the ruffle looks. Do this until the ruffle is exactly the exact same width as your own runner.

Pin the ruffles on the right side (the good side) facing the front of the runner.

Stitch the ruffle to the runner. If you aren’t using a sewing machine you may hand-sew this or carefully glue the ruffle to the burlap. If you are using fabric glue, allow it to dry completely.

Susan Duane

Twist your ruffle to the right side and iron it to flatten the seam.

The runner makes a great backdrop for my Grandmother’s tea collection, vintage artwork and a chalkboard I generated from an old framework.

More: 50 Clever DIY Home Projects

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