Quick Pieced Fabric Table Runner Tutorial

It’s November! I LOVE November! Fall is in full swing, the aroma of apple cider fills my house (hey, who cares if it’s a wax warmer?) and the holidays are just around the corner.

Somewhere along the way, holiday gatherings migrated to my house. And while it’s small and we don’t have enough seats, I love it and wouldn’t change a thing. Well, except the decor. For whatever reason, last years decorations are never quite good enough. I have been wanting to make a table runner for a while now, and the NEED for new decor is the perfect excuse!

Table runners are fantastic for a pop of color, when you have small children at the table. You don’t have to worry about moving the table cloth to avoid stains, and they don’t get pulled off the table by little people trying to climb up into their chairs.

This table runner is a FAST project. Which means you can make one for every season!

Or make them reversible!

This one has a cute winter look on the front and a bright cheery spring print on the back. Sick of winter? Just flip over your table runner for a touch of spring!

This table runner will fit a 6 person table. Need a shorter or longer one? Just adjust the length you cut your strips! To whip up one of these up, you will need the following,

Main (center panel) fabric 14″x 42″

Accent (side panels) fabric 14″x 42″

Backing fabric 26″x42″

rotary cutter and mat

pins

and basic sewing supplies

Let’s sew!! This tutorial uses a 1/4″ seam allowances throughout.

Cut your main fabric into two strips measuring 7″x42″ and cut your accent fabric into four strips measuring 3 1/2″x42″ (A way to make cutting long strips easier is to cut them on the fold. For this project, you would be cutting your strips 21″ on the fold.)

With right sides together, sew the short ends of your main fabric strips together using 1/4″ seam allowance, creating the center panel.  Repeat with accent strips creating your two side panels. Press your seam to one side.

With right sides together, line up the long side of the center panel and one side panel. Make sure to line up the seam.

To reduce the bulk, nest your seams together.

Pin at the center seam and carefully pin along the long end. Sew together using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Repeat with the other side panel.  Make sure to keep your center panel’s seam allowance pressed in the same direction on both sides when you nest your seams. After sewing, press your seams towards the darker fabric.

Cut your backing fabric into two pieces measuring 13″x42″. Sew the short ends right sides together and press your seam to one side.

With right sides together, place table runner top on your backing fabric lining up the raw edges and the center seam. Nest your center seams. Pin together and sew around all four sides leaving a 6″ gap for turning towards the center on one long side. Clip your corners to reduce bulk. Make sure you don’t clip your stitching!

Turn right sides out being sure to push out the corners. I like to use a large, wooden knitting needle.

Press your table runner and close up your turning hole. I hand sewed this one shut using a simple ladder stitch to keep a clean look. You can also choose to topstitch around the entire edge to close the hole.

And there you have it! A super quick table runner perfect for a punch of color this fall.

I went with a less traditional fall color scheme to get lots of use out of this. The print of this Birch Organic fabric on this yummy jewel tone screamed fall to me. I paired it with a lovely natural cotton woven fabric. I love how it looks with an orange pumpkin.

You can also make them reversible like this one below. A fun, winter print on one side and nice, neutral print on the other allows you to use this one year round.

These would make a fabulous gift this holiday season, like this one above. Shhhh! Don’t tell!

You can make them reversible, seasonal, coordinated with their decor, neutral or funky, whatever you want! You can even do panels on both sides if you want. Or just do solids on each side for a super fast project! It really doesn’t get faster than that! They are rather addicting to make and a nice stash buster if you have long strips of fabric from previous projects hanging out in a basket like I do.

Before you know it, you will have a stack of your own!