How to Make a Table Runner in 10 Minutes

By Kellie Davis
on August 26, 2017

How to Make a Table Runner in 10 Minutes

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Ignore the wrinkles and the fact that it's on a side table. We are still remodeling and haven't gotten our table out of storage just yet. We will have it all back together next week with proper pics of the complete set.

Table runners are an easy way to make your table festive for the holidays, or just dressed up for any occasion. This is also a great gift for a friend or host of the party, especially when paired with the place mats and napkins coming up on next week's blog post.  They can be made in any size you like.  Mine is 15" wide and 54" long.   I used fabrics from my stash to make this table runner along with matching place mats and napkins so my fabric determined the size for me, but you can make yours in whatever size you need.

To determine the size table runner you need, measure the length of your table and add 12" for overhang and 3/4" for seam allowance.  The width should be between 15" and 18".  To make the table runner and matching placemats with napkins using my measurements, you will need about 2 1/2 yards each of two coordinating fabrics.  I chose print for the front and solid for the back, but you could easily have 2 different seasonal fabrics to change as the seasons change, or just two different holiday prints for mixing and matching to suit your mood.  If you're anything like me, you don't want to look at the same thing every day anyway so why not have some fun with it.

The first thing you need to do is wash, dry and iron your fabric.Once that is done, the runner will sew up very quickly.  Now you can cut out your table runner.  Using a rotary cutter, ruler and mat,  cut your fabric to the desired size.  Repeat for each fabric making sure they are the same size.  If you goof, like I did, just place the two fabrics right sides together and trim off the extra bit so that they match up in size.

Now that the two fabrics are the same size, pin them all the way around to keep them together as you sew.  Sew using a 3/8" seam allowance all the way around leaving a 3" opening for turning.  Trim off excess fabric from corners but not cutting into the stitches.

Stitch all the way around leaving an opening for turningTrim off cornersMake sure not to cut into stitching

You are half way done!  Turn you runner right side out.  Using a turning tool (chopstick), push out the corners of your table runner so they are nice and pointy.

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Take your table runner over to the ironing board...you know, that thing you only use for sewing...and iron the seams nice and even.  Fold the seam allowance of the opening even with the sewn seams so that it doesn't show once it's top stitched.  Sew all the way around your table runner about 1/8" in so that you catch the seam allowance in the stitching. This will close up the opening and give a nice, finished look.   You are finished with your table runner and it only took about 10 minutes!  Great job!  Make sure you share in my group on Facebook and use code GIFTS16 to enjoy 35% off on everything in my site store or my Etsy shop through 12/15/16

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Pencil Pouch Tutorial

By Kellie Davis
on August 26, 2017

Pencil Pouch Tutorial

School is back in session throughout much of the US. The "norm" of back to school shopping is happening. While wanting to grab just a loaf of bread, you may very well run in to a, back to school shopping individual. We come in many shapes and sizes, we look tired, with kids screaming and the pressure of our bleeding pockets, as the card is swiped at check out.

Now let me say, I love my children, LOVE. But let's be honest, I get tired of being around them 24/7. So I felt like this a lot of the summer. Who knew kids argued so much?

I've had this tutorial planned for a while. My oldest kiddo is a pen/pencil hoarder and insists on bringing them to school. She is slightly obsessed with Wonder Woman. At just 10 she has read a lot of the comics and says it matters to have been a fan before the movie haha. Anyways, this is her last year in elementary school and I wanted to do all I could to make it special for her. She requested a Wonder Woman. pencil pouch and other accessories that I haven't quite gotten around to yet.

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So, without further ado I present the Pickle Toes Pattern Pencil Pouch tutorial.
To begin you will need:

  • 9" x 10.5" cotton woven x4 (2 outer and 2 lining)
  • 9" x 10.5"  lightweight or medium weight  interfacing x2 (apply to the wrong side of lining pieces)
  • 2" x 3" cotton woven for zipper tabs x2
  • 1" x 5" cotton woven for loops x3
  • 9" non separating zipper



Apply your interfacing to the backside of the lining. Take one of your zipper tab pieces and press with a hot iron in half lengthwise (long sides).  Open it back up and take one of the raw edges and line up it up with the center crease you just made. Repeat with the other side, and then fold the tab in half securing the raw edges inside.

 

Once the tabs are finished, lay them on each end of the zipper. I laid this on top of my inner fabric to get an idea of where the tabs go. Attach them to the zipper by using a straight stitch on your machine.

 

 

Attach the zipper by sandwiching it between one lining and outer. Place the lining fabric with right side up and then the zipper on top. Take the outer piece and lay it on top with right side down. Sew down the zipper and repeat the process with the other edge of the zipper. If you are new to zippers you can watch MADE Everyday's tutorial here. The first way she shows would be the best way for this project.

 

Repeat the same process for the other side of the zipper.  Feel free to trim the seam allowance down to remove any bulk. You can also turn it so wrong sides of the fabric are touching and top stitch around the zipper.

 

Repeat the process you used for the zipper tabs on the 3 tabs. You will want to edge stitch along the open side of the strip.

 

 

Curve the strip to form a loop and place the two outer ones 3/4" from the side edges of the outer fabric. Measure 3" from either of the loops and place the remaining loop. Pin them into place and lay the other outer fabric on top.

 

 

Starting at the bottom of the lining section sew around the pouch. Be sure to leave a 2" gap from where you started, this makes turning the pouch the correct way easier. You also want to be sure to catch the ends of the loops and to leave the zipper partially open.

 

 

Pull the outer fabric through the zipper opening and then through the opening you left on the lining. In the second photo below, I marked my 2" opening. close your opening and push the lining into the outer portion.

 

Stand back and admire your work!
Until next time Meyrakians,
Jen

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Be sure to visit our Facebook page for more tutorials and tips.  And for an excellent beginner sewing resource, check out this blog for some excellent information.   Even a seasoned sewist may learn a thing or two.  https://doyousew.com/sewing-for-beginners-machine-instructions/

 

Rolled Hems

By Tara Anderson
on July 19, 2017

Rolled Hems

Tara showed us two different ways to achieve that wonderful lettuce/rolled hem that is often used as a hemming alternate.

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Serger lettuce hem:
Left needle only
Knife on

Needle tension at 4
Both looper tensions at 5
Thread length at R for rolled hem
These are settings on my Janome8004D 

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Sewing Machine Lettuce Hem:
Zig zag stitch
Tension on +1
Stitch length set to 1
Stitch width set to 4 or 5
Settings on my Singer Confidence

Watch my live demonstration of the rolled hems techniques I prefer.

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