Easy Quilted Christmas Table Runner: Add Festive Flair to Your Holiday Table With This DIY Project!

Cutting and Preparing Fabric Strips

Choosing Fabric: The first step in creating your table runner is choosing your fabrics. You’ll want to choose fabrics that reflect the holiday season – think reds, greens, golds, and whites. You can also choose prints that feature holiday motifs like snowflakes, ornaments, and reindeer. Just make sure that the fabrics you select coordinate with each other.

Cutting Strips of Fabric: Once you’ve chosen your fabrics, it’s time to cut them into strips. You’ll want to cut strips that are about 2.5 inches wide. You can use a rotary cutter and mat, or fabric scissors to cut your strips. Make sure you cut enough strips to achieve the length of table runner you desire – you can always sew strips together later if you need more length.

Sewing Strips Together: Once you have cut all of your strips, it’s time to sew them together. Lay out your strips in the order you want them to appear in your table runner. Then, take the first two strips and place them right sides together. Sew a 1/4 inch seam down the long edge to join them. Continue sewing all of your strips together in this way until your table runner is the desired length. Press your seams flat.

Quilting the Table Runner

Choosing Batting and Backing: Once you have your fabric strip panel ready, it’s time to add batting and backing. You’ll need batting that is slightly larger than your fabric strip panel, and backing fabric that is larger than both the panel and the batting. You can use pre-made quilt batts or cut your own from batting by the yard. For backing, you can use a solid or patterned fabric that coordinates with your strip panel.

Layering the Runner: When you have all three layers ready, lay the batting down first on a flat working surface. Then, lay the backing fabric right side down on top of the batting. Lastly, place your strip panel right side up on top of the backing fabric.

Pin all three layers together with safety pins, being careful not to catch the pins through the batting.

Quilting the Runner: Use your sewing machine to stitch through all three layers of fabric, starting from one end of the runner and working your way to the other end. You can use a straight stitch or a decorative stitch, depending on the look you want to achieve. If you’re new to quilting, try a simple stitch like straight lines evenly spaced across the runner for a classic look.

Adding Finishing Touches

Binding the Table Runner: Once the quilting is complete, it’s time to add the binding. The binding is what finishes the raw edges of your runner and gives it a polished look. Cut strips of binding that are 2.5 inches wide and long enough to go around the entire perimeter of your table runner.

Sew the strips together end to end to create one long strip. Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press it with your iron. Then, unfold it and sew one long edge of the binding to the right side of the runner, leaving a tail of binding at each end.

Fold the binding over to the back of the runner and pin it in place. Sew the binding to the back of the runner by hand or with your machine. Sew the tail ends of the binding to each other, and you’re done!

Adding Embellishments: If you want to add even more festive touches to your runner, consider adding embellishments like buttons, bows, or appliques. You can use fusible webbing to adhere these embellishments to your runner.

Ironing and Pressing: When your runner is complete, give it a good press with your iron to make sure all the seams are flat and the edges are crisp and smooth.

Displaying and Using Your Table Runner

Decorating Your Table with the Runner: Once your table runner is complete, it’s time to use it to decorate your holiday table! Lay it down the center of your table and top it with candles, greenery, or a holiday centerpiece.

Caring for the Runner: To keep your table runner looking great, wash it on a gentle cycle in cold water and tumble dry on low. You can iron it on a low setting if needed.

Ideas for Storing Your Table Runner: When the holidays are over, store your runner in a dry, cool place. You can roll it up and tie it with a ribbon, or fold it neatly and keep it in a drawer or on a shelf.

FAQs:

Q: Can I use different colors for my Christmas table runner?
A: Yes, you can use any color scheme that you prefer! Just make sure that the fabrics you select coordinate with each other.

Q: Can I use pre-made quilt batts for my table runner?
A: Yes, pre-made quilt batts are a great option for table runners. Just make sure the size matches the size of your strip panel.

Q: How do I choose a quilting stitch for my table runner?
A: You can choose any stitch that you prefer! Straight lines or a simple chevron pattern are great options for novice quilters.

Q: Can I add embellishments to my table runner?
A: Yes, adding embellishments like buttons or appliques can be a fun way to personalize your table runner.

Q: How do I care for my table runner after the holidays are over?
A: Wash your table runner on a gentle cycle in cold water and tumble dry on low. Iron on a low setting if needed, and store in a dry, cool place.