This week on The Long Thread, Ellen is featuring ideas for incorporating handmade items into your wedding. My contribution is this fairly easy Linen and Lace Table Runner. I imagine this being used in outdoor garden-type weddings and more! Here's the How-To:
Materials:
- Linen fabric in the measurement you need
- Lace remnants
- Thread to match linen
- Thread to match lace
- Usual tools for sewing (scissors or rotary cutter, sewing machine, ruler)
- Measure your table. Consider whether you want the runner to hang off the side and how far down. Add three inches to each the length and width you decided upon.
- Turn and press the edges up one inch and another half inch (to hide the edge in the hem). Stitch hem closed around perimeter of runner.
- Decide on the lace you would like to use by auditioning different pieces and their placement. I liked the look of three rows but more or fewer rows could give a different look.
- Top stitch the lace to the runners. I pinned down the lace and used a straight stitch when I could hide it in the design. When I felt the straight stitches might show up too much on the lace, I used a zig zag stitch with a short width and a long length. I stitched along both the top and bottom of the lace.
- Trim the lace to the width of the runner.
- You are finished!
Notes:
- Linen is a bit tricky to get straight and perfect. I do not mind a "wonky" look with linen and didn't let it bother me.
- If you don't have a bunch of lace remnants (unlike me!) and will be shopping for them, I thought it looked better to have the colors of the lace match.
