Do It Yourself No Sew Table Runner

I love table linens. I get that gene from my mom who has closets full of gorgeous stuff...cotton, silk, plain, patterned and so on. The difference is that she actually is a table designer - me, I just want my stuff to look marginally put together.

Sometimes, I can be pretty crafty. I'm no great crafter or anything, but sometimes, I'll crank out something that even amazes myself. Today was one of those days! I was humming a great song, "Wonderful Wonderful" by Johnny Mathis (included here) and texting a buddy who has a wicked sense of humor all while being quite deft with the stitch witch!

Anyway, hopefully I haven't left out any steps. It really is wicked easy to make and you can use the same steps to make a table cloth as well. My only suggestion is wash on the gentle cycle and line dry this little DIY - NSTR!

For your table runner you'll need:

2 yards of fabric
4.5 yards of ric rac or trim
3/8 in. width heat bond
1/4 in. width heat bond
fabric scissors
hot iron

 Step 1: Choose your fabric and gather your materials.

Step 2: Cut your desired width. I like a pretty standard runner width. Your preference may be a bit wider or thinner depending. Be sure that you are cautious; try to cut as straight as possible.

Step 3: Make sure the iron is hot. Iron all folds and creases from your pattern before you begin; that will ensure a neater more polished look. 

Step 4: Fold and iron your hems at about a 1/4 inch thick or so all the way around your runner.

Step 5: After your hems have been heat set with the iron, place your heat bond under the crease. Moisten the fabric with the sandwiched stitch witch and iron until the water has evaporated and the hem is stuck. If you aren't sure if the heat bond worked...try gently tugging at it. If it does not resist, re-iron. If it doesn't budge - success!

Follow step 5 around all four sides.

Step 6: Mitre the corners. (This is my least favorite part - mostly because I stink at it.) Make a small triangle at the corner as shown in the picture. Place a small amount of the skinnier heat bond under the corner and press it with the iron for several seconds.

 Step 7: After you mitre the corners, fold the fabric into a new hem and add the heat bond under the folded new hem as shown in the photo.

Your finished mitered corner should look similar to the one below.

Step 8: After you've hemmed your corners with the heat bond, flip your nearly complete runner over. Place your trim on the runner where you think it looks even.

Make sure you have some over hang...

Step 9: Put your heat bond on the runner where you have placed the trim (move the trim out of the way first. It usually works better that way). Then replace the trim on top of the heat bond. Moisten with a spray bottle and press with hot iron. Do this on both sides.

Step 10: After you've affixed your trim with the heat bond, turn over the runner and adhere the excess trim to the underside to create a finished look. 

Your finished trim should look like the photo below. And...

     

VOILA! 

You've just completed a table runner/tablecloth in 10 easy steps and never had to fuss with a sewing machine! 

Hey readers! If any of you make one of these, please email me photos! I'd love to see your stuff!

Wait! You thought you were done? Don't forget Johnny Mathis...This is the catchiest tune I have perhaps ever heard and I love it!

Dedicated to my very loving and really handsome husband. Woo hoo! I won the husband JACKPOT!

Instagram

There is a lot of "social media" out there. For instance, we all know about the book and the bird. And, by now, if you follow me here, you know about my love affair with (along with millions of others) The Grand 'P'! But, if you haven't hooked yourself up with the jolly wee camera, Instagram, I suggest you see what it's all about.

Instagram is a photo sharing website/application for Android and the iphone. I'm hooked and like most, I have my "favorite players." Following are a few things you might find there. These are several folks I love to follow because they have interesting photos to share with the world.

The first photo is my own. It is a halved walnut, still in its shell...hm...pinned to "The Shape of Love" on Pinterest as soon as I finish this post, I imagine! You can view more of my photos by following the link in the sidebar or you can connect with me here.

The next photo is by Tea Tree Vintage. So much variety in her photos,  a sweet Etsy store, a wonderful blog and a charming person all around...go see Tea Tree Vintage and follow her on Instagram!

What an excellent photo. I think there was an event at the Bowery Hotel in New York City...and a giant rain storm...just a guess. I follow newyorkcity because of shots like this.

Cxcart is perhaps one of my favorites. I find myself liking a tleast one photo of his everyday. The second photo here he titled, "Door Porn." I responded with, "Shutter porn, brick porn and window box porn."

Delbarr Moradi is best known for her wedding photography. I have featured her on La Bottine and since then have followed her on Instagram too. Look at that cute doggy! He matches the decor quite well!

I'd really love to hop down to the local bookstore and buy this off the shelf. Alas, they are only on their fourth edition of this sweet little independent magazine. Betty is a UK indie glossy with fashion advice and DIY stuff but, in their words, you'll never find diet advice! And that is why they are so nice to follow!

 And finally, johnbarnett! He captures amazing imagery and often uses the iphone app he cooked up called Wood Camera. John is no amateur he's the former TwitPic Media Director and photographer extraordinaire. I have recently downloaded the Wood Camera App but have yet to use it...

A New Blog for My Dailies

I love love love to run around and see other bloggers online real estate. I think its a great way to learn about new trends in lifestyle, new cleverness in interiors and interesting techniques in cuisine, among other things.

This weeks find is a blog I found by screwing around on Instagram. It's called Mint Love Scial Club. Besides the awesome title, it's written by a young, fashionable woman who has a got her finger on the pulse of coolness. She provides us with excellent drink recipes (I've tried a few!), very useful and fun DIY projects and a home tour that is on Apartment Therapy! But where am I going to categorize her? She has everything!

I love to visit the Mint Love Blog because I want to do some of the things she's done. Not terribly creative but why re-invent the wheel? So in the next few weeks look for our house tour and a cocktail recipe that I call The Ccicero and another I call the Velvet Hive. I'm also coming along with a new 8tracks mix and will be doing a giveaway (hair products) from Mosaic Salon!

Meanwhile check out some of the stuff she has...

She includes Gastronomy(me too). Donuts made using a donut pan. So sweet and an excellent photo. My mouth is watering! Go see the whole post here!

This photo is quite cool and has such clarity, my goodness! She took it herself in a step by step to make her Hibiscus Champagne Cocktail. The recipe follows....

This is one of the most clever DIY's I've ever seen, and I've seen some. As a crafter a "creative" person never reveals their sources, but I just can't keep this one to myself. In fact, now I want to have a dinner party too! These are "Faux Polaroid Placecards!" Perhaps I can put the directions here? Nah. If you'd like to make these for your next venture in entertaining get the directions right here.