How To Make Your Own Table Runner

My husband bought me a new table a few years ago since we have outgrown our small basic table and since I have had this new table I have been trying different table cloths, place mats, table runners etc. and haven't been happy with any of them.  My living room colors are creams and dark reds and I had the most beautiful red table cloth with my old table but it now wouldn't fit my new table.  Well, I came up with this great idea to turn that old table cloth into my new table runner!  Here's what you'll need.

• Scissors
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Pins
• Measuring Ruler
• Old Tablecloth
• Accent Fabric
• Iron and Ironing Board

You will first need to wash your fabric.  Press your fabric with your iron.  fold wrong sides touching together matching top to bottom.  Pin about 1/2 inch from the fold and iron down the fold.  I then used the sewing machine's guide, sewing about 1/2 inch removing the pins as I sew.  always back stitch at the begining of your stitch and the end. 
You will now move on to the next step.  With the sewn fold on top again place wrong sides touching together and measure 3 1/2 inches pining down the fabric.  Iron the fold.  Sew your strip the same width as your first.  Continue steps until you have 4 or more folds sewn.
I then took my fabric and measured it to my table.  I wanted to have my table runner be close to 1/3 width of the table.  From here I cut the remaining excess off leaving me about 1 inch to work with to finish the rough edge. 
One one side fold the wrong sides together 1/2 inch and press with your iron.  Seal the rough edge by folding in one more time by 1/2 inch and press with your iron.  You will want to make sure you measure all the way down when you are pressing to make sure that your edge will stay 1/2 inch in width. With your sewing maching sew as close to the opening as possible.  Follow same instructions for the other side.

Now that we have finished off our rough edges you will want to finish the design you have made on the top.  I chose to make a pattern folding the bullets back and forth giving the fabric a 3 dimensal wave.  Starting from the center of your length sew from one bullet to the next until you have sewn down all bullets.  Measure to where you want your next tack.  I measured about 8 inches apart.  Fold your bullet the opposite way creating the wave.  Finish to the edge of your length. 

You can stop here or if you want as I have done you can add a little accent to match homemade placemats.  What I did was measure 2 inches of fabric and cut all the way down in one long strip for each side.  Folded in the raw side and sewed all the way down.  What a very easy project for such a beautiful accent.

I would love to see your own designs or ideas.  Post your link of your own creation or photos in the comments.