I’m not a regular runner, but I can make one. I ran track and cross country back in middle and high school—I even ran a 5:09 mile once (thanks to a downhill stretch and being tiny), though I usually hovered around 6:20–7:10. Those days are long gone—partly from an ankle injury, mostly from a lack of motivation. Now I only run when I’m being chased or when I’ve temporarily misplaced the baby. But sewing a table runner? That I can do.
You may have seen a sneak peek of this runner in a photo from Clara’s party:
Compared to my big quilt project, this runner was easy—perfect as a confidence-building, quick sewing project. I started by sorting through leftover fabrics from Clara’s weekly photo project and picked four prints that worked well together for a cheerful, mixed-and-matched look.
I used an existing runner (from Target) as a size guide, folding it into quarters to mark the approximate width and length of the four fabric rectangles I needed. I left about an inch around each side for seam allowance so the finished runner would match the original dimensions.
I also took a minute to iron each rectangle so they were smooth and easier to work with—washing fabrics first is important to avoid future shrinkage.
Next I pinned the fabric pieces together with the wrong sides facing out. That way, when sewn, the seams would be hidden on the inside for a cleaner look. (Thanks to everyone who suggested pinning perpendicular to the seam—I forgot this time, but I’ll try it next.)
At the pinning stage it looked a bit chaotic, but after ironing and sewing the seams everything came together nicely. Sewing really transforms those mismatched pieces into something cohesive.
After stitching the sections together, I pressed the seams flat from the back so the front would lie smoothly instead of looking bunched up.
I ironed the outer seams toward the inside to create finished edges, and because I was short on time with the baby’s nap ending, I skipped pinning the entire perimeter and went straight to pressing. Then I sewed those outer seams carefully—these stitches are visible, so I took my time to keep them straight and neat.
Next I pressed the unhemmed sides and stitched slowly around the entire perimeter to create a tidy hem. My bobbin ran out midway (a small annoyance that always seems to happen), but otherwise the sewing went smoothly and was surprisingly enjoyable.
When I turned off the sewing machine and pressed the finished runner one last time, it looked polished and tailored—Houston, we have a runner:
This runner is cheerful and festive—the perfect accent for future Clara parties or any celebration. It even has a slightly Easter-y vibe for egg-dyeing gatherings. Cost? Zero, since I used leftover fabric. Time? About 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish—ideal for beginners looking for a quick, satisfying DIY sewing project.
If you’re new to sewing, don’t worry about terminology or making mistakes. I make plenty, but trying things out until you end up with something you like is a great way to learn. If someone like me—who used to have a tumultuous relationship with sewing machines—can complete a simple project and enjoy it, you can too. Probably even better than I can. I’m no expert—I’m the water boy of sewing—but that’s the point: these projects are approachable and fun.
Psst—our baby-proofing adventures continue over on BabyCenter today. Can you handle the excitement?