Table runners, Batting? no Batting? what kind?
 

Hi, not sure if this was covered here before, but can you tell me what is best to use for a tablerunner? I got stalled last year and want to finish up some runners as gifts for Christmas this year. The 10 minute runners on youtube don't say what to use or how to include it. Any suggestions? thank you in advance, Patti

Not sure on the 10 minute one, but I just use Warm and Natural on the ones I have made.

I use some kind of batting ... just to stablize if not for any other reason. I use a cotton batting (such as Warm and Natural) if I think hot dishes will be set on them. Otherwise I use some kind of lightweight batting, sometimes just flannel. I don't know where I learned to do this, maybe trial and error.

I've done it both ways - with and without. When I use batting, I normally use scraps of whatever I have that's very thin -- good parts of a worn out mattress pad, cotton, or thin poly. With a batting, you have more of a look of quilting than without. I don't think the 10 minute table runners used batting, but it could be used. Assuming this is the table runner I'm thinking of, there are no seams at the edges - the bottom piece is bigger than the top piece, so the seam is an inch or so from the edge, and then the edges are folded into a triangle and stitched down, sometimes with a button or decorative stitch. If you want batting, I'd cut it the width of the finished runner, with triangles at either end, and insert when you turn the tube. I would do edge stitching around the perimeter, and probably stitch in the ditch for the seam an inch in, and for the triangle ends.

i use a lightweight-thin batting generally- my mom likes her runners really flat- so when I make hers I use a layer of pre-washed flannel or muslin- she really likes them that way- I like them with a little bit *more* to them- so a lightweight thin polyester batt works well for me (I choose poly because it doesn't shrink like cotton)

As with everyone else, it depends on the use of the runner for me with respect to the batting.

If i want a thin runner, i do not using batting at all, but in those instances I rarely quilt them.
If I want a quilted looking runner, then I use a thin layer of cotton and/or poly/cotton.
If I want the runner to double as a hot pad on the table, I layer a thin 100% cotton with a layer of insul-bright. ;) (the stuff for pot holders etc) It is a little thick on the quilting, but it can be used as a hot pad as well.

If you use batting on the 10 minute, you seem to have to insert it later in the process. We started using home dec fabric that was a little heavier fabric and it worked great without batting.

I use Warm and White batting. Agree that if you will set hot dishes on it, use the insul-bright stuff.

I just use a thick interfacing so it will lie flat. I do the same with place mat's.

I made many 10 minute runners for a charity last year. I used washed flannel or warm and natural. The way I do it is I cut it the same size as the bigger piece of fabric. Do runner and then quilt center part. They really looked great I thought.