Bed Runners seem to be something new? Does anyone know the approximate size of a bed runner?

The ones I have seen have been in hotels and on cruise ships. They give the illusion of a folded up comforter or quilt. They hung down below the mattress on the sides and were maybe big enough to cover the pillows if they were at that end of the bed. I am sure they save the maids a lot of time as they change the sheets everyday and wouldn't have to struggle with the comforter that way. The ones I saw were not pieced and had no batting they were just a lined strip that went acros the bottom of the bed.
There were two ladies on an episode of Simply Quilts several years ago who made quilted pieces that covered the pillows and paired with a plain bedspread looked very nice and could be changed for different season. I believe they were similiar to the runners that were popular for mantles.

Check in some of the lewer quilt mags that came out this winter.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Mak...Set&id=2088576

In summary:

For Single Bed- size: Runner Length = Bed width + Drop from Mattress-top to Floor. Runner Width = Approximately 18" to 24"

For Double Bed - size: Runner Length = Bed width + Drop from Mattress-top to Floor. Runner Width = Approximately 18" to 24"

There is a new book out called Bedrunners Using Precut Fabrics by Kathy Brown. (Barnes and Noble does not have the book at this time-they cancelled my order.)

this is very interesting. i never heard of this before, but when i was on vacation, the bed was made up with a something at the foot that was made to look like a folded comforter. since this was the tropics, all they really needed was a lightweight blanket and a sheet for a covering, which was tucked under as usual, but i guess they didn't think that was classy looking enough. this something was more formal and just laid there hanging over the sides looking nice. sometimes they pleated it up, really just a 'pretty'. now i know what it was.

I've made a couple of bed runners, both queen. they were 88"across and 24" wide, if this helps.

Does anyone have any photos of a bed runner?

picture a mantel scarf. hanging over both sides of the bed, at the foot. decorator-style to match the drapes or carpet or what-all. it might have fringe on the edge or crochet or tassels or nothing. it might be fancy or simple depending on the style, just like a mantel scarf. it serves no other purpose than to be decorative. it might lie across a bedspread as another layer, or across a blanket looking like a folded bedspread.

http://www.designerliving.com/Bed-Runners-C93.aspx

http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?pcode=10847

http://www.globalsources.com/manufac...ed-Runner.html

that should give you an idea of what they look like.

I could be mixing this up with something else, but didn't bed runners used to known as Amish pillow shams?
When I made them (or possibly something similar) in the (distant) past, that's what they were called, but they always went across the pillows, never across the foot of the bed.