Giving ten minute table runners as Christmas gifts?
 

I just love making these. Great way to use my stash! But in regards to giving them as Christmas gifts, do they look "cheap" since there is no batting? I dressed up Halloween ones with buttons shaped like bats and spiders and my nieces and mom LOVED them. I have a lot of Christmas material and was thinking of making some ( well actually lots of them! lol) for Christmas gifts but I don't want to appear cheap. I am going to jazz them up with buttons and stuff. Just wondering what you all think!

I think anyone who enjoys seasonal decorations would appreciate having one.

I used a firm but flexible interfacing in mine. It gave it a crisp professional look. I bought it at Walmart, it was a Pellon product but I don't have the exact name. I went mostly by feel to what I wanted to use. Just the fabric sewn gives the topper a little too much homemade look and not the handmade look I wanted for gifts.

what do the ten-minute table runners look like?

I'm working on place mats for a Christmas present.. and am using one layer of flannel as "batting". It's just enough to give it a better feel without being fluffy.

Here's mine!
 

My version of the 10-minute table runner. I agree that using the interfacing would give it a crisper look... wish I had thought of that idea!

If i want them nicer I use batting and lightly quilt. I just like the look better. great for a last minute gift. Receiver does not have to know how little time it took to make. Usually takes longer to find the right fabric combination.

You could use an ugly fabric in the center, too, as long as the colors don't show through the outside fabrics, or even a flannel for batting, to give it a more professional look.

I;ve made and given with out batting. My recieipents loved them. No bulk to have glasses or cups wobble on. Have seem my gifts being used

If you ant maybe you have someleftover blocks or strips and pc that cte pc. Its a 10 minute jump off starting point.
why not applique on top too.
have fun

i think i may try the flannel. i buy a lot of flannel on black friday -last year bought 8 yardsof white on top of all the other flannel i bought. will definitely give this a try.

Just be sure to prewash your flannel. Glad I did.

I like flannel as batting in runners, makes it easier to quilt the top. When I have no flannel I use heavier fabric (old curtains recycled) as backing, no batting needed. My 3rd option is thin polyester fleece which I buy as Chinese made blankets for about 2 $ apiece. I use these for batting in general.

I always use flannel for batting in table runners and placemats. Gives them some weight without being bulky.

I used white felt and it worked fine and was inexpensive.

Sorry should have mentioned I quilted it after it was put together with a straight line quilting pattern.

I acyually did embroidery on long center fabric then added outer fabric turned out great everyone loved them

I think it's a lovely idea. I wish someone would put the effort in to make me a gift for Christmas! I am making placemats and bordered towels for Christmas gifts :o I just finished a pillowcase cover and I used iron-on Pellon, the result was great, it gave a nice substance to the piece, was easy to sew and not too stiff! Also, for some reason it seemed to make it easier to iron after it was assembled.

I think they would make great Christmas gifts!

The first time I saw one of these I was given it as a gift. I had no idea until she showed me how she had done it that it was so easy. I thought it looked great. I think fabric choice is key. I have the pattern now and plan to make some but haven't yet. I like the flannel idea so will use that when I start making them. I had gotten a huge amount of material from a lady on Craigs List and some was flannel in a pattern I am not crazy about so this would be a good place for it.

Where do we learn how to make these?????

hugs

Caroline

I have made a couple for our Red Hat door prizes this month. I made them before with batting and was not pleased with them, but i like the idea of the pellon product. Wish I had known this before. People do seem to like them when I give them as gifts. The white felt is a good idea also. Next one I will try something in them.

There are several youtube videos how to make the runners.

There are several youtube videos how to make the runners.

That's exactly what I was thinking!! No glass wobble!!

I have a couple of close girlfriends who look forward to receiving one of these every year. Soon each of them will have one for every holiday, including birthdays. Keep making them, they make wonderful gifts. They work up quickly if you are doing craft fairs too.

I picked this photo because I made it about 15 inches. I wanted to use this fabric that was in my stash. As you can see, I added Christmas embroidery in the center.

For the past 3-4 years we've "limited" Christmas gifts to useful, less expensive gifts. Last year was one of my best Christmases (sp?) because of that...very little stress. A gift like that would be wonderful...especially if it came from someone I care about and they took the time to make it for me. Love it !!

I have quite a variety of store bought table runners and none have any sort of batting or interfacing. Some are two layers of fabric, but others are only one layer of fabric.

Do a search on line for 10 min table runners. There are "free" patterns. No I do not think they are a "cheap" looking gift. No one needs to know how much time or money you spent on their gift. I made several for my daughters and have made then longer then the pattern calls for. Concerning the pic posted by Rainagade My pionted ends are on the Top/bottom of the white and not along the sides so the runner is longer and not so wide. mine lok more line Donnac's pic. Do it your way!!!! Also if you really want to be generous, you can make matching placemats

I bought one last year at a Church craft sale. Done in fall colors and had acorns and leaves stitched on it. lovely!

II have taken a single layer of material, folded the ends and fastened them down and put tassels on the ends and they have been received very well, as they are easy to wash, no lumps for glasses or candle holders to wobble on and look very pretty. I have also made a quilted table runner and use it on my table as well, Both look very nice. You can get three out of a yard's with if it is 45 inches wide and two if it is less. Use whatever length of material you want for your table runner. I do not like the long ones on my table, so usually make them shorter, a yard or a little longer. That is up to your taste as an individual or whomever you will be giving one too. A neighbor made these and took them to work and they sold like hotcakes because they were easy to laundry and iron. So whatever buzzs your bee on how you make them.

I have used cheap fleece as a batting and a very thin, ugly feeling batting before when making these and the recipients are very pleased. I do quilt shapes and/or words onto mine before giving them. Made several for a friend who was moving and both were flabbergasted that I had taken so much time to make them something. Not so much time minus the quilting time but who am I to burst their bubble. I will look for heavy duty Wallyworld Pellon the next time I am in there as I'm out of all other innards. I think they look better with some type of batting in the middle but that's my personal preference.
Chris

I also use flannel for my batting. I made 1 last year for a charity auction & it sold for $30. Not cheap.
I think most people would love it & you don't have to tell them the name- LOL

Hi,

I also do 10 minute runners, but have a variation that jazzes em up a bit.

I cut my center focal fabric 8 x WOF and then add a 1 1/2 inch x WOF coordinating border to each side of this center piece. Then sew on your back/outside border fabric as your normally do.....just adds a little extra to the runner and another 5 minutes.
So you need 1/4 yd of focus fabric, 1/8 yd for the inside border, and the usual 1/2 yard for the back/outside border.

Bev

hose of us 'visual learners' here are a few patterns with directions so you can 'see' how to make them. The final embelishments are totally up to you, add buttons, applique, embroidery, and the list goes on and on & on & on. There is no limit to how you can 'dress' it up.


http://freebiesforcrafters.blogspot....le-runner.html

http://quilting.craftgossip.com/free...er/2011/11/21/

http://www.supermomnocape.com/2011/1...-table-runner/

HTH & have fun!

I think they would make wonderful Christmas gifts, and nobody has to know how little time it took you to make them. I was thinking of making a couple, as I have some jazzy Christmas fabric that I bought, but couldn't find the right pattern to make any quilt blocks from it. As one quilter recommended a firm, flexible interfacting, I think that would work great. I'm always looking for quick gifts that may take little time, but look great. Last year I made my DS and DDIL a very long runner using the heat resistant batting for them to use on their buffet, as their electric coffee pot was threatening to burn the top. I used the zig -zag pattern I found online and it looks great.

here is the video. after making my kids qillows made these and a matching bowl out of the left over material. challenge to myself is to use all scraps up to go with a project even got a couple of potholders. anyway they liked it and it added some color to there room. which was my goal since visiting and seeing the whole house was brown and biege.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=qGhUslU0WGI#

Ok, now I see what you mean. I made one of these a few weeks ago with Autumn fabric but didn't care for the end result - was used to something a little thicker with batting. My daugher, however, liked it so I gave it to her. I'll just make another with a different pattern.

I have made these for every holiday and they have been well received.

I have been doing these and rectangle scrappy ones, i love them and i know others will also, have fun and keep sewing on