table runner question
 

My dil is getting ready for a craft fair. She does mostly machine embroidery, shirts, pillows, etc. She got a good deal on some seasonal material and asked about table runners. She wanted to know if she had to line them or if they could just be hemmed... Thoughts?????? She may embroider words on the ends of them... or add applique.... wants to keep price reasonable... suggestions.... patterns.... anything appreciated.

I like mine with batting, but not everybody does.
If she does decide to put something in the middle, I would say there's 2 options to help keep costs down:
1) buy 100% poly batt on a roll from Joann.com with a coupon (retailmenot.com has coupons for Joann 24/7)
2) there is some kind of flat product that is like an interfacing/stabilizer or such that helps make it lay nice. I used it once for a tablerunner I made for my mom. It's been a few years so I don't remember what it's called, but again, you could buy a bolt of it at local Joann/HL with a 50% off coupon to help lower costs

There are plenty of free table runner patterns available online. I'd suggest she just search through some websites to find a couple patterns as a starting point & then add on applique or embroidery to those. Jinny Beyer has a few at http://www.jinnybeyer.com/quilting-w...e-patterns.cfm. Honestly, though, even just a simple "whole cloth" table runner with a bit of embroidery on it with a seasonal message would be enough to get me to buy it. :)

I too like to have batting in my placemats and table runner. It is really a matter of taste. It might protect your table from heat or spillage.

I think she would get a better price if they are lined and have some type of batting. Consider making them reversible with different fabrics on each side. Make sure to preshrink all fabric and batting so they will lay flat after washing.