Hey everyone! Today we're making a light, airy table runner, and you'll learn how to turn a pretty chiffon into a soft overlay that dresses up a table in an afternoon.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Angel Blue-Yellow-Multi Floral Printed Polyester Chiffon Woven Fabric from Fabric Depot.
It is 100% polyester chiffon.
It is a woven fabric with a floral print.
The colors are angel blue and yellow, with multi tones in the print.
It comes 58 inches wide.
The weight is light.
The hand is soft and crisp at the same time.
It has no stretch, which helps us measure true.
It has very good drape.
The luster is matte, so there is no shine.
And it is semi-sheer, and we will plan for that.
This chiffon is listed for blouses, dresses, overlays, and apparel.
That word overlay is our clue today.
Here is what I use and why.
I use it as the top layer, over a solid.
The solid underneath lets those flowers show clean.
Just like that, the print does the pretty part.
The project: a light and airy table runner
We are making a table runner, about 14 by 46 inches finished.
That fits most dining tables, with color down the middle.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
One chiffon layer, one solid layer, and simple stitching.
Why does this fabric suit it?
The 58-inch width gives you room to cut your length across the width.
The very good drape lets the ends fall soft, not stiff.
And because it is semi-sheer, you control the look underneath.
Put a pale solid under it for a soft, gentle runner.
Put a deeper blue under it for stronger color.
Completely up to you.
Materials list
- 3/4 yard of this Angel Blue-Yellow-Multi Floral Printed Polyester Chiffon Woven Fabric for the overlay top
- 3/4 yard of solid quilting cotton for the underlayer and backing
- Thin, low-loft batting or flannel, at least 16 by 48 inches, if you want a little body
- 50-weight thread to match your underlayer
- A Microtex needle, size 70/10
- Fine pins, a ruler, and a rotary cutter or sharp scissors
- A walking foot, if you have one
Brief steps
First, press the cotton underlayer like normal.
Press the chiffon gently, on a low setting.
Go slow here.
Polyester does not love high heat.
Lay the chiffon out flat and let it relax a few minutes.
Cut your chiffon to 15 by 47 inches.
Cut your underlayer and backing the same size.
Layer them up.
Backing face down, batting if you use it, underlayer face up, then chiffon on top, pretty side up.
The solid sits right under the chiffon, so the flowers have something to show against.
Smooth from the center out, nice and easy.
Pin every 3 to 4 inches.
Chiffon likes to shift, so those close pins matter.
Set your stitch length around 2.5 millimeters.
That is about 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Test on a small scrap sandwich first.
Stitch simple lines down the length, about 2 inches apart.
Travel along the edge to the next line.
Tie off your ends nice and clean.
Or echo a gentle wave across it instead.
My pick is the straight lines.
Trim your runner to 14 by 46 inches.
Finish the edges with a narrow hem, about 1/4 inch, turned twice.
Or bind it like a little quilt, with 2 1/2-inch strips.
Here we go.
You just made a runner that looks fancy and sews simple.
Practical tips from my table
Slow down or the chiffon creeps.
That creep is the mistake I made first.
I rushed a sheer overlay once.
One corner wandered almost a half inch.
The fix was easy.
I took the stitching out, smoothed it flat, and pinned closer.
No harm done.
Hold a piece up to the light before you cut.
That ten-second test shows the semi-sheer part plain.
Use sharp scissors or a fresh blade.
A dull blade drags chiffon instead of cutting it.
And keep your hands flat when you smooth it.
Do not pull it.
And listen, it does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic, I promise.
A tiny wobble will disappear under a vase of flowers.
Take your time, it's not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Angel Blue-Yellow-Multi Floral Printed Polyester Chiffon Woven Fabric at Linda's Electric Quilters.
