Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to make a wipe-clean table runner, using HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl to laminate the top fabric before you sew a single seam.
First, what this product really is
Let's be clear right up front, y'all. This is not yardage, and it is not an adhesive for holding layers together.
HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl is a flexible, water resistant coating you iron onto the top of your fabric to protect it. That is how you make your own laminated fabrics at home.
This roll is 17 inches wide by 2 yards long, with a gloss finish. It is heat activated, permanent, and fusible on one side only. It works on fabric or paper, it is UV resistant and water repellent, and it is phthalate free and BPA-free. You can sew through it with a regular foot or a non-stick foot.
The gloss finish gives your fabric a soft shine, and your print still shows through. One honest note: this vinyl is not an adhesive for bonding fabric to fabric — that is a different HeatnBond product. This one's job is protection.
The project: a wipe-clean table runner
A table runner lives right in the splash zone. Sweet tea sweats. Gravy travels. Somebody always sets a wet glass down without a coaster.
That is why this vinyl suits this project. Laminate the top fabric first, and spills sit on the surface instead of soaking in. Most messes wipe clean with a damp cloth. Just like that.
Plan a finished runner about 14 by 44 inches. Here is the good news on size: 14 inches fits inside the 17-inch width of this roll, so one width of vinyl covers your top — no piecing, no seam line down the middle. And the roll gives you 2 yards, or 72 inches, so you have plenty for a 44-inch runner, plus extra to test on scraps first.
Materials
- Cotton fabric for the runner top, pre-washed with no fabric softener — cut 1 piece, 14 1/2 by 44 1/2 inches
- Cotton backing fabric — cut 1 piece, 14 1/2 by 44 1/2 inches
- HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl Roll, 17 in x 2 yds Gloss Finish — cut 1 piece, about 15 by 45 inches
- Thin batting or flannel, cut 14 1/2 by 44 1/2 inches — optional, completely up to you
- Binding fabric, about 1/4 yard, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- Thread, and an iron set to medium heat, no steam
- The paper liner that comes with the vinyl — do not throw it away, you need it
Brief steps
Here we go.
One, pre-wash your fabrics without fabric softener, press them flat, and pretest the vinyl on a scrap first. Always. Two minutes now saves a whole project later.
Two, laminate the top fabric before you layer anything. Peel the vinyl from its protective paper, place it sticky side down onto the right side of your top fabric, and smooth it flat.
Three, place that protective paper back on top. Press and hold the iron on the paper for 8 seconds. Lift, move, and repeat until the whole top is laminated. Slow down here, folks. Never touch the iron directly to the vinyl.
Four, flip the fabric over. Press and hold on the back for an additional 4 seconds, section by section. Let everything cool completely.
Five, layer it up: backing face down, batting if you're using it, then laminated top face up. Quilt it simply — stitch in the ditch, or a few straight lines down the length. Longer stitches, around 8 to 10 per inch, look good on a laminated surface.
Six, trim square, then bind it like any small quilt, with 1/4-inch seams. You're done.
Practical tips from my table
Medium heat, no steam. A hot iron on bare vinyl will get you in trouble fast.
One safety note, stated plainly. This vinyl is not certified food-safe for direct food contact. Plates sit on this runner just fine. Food itself goes on a plate, or in a food-safe wrap or bag first.
If you see a little peeling or crinkling later, don't panic. Cover the vinyl with parchment paper and re-iron it. It settles right back down. Care is easy, too: wipe clean with a damp cloth, and if washing is a must, wash on gentle and line dry.
And here's your permission beat. Your vinyl might not lay perfectly flat on the first try. A corner might lift and need a second press. That is fine. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl Roll, 17 in x 2 yds Gloss Finish at Linda's Electric Quilters.
