How to Make a Scalloped Linen Table Runner

So I have all these random thoughts throughout the day. Thoughts that I think would make good blog posts. And so as I’m working almost round the clock on wholesale pillow orders I compose those blog posts in my mind. I add in witty phrases her and philosophical thought there.

And oh, if those words could just flow straight from my brain to my blog you, my readers, would be so well entertained and steeped in knowledge you wouldn’t be able to stand it.

You can probably count yourself lucky that by the time I make it to my computer all those truly scintillating and wondrous thoughts have floated away on a sea of complete exhaustion.  I barely take time to check my email these days.  My king-size feather pillow is insistently calling my name by 8pm and by the time my head actually makes contact with my pillow I’m no longer coherent.  Thus you are saved my eloquent ramblings 😀

Today I am bringing you a blog post – a post that has been hanging out in the wings for a couple years now.  This project was one I did for the Christmas issue of Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll magazine.  I somehow missed bringing it to you last year and somehow sharing it in May or August just didn’t resonate.  So I edited the pics and saved them in the folder all my pics for the blog are in and there they hung out till now.

And now you get to learn how to make a Scalloped Linen Table Runner.  It’s really quite simple and nowhere near as hard as you might think if you have never made anything other than straight edges.

You will need:

Fabric of your choice – determine how much by how wide and long you want your table runner to be. (you will need double the width and length measurements)

Thread to match your fabric

Needle for handsewing

Pinking shears (optional)

Point turner (optional)Step 1. Choose your fabric – Belgian Linen could be used year round, and also adds an elegant touch to any holiday table.  Vintage fabrics, grain sacks, vintage ticking or printed cottons are also great choices.

Step 2. Determine the width and length you want your runner by laying fabric on your table to see what looks best. Runner s can be made to hang off both ends of the table or you can make them to stop a few inches from the edge of the table.

Step 3. To create the scallops find a bowl, plate, or cup that is the size you want each scallop to be. I used a dinner plate and on the short ends I used a dessert plate to make the scallop between the 2 scallops that formed the ‘corner’.  (you will want to draw your scallops on the wrong side of the fabric)

Step 4. You can make the scallops as deep into the runner as you prefer. Lay 2 plates side by side – if the scallop goes deeper than you want it to, measure from the edge of the fabric to the depth you want one scallop to stop and the next to start.  Trace the plate up to that point and stop, move plate to next scallop placement and trace starting at the point where you stopped the previous scallop.  Continue till all scallops are traced.

Step 5. Lay your fabric with the traced scallops on top of your lining with right sides together. Cut along the scallop lines you have drawn, cutting through both fabrics at one time.

Step 6. Pin together as much as you feel comfortable with, sew the scalloped runner together with a ½” seam allowance. Leave an opening in one of the scallops for turning.

Step 7. Use pinking shears to trim seams close to stitching. (if you don’t have pinking shears you will need to make small clips with scissors all along the curved edges) With small scissors clip each point of the scallops almost to the stitching so they will turn nicely and lay properly.

Step 8. Turn right sides out and work each scallop out smooth and neat. (a point turner can help with this)

Step 9. Press well, turn edges of opening to the inside and press in place.

Step 10. Slipstitch opening closed. Press again and use the next time you host a dinner party.

See how simple that really is?  And the bigger you make the scallops the easier it is to sew.  Smaller curves and corners are a bit trickier but still not something you need to be afraid of!

You could totally use whatever fabric you wanted to create whatever look you were going for.  I loved linen and I had this Belgian Linen that I’d been hoarding so it seemed the perfect time to use it.  It works up wonderfully, the heavier weight of the Belgian Linen is just awesome.

Want some inside information into a bloggers world?  I shot this Christmas table setup on a warm late-summer day.  I dug through boxes of Christmas decor to find some ornaments, the glittered deer, and a nativity, and cut some boxwood clippings.  

Magazines have to be planned, photographed for, and printed well in advance of the season they are supposed to come out for.  Same is true for Christmas decor, tutorials and crafts for blog posts.

Next week is Thanksgiving – and then the push towards Christmas will be on in full swing.  Try to take time to enjoy it amidst all the hoopla of preparation, shopping, gift wrapping, DIYing, crafting, baking, and whatever else your Holidays looks like!

I made the hemstitched napkins too – I’ll show you some more photos of them and give you the how-to for those too!

If you make a scalloped table runner I’d love to have you send me a pic of yours!

Jill