How to Sew a Velvet Table Runner

Add an attractive accent to your dining room table with a pretty velvet table runner. This is a long, rectangular-shaped, fairly narrow decorative piece of fabric that is laid lengthwise and center on a table. To enhance the runner, sometimes a lovely vase with flowers is set on top with perhaps a candle and glass holder is placed on either side. Create a beautiful velvet table runner to complement the table and the room where it will be on display and used.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Velvet fabric
• Scissors
• Double-fold binding tape
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron and ironing board

1. Cut the velvet to 75 inches long by 14 inches wide. Starting from one corner of the velvet, along the longest part, slip the edge of the velvet into 1/2-inch double-fold satin binding tape.

2. Align the velvet and binding tape under the needle of the sewing machine where they first meet. Begin straight stitching close to the inside fold of the binding tape that encloses the velvet. Work a few inches at a time, slowing slipping the velvet edge into the binding tape and sewing.

3. Continue sewing the satin binding tape onto the velvet along the length of the fabric up to the last 1/2 inch. Stop sewing and lift the presser foot, but first make sure the needle is inserted into the binding tape to hold the fabric in place.

4. Hold the binding tape just beyond the edge that has just been sewn. With scissors, snip almost all the way through the binding tape at a right angle to the next edge to be sewn.

5. Open the binding tape at the cut, tuck in the corners and slip the next edge of the velvet fabric in. This will include the last 1/2 inch along the previous edge. Turn the binding and fabric 90 degrees (or right angle), lower the presser foot (the needle is still in the binding and fabric) and continue straight stitching along the next edge.

6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 at the end of each edge. Continue straight stitching until all four sides of the velvet have been sewn with the satin binding tape for a neat and pretty finish.

7. Press the edges of the velvet fabric with the satin binding tape on the wrong side with a hot iron.

Tips & Warnings

• This project can be designed for themed celebrations or holidays such as Christmas with a red velvet table runner and contrasting green satin binding. To add special embellishments to the velvet runner, place a part the velvet runner right side down over a rubber stamp, spray the wrong side with water from a mist bottle, and then press with a hot iron (no steam). The image of the stamp will be embossed on the velvet. Practice this technique first on small pieces of velvet. Straight pins can be used to hold the binding tape over the velvet, but if you work slowly, a few inches at a time, they aren't necessary.