How to Make a Falling-leaf Table Runner

Bring Mother Nature's beautiful shapes and colors of fall to the table by crafting this lovely Falling Leaves table runner

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pins
• tape measure
• fabric for leaves
• one to two yards craft felt
• leaf patterns (I used patterns I found in on-line coloring books)
• fusing (for appliqués)
• pressing cloth
• iron
• Liquid Stitch
• fabric puff paint
• thread (sewing, if you’re using a sewing machine; embroidery floss and needle if you’ll be stitching by hand)
• trim

1. Measure the length you’d like to make your table runner. Cut the craft felt to the desired length.

2. 
    

   Pin leaf pattern to the fabric you’ve chosen for the leaves; cut out eight to ten leaves from fabric.

3. 
    

   Make the leaf into an appliqué by fusing: place the leaf right side down on the ironing board; wrong side to shiny side of fusing paper. Place a damp pressing cloth over the dull side of the fusing paper and press firmly for 10 to 15 seconds (don’t move iron back and forth) using a steam iron set on “wool.”

4. 
    

   Spread the felt runner out and arrange leaf appliqués on the felt as desired. Using Liquid Stitch, glue leaves to the felt runner. Let dry.

5. Stitch to the felt either by hand with embroidery floss and needle, or like I did, by machine using the buttonhole stitch setting.

6. Using fabric paint, draw veins on the leaves. Let dry.

7. Stitch trim to the shorter ends of the runner, and voila! – instant table-setting charm!

Tips & Warnings

• When choosing your fusing, make sure you pick fusing that is "needle-friendly." It will say on the package that you can sew through it without gumming up your needle.