How to Bind a Table Runner
Getting ready for the holiday season is exciting, and choosing the right dining room linens, place mats and napkins should put you in a very festive mood. Adding a table runner to the table as a focal point is attractive and brings all of the table components together.
Once the table runner is made and ready to bind and finish, go through the following steps to finish the table runner for an added piece of color to the holiday.
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Things You'll Need
- Bias binding 2"- to 4"-width tape
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Decorator fabric in contrasting color of table runner (optional)
Instructions
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How to Bind a Table Runner
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Start binding at center of one side of the runner. Use 2"- to 4"-wide trim bias binding in a coordinating color of the table runner. Open out the bias binding. Pin the binding to the edging. When reaching the corners, sandwich the fabric in the binding. At the corner, fold binding diagonally as if making a miter fold; press corner, then, baste the binding down and go to next side.
The "basting" stitch is the longest stitch on the stitch knob of your machine, or a long loose stitch by hand. This stitch is the "prep" stitch that sews the fabric to check placement and appearance and for changes to be made, if needed. Once changes are made in the runner, return to the beginning point of stitching on the runner, and sew over the basting, using one of the following methods.
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For slip-stitched edges: Pin the right side of binding to front of runner, with the raw edges even. Stitch on fold line of binding. Turn binding to back of runner and slip stitch in place, by hand.
For top-stitched edges: Open out binding. Pin right side of binding to the back of the runner, with raw edges even. Stitch on the fold line of binding. Turn binding to the front of runner and top stitch in place.
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Cut the bias binding 1" beyond the end. Turn under 1/2" into the seam to top stitch; finish stitching to end of binding. Slip stitch, where needed. Review the binding. If everything in place and approved, remove the basting stitching.
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Once the binding has been sewn, go along the edge, using the "stitch in the ditch" technique, between the final seam of the fabric to ensure stability in the binding. This is where you can use a slip stitch, as well.
This technique is optional in home decor sewing, but used quite often in quilting. This technique is when the binding has been completed, and reinforcement of the seam line is necessary.
Pull the binding upward to reveal the seam line area; this is called the "ditch," where you can either use the slip stitch technique in hand sewing or, using the zipper foot on the machine, make a small top stitch directly on top of the seam, lifting the edge of the binding as you sew. Once finished, the binding falls back into place, and the stitching is never seen. Thus, the term, "stitch-in-the-ditch".
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