Sewing - The Idea Room

Monogrammed Table Runner

Last week I shared with you the simple Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece that I recently made for our Thanksgiving Feast. I also shared how to Build Your Own Box for the centerpiece. Did I mention that Thanksgiving is at my house for the FIRST time with our entire family?!! I have the centerpiece covered now but it needed a little something extra, so I decided to make a simple Monogrammed DIY Table Runner.

I have ALWAYS wanted a table runner and FINALLY had the perfect excuse to make one. It could not be easier. If you can sew a straight line, this project is for you!

I bought 2 yards of burlap, but any heavier fabric like linen or muslin will work too. Then measured and cut two pieces…14 in x 88 inches.

My table (which actually has not been built yet…long story…more on that later) is going to measure 60 inches square. I wanted the runner to hang over the edge of the table, 14 inches, on each end. So that meant that I needed a total length of 88 inches (60 inches for the table + 14 inches +14 inches = 88 inches).

Since everyone has different sized tables, you will need to figure out what length and width you would like your runner to be and plan accordingly. You can also make a table runner that just lays on the table and doesn’t hang over the edge like I show in some of the final pictures.

Then I took the two pieces and pinned them together with the wrong side of the material facing each other. Then sew some black (or another color) bias tape around the entire table runner. Now some people freak out about sewing on bias tape.

*Here is a little trick that I do that makes it a LOT easier to work with. I don’t actually pin mine on. I sew slowly and put it in the correct place and sew it on as I go. It makes it so much easier for me and it doesn’t pucker. Also, make sure to put the side of the bias tape that is slightly wider on the bottom so you are sure to catch it with the thread.

Then I made a simple stencil with my Silhouette Cameo and some vinyl. I cut out two of them to stencil a monogram on each end of the table runner.

This is another project that you could whip up in an hour or during naptime pretty easily. Now…here is where I fess up to a little secret…I actually have NOT finished this table runner completely. Gasp!

My sewing machine suddenly just quit working MID Project!! Gah! So I have to get it fixed or run up to my mom’s and finish it before Thanksgiving. BUT—I wanted you to be able to make one if you wanted too and give you enough time to get it done before the big holiday rush. So don’t look TOO closely ;)!! You can see the pins in a couple of places which I just put in there to hold the bias tape on for pictures! #keepingitrealpeople

But even halfway finished, I am really excited about how it turned out! I love how simple it is but it adds a little extra “umph” to your Holiday setting!

Oh…and as I alluded to above, we currently do not have a kitchen table that fits our entire family. We have a square table that seats 6 and now that the baby is no longer a baby in a high chair (she’s 5!!) we have to pull out an extra chair to fit us all around. My boys are both now full sized adults and we are running out of room (and food)!

We have searched high and low for a table that would fit our odd space and our family. What we have found is way out of our budget…so…we are going to build one. I KNOW!! Think we can do it before Thanksgiving? We will see. Life gets crazy so we are going to have to play this one by ear and see how it goes…!

Linking up here: Not Just a Housewife

November 12, 2012 · Filed under: Home Decor, Sewing, Thanksgiving Tagged with burlap table runner, DIY runner, DIY table runner, make your own table runner, monogrammed table runner, thanksgiving table

DIY Hot Pads

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Hello Everyone!

I am Desirée visiting from The 36th AVENUE.

I am sharing today with you a quick tutorial of how to give an

ordinary set of Dollar Store Hot Pads a little Fall makeover.

Isn’t it fun?

Before I share the tutorial let me thank Amy for having me.

I love The Idea Room and I feel honored to be part of her fantastic blog for a day.

I am a lucky girl!

OK, are we ready for the tutorial?

Let’s do it!

MATERIALS

You don’t need much.

1 Hot Pad Glove

Square Hot Pads

{ You can find them at the Dollar Store. The squares hot pads comes in a set of two }

1/4 Yard of Fabric of your choice.

{ I found mine at Jo-Anns, but you can use a fabric scrap if you have some around }

Buttons

{ My buttons came from Wal-Mart }

TUTORIAL

This was so easy and quick to make.

FIRST cut a strip of fabric long enough to cover the width of your glove.

I cut mine 4 inches wide.

Fold the fabric in half and then fold the unfinished top again about half an inch.

Just like the picture.

I like to use my iron to make every fold perfect and crisp.

SECOND

Use one of the square hot pad as a mold to cut another piece of fabric.

You are going to use this fabric to make a pocket.

After you cut the fabric fold the ends of it.

Iron it.

Turn it around and sew it to the hot pad.

THIRD do the same thing with the strip sewing it around the top of the glove and

attach the buttons in place…They are so cute!

And you are done!

These would make a great gift for neighbors or the lucky one hosting Thanksgiving this year.

I am giving mine as a gift to a good friend of mine

with our favorite delicious Pumpkin Bread.

Delicious!

I hope you stop by The 36th AVENUE and say hi.

Make sure to check out our Pumpkin Bread Recipe here.

You are going to love it!

Thank you again Amy for having me today.

I love it here!

Besos

Desirée

The 36th AVENUE

Don’t you just LOVE Desirée? So is so talented and one of the sweetest people I have ever met. I LOVE this project too. Such a fun and simple gift idea. Be sure to head on over to Desirée’s site, The 36th AVENUE and check out her other amazing ideas. She is full of them! Thanks Desirée!–Amy

October 10, 2012 · Filed under: Fall Festival, Gifts, Sewing Tagged with

Chalk Board Tees and More

18 Comments

I have been wanting to make one of these fun Chalk Board T-shirts and finally had a chance to get around to making one now that the kids are back in school. The chalk board cloth may or may not have been sitting in the JoAnn’s bag on my craft room floor for almost 4 months now…. I had wanted to make some for the kids for their last day of school with a big chalk board square on the back of the shirt so all of their friends could sign it like a yearbook. Then I thought it would be fun to get a picture of it! But…alas…it never happened. I just never found the time. But I totally plan on doing it this year!

And I am really glad I finally made them. They are a lot of fun and my kids LOVE them. And I like that they are a fun and unique way to let your child’s personality show. The possibilities are endless.

And you are never going to guess just how easy it is to apply. I found my chalk board cloth at JoAnn’s in their specialty fabric section. I believe is was $4.99 a yard…but I bought it a while ago and my memory is not what it used to be!

I simply made a simple pattern of the shape I wanted to make the chalk board cloth into and cut it out. It cut so easily and smoothly. As you can see, I used chalk to make an outline of the pattern and then just simply erased it.

Then I just glued it onto the shirts with this Fabri-Tac. So EASY!!! I was going to sew it, but figured I would give this a try as I was too lazy to pull out the sewing machine which has been in storage since school got out in early June. Some day, maybe I will get the energy to pull that baby out again! And so far, with some use and a couple of washes, it seems to be holding up really well. Bonus!

Before you can write on the cloth with the chalk, you will need to “prime” it by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk all over the surface of the cloth. Then simply wipe it off and it is ready to go. I did this after each washing too.

I also made my son this tie t-shirt! He loves it and thinks it is a great option for wearing to church. Not really what I had in mind, but fun to wear around the house. How fun would this be on a little baby onesie? I think I will make one for the next baby boy gift I need. Or how about a chalk board in the shape of a little guitar? Or flowers? Or Mickey Mouse? Or for pictures on the first day of school with their grade written on the shirt! Gah!

So many fun ways to dress up a simple t-shirt and make it a lot more fun and unique. And…I am planning on using the left over chalk board cloth for another fun and unique project. Stay tuned for that one!