Buffalo plaid goes with anything year round, so making a table runner with buffalo check fabric totally works. If you can sew straight lines, you will totally nail this project. It is easy, fast, and completely successful. A reversible table runner isn’t any more work to sew, but the functionality is doubled. Bonus: the left over (remnant) fabric was used to make cute pillows.
Supply List
- 1.5 yards Buffalo Plaid Fabric*, I used a light woven cotton
- 1.5 yards Red and white French Ticking* (Mattress Ticking)
- 6.25 yards trim to coordinate
- Spool of thread to coordinate
- Straight Pins
- Measuring Tape
- Fabric scissors
- Needle, to stitch seam closed
- Iron
- Sewing Machine
* I cut the 1.5 yards of fabric into two 16 inch strips and pieced together to make a longer strip as opposed to buying 3 yards of fabric.
Instructions:
Step 1:
Lay out your fabric in a single layer and cut to about 16 inches wide. This was done to save money. If you have a fabric with a repeating all over pattern, get half the length of fabric (1.5 yards instead of 3 yards) and that can be pieced together -end to end- to make one longer 16 inch wide strip.
Do this for the second fabric as well.
TIP: For a professional look, center the pattern in the fabric (whether printed or woven) so the side edges are ending at the same part of the fabric pattern. To clarify, I cut both sides of my 16″ fabric strip so that I was cutting about halfway through a white stripe. When sewn, the edge of the black stripe was the finished edge.
Step 2:
Piece together two short sides of the fabric, being careful to line up the pattern so the seam is not noticeable once sewn. This will produce one really long 16 inch wide unfinished table runner.
Do this for the second fabric as well.
Sew pieced fabric together.
Press the seams open.
Step 3:
Cut the fabric strips to the desired length of your table runner. Be sure to add on the seam allowance prior to cutting. The seam allowance is typically one half of an inch. ( You need to add on one inch to account for each end of the fabric.) I did my seam allowance by sewing along the black stripe in the buffalo check, so it was slightly more than a half of an inch.
TIP: The length of your table runner is ultimately up to you. Typically, a table runner hangs six inches over each end of the table, but not longer than a tablecloth that is underneath.
Step 4:
Pin the trim slightly outside of where you will sew. The trim base should be caught in the final seam allowance. Be sure to put the base of the trim towards the cut edge and the fancy part of the trim (the part you want to show) should face towards the center of the table runner. When sewn and turned right side out, the fancy part is not in the seam allowance but edging your table runner.
TIP: Sew the trim on first before piecing the front and back together to ensure that the trim is caught in the seam.
Step 5:
First, sew the trim to the buffalo check fabric because it has a built in grid that makes it easy to line up and follow. (See above photo.) Next, place the two pieces of table runner with front sides together and pin. Leave a section about 4 inches wide where you won’t sew. This is the opening for which to turn your table runner right side out.
Step 6:
Once sewn, trim the corners to remove excess fabric. When turned right side out, the corners will have less fabric bunched up and will lay flatter. Leave at least a quarter of an inch fabric from the seam.
Step 7:
Turn right side out and press. Be sure to press the open section so the raw edges are turned inside, leaving the fold to match up with the sewn edges.
Step 8:
Hand stitch the seam closed. Use a whip stitch, or a slip stitch. A whip stitch is easier, but a slip stitch looks cleaner and neater. Tutorial from Mood Fabrics on how to do a slip stitch.
You’re done! You have successfully created a cute buffalo plaid, or buffalo check, reversible table runner. I used mine all winter long; making its debut at a hot chocolate party. This table runner was great for Christmas and Valentine’s but I didn’t stop there. I was also able to use the red and white striped side for the Fourth of July. Honestly, this table runner is so universal that it can be used all-year-long. Chose the colors and patterns in your fabric that you like best and make it versatile for your space. Better yet, make multiple table runners in different patterns. Then keep them, have them on hand for home made gifts, or even give one as a house warming gift. After all, this is about making a house a home.💙
Posts to Enhance Your Tablescape:
Farmhouse DIY Stenciled Tablecloth
Dollar Store Makeover: Chalkboard Paint Candlesticks
Love it! The pom pom trim makes it.
I mean, how can you go wrong with some good pom pom trim right?