DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner

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This DIY Burlap Table Runner is a quick and easy was to add rustic style and a bit of sparkle to your table!

Easy-to-Follow DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner Tutorial #burlap #table #runner #DIY

Last week I was shopping at JoAnn’s and out of the corner of my eye I spotted burlap in array of designs ranging from chevron, to mustaches to spiders to pumpkins. I had a mini-creative-heart-attack.

So my brain immediately went into overdrive, thinking of project ideas. I finally decided on a burlap table runner.

Burlap Table Runner:

This burlap table runner would be great for fall and could possibly transition into the holiday season. (There was also a silver polka dot, for those of you not feeling the gold love as much as I am.) I quickly grabbed the bolt and bought three yards. The burlap was priced at $9.99, but I had a coupon for 40% off one item, so I ended up paying about $6 per yard.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

I had never sewn burlap and didn’t want to screw up my sewing machine, so I also picked up a pack of fusible webbing.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

After about an hour of work this morning. I had a brand new table runner that’s perfect for fall.

Easy-to-Follow DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner Tutorial #burlap #table #runner #DIY

Let me show you how easy this is to make.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner

Here’s what you will need:
burlap fabric (see notes below to determine how much you will need)
fusible webbing
scissors
measuring tape
seam ripper (or pointed tool)
cotton dish towel
iron

How to Make a Burlap Table Runner

First, you’ll want to determine how much fabric you need for your burlap table runner. You can make your runner any size you’d like. Personally, I like my runner lengthwise on the table with a little extra falling off each side. So, to determine the length, measure the length of your table. Then add 26 inches.

This allows for 12 each inches of overhang on each side, plus a one inch seam allowance for both sides. (My table is 76″, so the length of fabric I need is 102″) For the width, measure the width of your table and divide by two. Add two inches to that. (My table is 40″ wide, so the width of my fabric needed to be 22 inches.)

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Next you want to cut your burlap. If you are awesome with cutting straight lines, you can begin cutting. If you want to insure straight lines (and I highly recommend this) I have a little trick for you. Begin by marking where you are cutting your burlap and make a tiny cut.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Then begin to pull out one of the threads. Pull slowly and carefully with even force. The burlap will start to buckle and gather, but just keep pulling. Pull until you have the entire string out. The painted gold dots may give you some trouble as the paint tends to hold the thread in place.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

If the whole string doesn’t come out, use your seam ripper to pull up the string where it broke off and continue the processes. Once the string is out, you’ll be left with a perfectly straight line.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Cut along this line, being careful not to cut the lines above or below it.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Continue this step on all four sides.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

At this point your runner is cut out. Next, you’ll want to prepare your fabric for the fusible webbing by ironing down your seems. Let’s start with the two shorter sides.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

To do this, flip your burlap so that the patterned is facing down. Using your fingers, fold the edge of the fabric back one inch.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Place your dish towel over the fabric and iron down the seam. Using the dish towel is essential with this particular fabric. If the iron makes direct contact with the gold dots the paint will come off and be transferred to your iron. (Trust me, it’s not pretty.)

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Once you have a seam, you’ll want to put your fusible webbing in between the two layers of fabric. Again, cover with your towel and, with your iron on medium-high, heat for about 5-7 seconds.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Repeat this step until the two layers are bonded. Then do this to the other short side.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

After both short sides are complete, you will repeat the previous two steps with the longer sides. To reduce any fabric bulk at the corners, when completing the longer sides, trim off a section of the fabric on the corner on a diagonal.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

Once all of your edges are complete, give your runner a quick iron (Don’t forget to cover with a dish towel.), and it’s finished!

Easy DIY Burlap Table Runner

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

For under $20, you have a beautiful, festive, and custom burlap table runner.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

And seriously, the gold polka dot is almost too much for me to handle. I’m in love!

IMG_4375

Also, as much as I love sewing, this fusible webbing is pretty fabulous stuff. Especially when it came to making this particular runner. Once you give this a try, you may never buy a runner again. You can easily use this tutorial with any type of fabric you’d like.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

I did an impromptu table setting using the wood colorblock candle holders I made several weeks ago.

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

A few springs of bittersweet and a pumpkin completes the look for a fall-inspired feel.

Next week I’ll be doing a full centerpiece with some beautiful purple vases I picked up at Target. Stay tuned for that.

Enjoy this Burlap Table Runner Tutorial? Check out these DIY projects:

DIY No Sew Burlap Table Runner | Inspired by Charm #31daysofhome

What do you think of this easy no sew burlap table runner? Will you be making one (or two, or three, or ….) for your table?

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76 Comments

  1. Michael, thank you for the detailed instructions. It seems super easy when you do it. We’ll see how it turns out for those of us who are not professional DIYers. 😀
    Also, I fall in love with those candle holders. I had to check them out straight away. Great job!

  2. I’m so inspired to try this! How would I go about making this with cotton fabric lining underneath? With that fusible webbing? Looking for a table runner to also absorb spills.

  3. Thank you so much for sharing! I never knew that webbing stuff existed. I have enough burlap fabric for 15 table runners for my wedding this October, (it’s in a barn!) and I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to make the fabric look like nice table runners and not like I just unwrapped a tree. I was going to either try sewing it or use fabric spray adhesive, but what you did is awesome. I can’t wait to go home and try it! Thanks again for sharing!

  4. I cannot believe that when I googled “burlap table runner”, you had already been there…and done that! Fabulous…but I am just as obsessed with the coffee-bean-inspired burlap i got on sale at Hobby Lobby for $3.00 per yard…SCORE! (Making it for my son’s girlfriend, who just happens to love table linens as much as I do…and yes! will make dozens of them…thank you!!! )

  5. Michael, you are just the creative person I was looking for, great site! I just had a similar experience at Jo-Ann’s today, and on impulse bought some pretty burlap with large black fleur-de-lis’s. I was thinking of using that as the base of an elegant Thanksgiving table. Unfortunately I under estimated the amount I needed, and am ~1/2 a yard short. So now I’m thinking table runner, but I am unsure what else to use. I need something to protect my antique table from the hot dinner plates, but don’t know if I should use another table cloth underneath or simple black runners draped across the table either under or over the burlap runner. Any thoughts you could share?