How to Make a leather Table Runner

A leather table runner will add a nice pop of colour and style to your dinner table especially if you have leather placemats, it’s really functional too for keeping hot plates off the table. Table runners are easy to make and can be made to fit any setting. They are excellent projects for beginners and can be finished in under an hour.

To make a table runner, cut a piece of leather about 50 cm wider than the table you want to cover. If the leather needs to be longer, you can use strips of leather sewn together. The strips should be about 38 cm long. You will also need a leather punch, a sewing machine, and thread. You can use a heat sealer to prevent fraying of the edges. To make a reversible table runner, choose a leather with a different design on the back, or fabric sewn on the back. If you're looking for a more formal look, you can use pre-cut, even strips  

If you're using a different colour for the backing, choose a colour that complements the front. You can also add piping, tassels, or fringe, up to you! . You can even add pom poms to the runner's points. Next, lay out the backing leather on your table. Be sure to line the edges up. Then, cut a strip of leather that is the same size as the backing. You will need two strips for each runner. Sew the two strips of leather together using a 1 cm seam allowance. You will also need hemming tape.

Next, you'll want to make corners on the runner. Using the flip-and-sew method, you'll need to fold over the first third of the leather lengthwise. You can make corners using a ruler or a straight edge. Be sure to tuck overlapping hems inside the folds. Afterward, use scissors or a leather cutter to trim the edges of the leather to avoid cutting through the stitches.

After the corner is made, turn the runner to the right side. Stitch along the side and the top of the runner using a leather needle. Make sure to leave a gap for turning. You can also use a serger to finish the end of the runner. You'll need to place the raw edges together using a serger before sewing. This process will help the stitching run smoothly.

To finish off the table runner, you'll need to turn it right side out. You can use a zig-zag stitch to finish the edges. You can also make a tassel to attach to the runner's ends. If you want to add fringe, you can cut strips of leather about 4 cm wide. You can also straighten the stitch along the edges of the runner.