A Romantic Toile Table Runner

        There are just a few days left until Valentine's Day, and you want to do something special for your family? Well, there is plenty of time to whip up this table runner for that special day.  This one is reversible so you can use it any time of year! 
          There is something so romantic and beautiful about toile fabric.  The pastoral scenes depicted on the fabric conjure up sweet stories in the imagination.  Toile fabric originated in Ireland in the mid-18th century and quickly became popular in Britain and France.  France adopted the fabric as its own and that is where the word "toile" comes from.  The fabric has gone in and out of popularity since that time with the most recent surge in use in the year 2000.  I have loved toile for a long time.  That is why when I saw this fabric in the Walmart fabric department, a Waverly fabric, I knew I could use it for the table runner I was wanting to make.

        I decided to make it reversible, so this is the fabric I found to back it with.

          They go well together! 

           For my table, I purchased 1 and 1/2 yards of each fabric.  You should measure your own table to figure out how much you need.  I knew that I wanted to add a pointed drop on each end.  Because the fabric is 45" wide, this much fabric will actually make 2 runners, and even some napkins if you would like.  That means, you could make one as a gift for someone else!  
            I started by simply deciding how wide I wanted my runner to be and cut out the entire length that wide.  I actually just divided the fabric into thirds and cut it into strips.  One of the extra strips was used to make the pointed drop.

      Toile has a one-way print, so when you attach the pointed ends, make sure that you match the way the print goes.  Be careful when you cut them that you cut one from each end so that you will have a match for each end!   

See how the people and animals aren't standing on their heads?

Sorry, that should say "put"!

Here is how it looks stitched and pressed.

After the toile side is done, do the same thing with the back side.

When both sides are finished, pin them together to sew around the entire runner.

When finished, trim the seam and then turn right side out.

After turning, press flat and top stitch all around, folding in the open edge seam allowance and closing with top stitching.

          I already had the tablecloth that I used underneath the runner. Here is a similar one that comes in many colors for a good price. I like the layered look, or you can just use it on your table by itself.   

        Now comes the fun, as I play with the dishes and platters I will use to set a Valentine table.  Here are some of the things I will be using!  

  Mugs from Pioneer Woman! Love! These will be perfect for our Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Hot Cocoa Bombs.

       Dishes and a candle holder from Dollar Tree were what I used to make this tiered platter. 

I think I found the red pedestal plate in the Target 1 Spot.  I knew it would be great to showcase the  Hot Coco Bombs! 

       These are the bare bones of our Valentine's table, next week I will show you how it all turned out and what we ate!   Don't be afraid to try the table runner! It is super easy and adds a nice punch to a table setting any time of year.