Wedding Blog

Just like Miss Sundae, I wanted to have black and white damask table runners on our reception tables. Since I had received a sewing machine for my birthday last year, I thought, “wouldn’t this be a great opportunity to learn how to sew?” So I bought a couple of bolts of Michael Miller Black Dandy Damask Cotton Fabric, and some black thread. With a 45″ width, I would simply cut the bolt in half to create a 20″ wide table runner (with hems).

Image via Crafter’s Vision.

We will need 18 table runners and a few miscellaneous pieces for our gift table, escort card table and head table - no big deal right? Well, I’ve started to feel the pressure - my amateur status and sudden busy schedule has clocked me in at having only 7 runners completed with only 74 days until the wedding! Yikes. Thankfully, my friend and fellow bride-to-be Ryn, offered to come over and participate in the Pomegranate’s in-home sewing sweat shop!

Ryn works for veggie/chicken/pesto Extreme Pizza and wine.

I have some tips for you first-time sewers out there - and welcome any additional tips from the more advanced out there - to help the process go by much more quickly. I started off with a hem-pinning blitz each and every time I began the sewing process - this took FOREVER! Ryn helpfully suggested that I instead iron the hems in place. This was much faster and made for a safer sewing experience in the end. THANK YOU!

You’d be so proud of me - I’ve only burned myself once (so far)!

To set the hems, I first ironed a 1″ section and then ironed it again with half folded under to create a 1/2″ seam all the way around. Sewing these flattened hems was a super fast process and made for a consistent seam. Ryn and I went speed demon fast and created 4 table runners that night - 10 to go!

Sewing those ironed seams - a cinch!

To store the table runners until the wedding, I’ve started to save those nasty wire dry cleaning hangers and plastic bags (what kind of “green” dry cleaner uses wire hangers anyway?!). They’ve come in handy - just fold the table runner in half width-wise, then many times length-wise, drape it over the hanger and then cover with the plastic. I pinned small pieces of paper to identify which type of linen each piece was and easily numbered them for a quick count.

My plastic draped table runners with their identification codes safety-pinned to them - ready to hang in my coat closet until Go Time.

An example of a finished table runner in action at a linen rental shop, using the white tablecloth and black napkins that we plan to incorporate.

Mamita Pom has so graciously offered to pick up a few runners today, as I have a few other sewing projects to work on as well. Namely, some adornments for the gorgeous teak benches scattered throughout the R.H. Phillips Tasting Room Patio and a few secret gifts for those lovely bridesmaids of mine!

Are any of you sewing DIY projects for your wedding?