How to Bind Pointed Table Runners

A table runner can add pretty color and pattern on a tabletop, especially when you use fabric in prints and patterns that complement the other decor in your room. Although a standard rectangle or oval makes a fast table runner, you also might choose something fancier. After finishing a table runner with a fancy edge, bind it to finish your quilting project.

Press the binding fabric with the iron to remove all wrinkles and make it smooth.

Place the fabric onto the cutting mat and use the quilting ruler and rotary cutter to cut 2 1/2-inch-wide binding strips. Cut enough strips to encircle the entire perimeter of the table runner.

Measure around the perimeter of the table runner with the tape measure and stitch the strips together end-to-end to make one continuous binding strip that is about 10 inches longer than the perimeter of the table runner.

Fold the binding strip lengthwise with the wrong sides in and the right sides facing out. Press this fold with the iron. Press in the left short edge of the binding strip 1/4 inch to create a finished end of the binding strip.

Mark the pivot points at each corner of the table runner using the quilting ruler and a fabric marker. Measure and mark the 1/4-inch seam allowance along the edge of the table runner about 3 inches prior to a corner and 3 inches past the corner. At the corner where the two seam allowances meet, make a small line – this is the pivot point.

Place the folded-under end of the binding strip on the top of the table runner, aligning the raw edges of the table runner with the raw edges of the binding strip.

Stitch the binding strip to the table runner using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. When you reach a pivot point at a corner, stop stitching, turn and stitch straight off the binding strip and table runner at the corner. Fold the binding strip straight up along the stitching to expose the table runner underneath. This aligns the binding strip edge with the edge of the table runner in a straight line.

Fold the binding strip down using the corner of the table runner to align the binding strip. Place the fold of the binding strip precisely at the corner of the table runner to create a mitered corner with the binding strip. Align the edge of the binding strip with the edge of the table runner again.

Begin stitching again at the edge of the fabric immediately before the corner (prior to the pivot point) and stitch over the fold and along the edge of the binding strip and table runner using the 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Stitch each corner of the table running using this technique. When you reach the starting point with the binding strip, overlap the strips by 1/2 inch and cut off the end of the strip. Fold under the end of the strip 1/4 inch, press the fold and finish stitching the end of the binding strip to the table runner.

Turn the table runner over to the back side and fold the folded edge of the binding strip over to the back side of the runner. At each corner, fold the binding strip over on the right side of the corner and position the strip. Fold the binding strip on the left side of the corner over and position the binding strip to make a mitered corner at the table runner corner. Pin the binding strip in place at each corner.

Stitch the binding strip to the table runner, positioning the stitching line just inside the folded edge of the binding strip around the entire edge of the table runner.