Skinny Table Runners
in Washed Linen
Hello and welcome to the Washed Linen Skinny Table Runner Blog Hop that I’m hosting! If you’re visiting from KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms, or if you just happened to stop by, I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m Diane and I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration at this stop of the hop.
A Little Backstory:
This new washed linen is very exciting to me! But I’m a textile nerd. So I started second guessing myself. You know how when you start second guessing yourself . . . . . .
. . . you look to those you respect for input, hoping for reinforcement.
Well let me tell you. The reinforcement was there and they were ready to play!.
I slipped a table runner in my suitcase for Waco where I was attending the inaugural Social Gathering Retreat. I brought it out one evening to ask if they thought people would be put off by the way the edges will develop their own “personality”. They resoundingly loved that part of it — as long as the customer is aware of it. Of course, not everyone will appreciate the character and age these runners will show with washing and drying. But for the most part these gals were all over them.
The room buzzed with Ideas of how they wanted to style them. From that seed this Blog Hop sprouted.
Five amazing bloggers (and me) showing six of many ways to style with the same skinny washed linen runners.
You talk about creativity, talent and one versatile accessory! What will they come up with?
I am so excited for you to hop along with us!!!
See How Five Amazing Creatives (and me) Style the Exact Same Runner
A Huge thanks and Shout out to these lovely ladies I’m so honored to call my friends (don’t worry their links are at the end of this post. I just wanted to share their smiling faces right off the bat):
Simply2Moms
Hammers n Hugs
Thistlewood Farms
Vintage Home Designs
The Curated Farmhouse
I’ll get this Blog Hop hopping by hanging my runner on the wall — specifically in a wooden hoop wreath.
My hoop is Extra-large, so my Ribbon or textile accent needs to be extra large. And the washed linen as it arrives has enough body to handle this beautifully.
I scored the larger embroidery hoop at a thrift store for $5. And purchased the inner hoop at JoAnns for $4.19 (after my coupon of course!).
The new hoop is slightly thinner and lighter in color — no worn patina.
The size is no problem, as it’s going to nestle inside the larger one anyway. And I took care of the patina with some swipes of several different leftover stains.
I took the larger hoop and the runner to Hobby Lobby and tried out many combinations of florals, and finally landed on these.
For the florals, I knew I needed a large “Thriller”, a number of “Fillers” and then two “Trailers”. In planters and window boxes, we would say “Spillers”, but here I want these leggy ones to trail along the shape of the hoop, one up and one sideways.
Start by wiring the outer hoop of the largest set with the inner hoop of the smaller set.
BONUS: you have another outer and inner left. Enough structure for another wreath. Hellp Spring, or Christmas, or winter . . . . Oh, the possibilities!
Use wire cutters and shorten your stems and cut apart the bunches.
For my “trailers”, there were enough stems in the bunch that I only needed one bunch. I carefully separated that bunch into one main group that will go up the left side and two smaller bunches that will go to the right side. I tried not cut the “Fillers” and “Trailers” into a whole bunch of separate stems as that just means more wiring.
Start with the linen runner. Tie a loose slip knot in one end.
Then lay the runner out so you can determine where you want it to lie around your hoop. I wanted the lower left side of the hoop to be my arrangement.
Thread a length of wire through the folds of the knot and wire around the hoops. I positioned it just to the right of the hoop expander piece (what are they really called?)
Then I scrunched up the other end. Wrapped it tightly with a piece of wire and tied it off to the outer hoop up high. Notice it is not taut as I want to be able to add a third wire and twist and puff out the linen between the florals.
Now, start with your “Thriller”. Wire her in tight where you want her and I add a bit of filler at the same time.
Work you way out in both directions. This is when I usually wire in the “Trailers”, pulling and puffing the linen as you like. You might wire the linen in another spot with you “Fillers” also.
Here’s the backside of the wreath, you can see how the space between the two hoops also serves as a great reservoir to hide the stems and wires.
These hoop wreaths have a clean, modern aesthetic that doesn’t require a lot! So you can go minimalistic or you can go all out.
As you can tell this runner is more about styling a table, than protecting a table. And she’s also great at styling a wreath and styling a ladder and styling so much more!
And now that you’ve see this washed linen table runner on a wall, let’s see what Wendy at The Curated Farmhouse has in store for us.
I hope you enjoy this hop, checking out how each of these creative spirits interprets the very same skinny linen runner. You won’t want to miss a single one.
And be sure to pin plenty of the pretties to your boards so you have them for inspiration when you have your next styling opportunity.
This is gorgeous Diane!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your wreath, and the skinny table runner is perfect! I can’t wait to check out your new website! Congratulations on both of them my friend!
Thanks so much my friend! That’s a huge compliment coming from you. Your tables and mantels are always perfection!
Such a cute idea to add it to a wreath! Love this and your hop. Great idea! pinned
Thanks bunches Cindy! I love how it turned out. It’s just the perfect weight and body for this — at least before I wash it,
The runner looks great incorporated in your wreath! You chose beautiful floral items to pair with your hoops.
Thanks Allyson! I’m thrilled with the result. I’m not much of a floral arranging gal, so this surprised me with how simple it was to do. Very forgiving. It’s not as intimidating to me as doing a whole wreath of florals.
Such an amazing product, so many fun uses!
Diane,
Oh I love this wreath. I have lots of these hoops, I need to make my own. Congratulations, you are being featured at Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by. https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2020/08/thursday-favorite-things_27.html
Hugs,
Bev
I love the versatility of the skinny runner, the possibilities are endless. Excited to go see what everyone did.
It’s crazy how everyone did something so different with it. I am crazy about these runners. There will be another blog hop showing even more bloggers using it. Coming up this Thursday.
Love your simple step-by-step instructions to creating this beautiful wreath, Diane – I am inspired to give it a try.
Oh I hope you do give it a try. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you run into any snags, but honestly, this is the most forgiving wreath I’ve ever done. Send pics!
Love all of the subdued color since I’ve never been a fan of traditional Fall colors!
This is such a pretty wreath! Great use of the linen!
I love how you used two hoops! Your wreath turned out beautifully.
So pretty against the weathered brick. Love your creative look.
This is such a clever use of the skinny linen runner, and I love the gorgeous results!
This was a great blog hop! Love all the inspo!
What a good idea to do a blog hop! Your wreath turned out so cute!
Love your wreath the colours are.gorgeous I.always.prefer the half wreath
Thanks for the wreath love! You must be a rebel too. I always lean towards the asymmetrical and the one-sided.
I never would have thought of incorporating the table runner in a wreath but it looks fantastic!
What a fun idea … the blog-hop! I love it! I’m a textile nerd too and LOVE the distressed linen look. It softens so beautifully and the texture is wonderful! Great idea to use the double hoop!
Thanks so much Allison! Appreciate you stopping in.
What a clever way to use the linen runner! Very impressive!
I love your wreath! What a great idea to use the table runner. It gets my mind going.
I love this! Now to go check out what everyone else did!!
Thanks Jennifer! Yes, do check them out! Everyone is amazing and all so different.
such a great idea! now I am sad that I sold all my embroidery hoops in the estate sale!
So pretty! And so simple! I love it!
Wow! This is so beautiful. What a great idea! Hugs to you.