Last year I made table runners with the Catholic dinner prayer on them as Christmas presents for everyone. These would be perfect to make in fall colors for your Thanksgiving table! Plus, if you’re still looking for a homemade Christmas present idea, these were a hit! I was so behind on everything last Christmas that I didn’t get pictures of them finished before I mailed them off. *Gasp!* I know, I know, but I do have pictures of the one I made for me.
This project does require some basic sewing skills, but if you’re super opposed to sewing you could probably just hem the edge with that iron-on hem stuff or craft on a white already-sewn table runner. The ones I made as presents were actually more plain and simple than this without the fabric around the edges or ruffles. You could certainly make them in any color scheme or style. I just like things colorful. 
Materials Needed to Paint Your Own Table Runner:
- White piece of fabric (whatever size you want your table runner to be) and some fabric to back it with.
- Quilt batting (optional)
- Elmer’s School Glue (either white or gel)
- Cheap Acrylic Paint (such as apple barrel paints)
Take your fabric and write the prayer on it with glue. It is important to get school glue and NOT glue all, otherwise it won’t wash out when you’re done. You can sketch lightly with a pencil first if that’s easier for you. The gel school glue is nice because it doesn’t spread like the white glue, so you can be more intentional with your lines. However, I used both and they all came out beautiful. These are pretty glue intensive- you’ll only be able to write 2 or 3 runners per bottle.
When you have your glue how you want it, let it dry overnight or until it’s completely dry. Now you’re ready for paint! Put some acrylic paint in a cup or bowl, and add a little water. I’d say 3 parts paint, 1 part water. You want it to paint on easily, but if you add too much water your color will fade a lot in the wash.
Paint entirely over the fabric- glue and all. I like the look of marbling some colors together. I really think a brown, yellow, and orange one would be fabulous for Thanksgiving!
When you’re finished painting, let the paint dry. Once it’s dry, put it in the washer (by itself) and wash in warm water. I used the gentle cycle. This will wash out the glue, leaving everywhere that had glue on it white. Use your piece of fabric and sew it into whatever kind of table runner you want. It can be as easy or as complicated as you want from here, and trust me, I’m not qualified to type up a sewing tutorial- lol!
I sewed some black on white damask around mine and made some yellow ruffles for each edge. I would love to have a ruffled table runner that hung over the sides of my table, but with 4 kids ages 5 and under it just seemed like a bad idea. 
I found that I liked this kind of cross in the middle of these the best. Plus, it was easy to draw with glue.
I made the yellow ruffle from leftover fabric I had from sewing Lydia’s crib set. It has butterflies printed on it, but you can’t really tell.
I meant to put some thin quilt batting inside of mine, but forgot until I was already turning it right sides out. Since I avoid my seam ripper at pretty much every expense, I’m thinking it will be ok without batting.
