How to Sew a Hot Pad Table Runner

Whenever we have a party or get-together, I always find myself scrambling to round up enough potholders and trivets to protect our sideboard and table. This is especially true when we host a potluck dinner. So, I decided to solve the problem by making a hot pad table runner. It’s insulated with three layers of batting, and has lots of room for hot dishes.

After digging through my fabric stash, I decided to make my first hot pad table runner out of a vintage tablecloth. It’s one I picked up at a yard sale for next to nothing. It had several stains and age spots, so it seemed like the perfect candidate for an upcycling project.

The tablecloth measured 65 inches wide, so I decided to make that the length of my table runner. After measuring the top of my sideboard, I settled on a width of 18 inches.

This was an easy project, and I love the way it turned out, so I’ll probably make a few more. Our dining room table and sideboard are both 10 feet long, so I’d like to make a table runner that runs their full length. I’d also like to make a couple holiday-specific table runners. It would be nice to have one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas.

Want to make a hot pad table runner for yourself, or someone you know who likes to entertain? Here are the instructions.

Hot Pad Table Runner Tutorial

What You’ll Need:

• 2 pieces of cotton fabric (one for the front, and one for the back)
• 1 piece of Insul-Bright batting
• 2 pieces of your favorite batting (I used Warm & White)
• 100% cotton thread
• A ruler
• Scissors
• Sewing pins, or sewing clips
• A sewing machine (This is the machine that I have)
• An iron

Optional (but nice to have):

• An air or water-soluble marker
• A self-healing cutting mat
• A rotary cutter (This is the one I have)
• A walking foot for your sewing machine (this makes all the layers more manageable)

Tip: Be strategic about what backing fabric you use. I chose a red and white polka dot pattern for my backing, so if I flip it over, it’ll work well for Christmas or Valentine’s Day.

What You Do:

Decide how big you want your hot pad table runner to be. Cut your front fabric and batting to that size. Cut the backing fabric three inches longer and wider. This will give your the extra fabric you need to create the binding.

Lay the backing fabric, good side down, on your work surface, and mark 1.5″ in on all sides. Then, center a piece of the batting between your marks. Stack the Insul-Bright on top; then, add the final piece of batting.

Place your front fabric on top of the batting layers, and secure with pins.

Then, quilt your hot pad to join all the layers. I marked a line two inches in from the edge, and another five inches in from the edge. Then, I just stitched along them. Stitching vertical lines would be difficult with this project, because of the length of the runner.

Once your table runner is quilted, it’s time to create the binding. To do this, fold the top and bottom edge of the backing fabric down, until it meets the top fabric and batting.

Trim a rectangle our of each corner, to eliminate bulk.

Then, fold the top and bottom edge down over your hot pad, and pin or clip in place.

Fold the four corners in, like you’re wrapping a present.

Then, fold the sides in to meet the top fabric and batting …

and finish by folding the sides over your hot pad table runner.

If you did it right, you should have nice, mitered corners.

Use plenty of pins or clips to secure your binding.

Then, use a 1/8″ seam to stitch your binding down. Trim your threads, and your hot pad table runner is ready for its first gathering.

To store your table runner, when it’s not in use. Just roll it up, like a sleeping bag, and tie a ribbon around it. This will keeping it from developing creases or wrinkles, and minimize the space it takes up.

More Sewing Projects to Try

How to Sew a Casserole Dish Hot Pad

How to Sew a Soup Bowl Cozy

How to Make Jean Pocket Potholders