DIY Project: Apple Stamp Table Runner

With fall in full swing, it seems that everyone is heading out to their local orchard and picking apples. The after effects of those trips are an abundance of indulgent desserts flooding my Instagram feed. Instead of using all of the apples to make pies and other yummy treats, I thought why not decorate my kitchen table? Using an apple stamp I made myself, I created a simple and chic table runner that’s perfect for fall. I stuck to a black and white color palette so the overall look steers clear of “elementary school art class” and stays firmly in my personal style. Whether you pick the apples from a tree or from the produce section, this is a great DIY project that will instantly add a bit of seasonal flair to your home. –Sarah Adiutori

Photographs above by Maxwell Tielman

See the full how-to after the jump!

Materials

-18” x 86” piece of muslin
-knife
-paper towels
-medium sized apple
-black paint
-white paint
-fabric medium
-foam brushes
-paper plates
-cardboard, to place under fabric while stamping
-iron
-sewing machine
-thread

Directions

1. Wash the fabric without using fabric softener, tumble dry on low and iron.

2. Cut the apple in half, remove the stem and any loose seeds. Dry the apple with a paper towel.

3. In a paper plate, mix equal parts of fabric medium and black paint.

4. Lay a piece of cardboard underneath your fabric prior to stamping to protect your work surface.

5. Using a foam brush, apply the fabric paint evenly to the cut side of the apple.

6. Press the cut side of the apple firmly down onto the fabric. Carefully lift the apple straight up and away from the fabric. Each time you stamp, you will need to reapply the fabric paint to the apple stamp, this will ensure you get clean lines every time you stamp.

7. Continue stamping until you have achieved your desired pattern. I opted for a diagonal pattern that alternates in color (black and white).

8. In order to achieve a crisp and clean look, you may need to touch up some areas of the stamped apple shape using a brush.

Repeat steps 3 through 8 with the white paint and the unused half of the apple.

9. Allow the paint to dry, then set using an iron on the cotton setting without steam. Make sure to place a piece of fabric over the stamped fabric while ironing to protect your iron.

10. Using your iron, press ½” fold on each side of the runner. Do not unfold.

11. Press a 1” fold on each side of the runner and then unfold.

12. Fold in the corner, lining up the creases of the 1” fold you just made (see photo), press this area to create a new crease.

13. Unfold the corner and fold the runner so that the two outer edges of the runner are lined up, sew a straight stitch across the crease you made in step 12. Repeat for the remaining corners.

14. Cut off the excess fabric, approximately ½” away from the seam you just created, then snip at a diagonal (see photo). Unfold the table runner and press the seam open. Repeat for the remaining corners.

15. Turn the corners inside out and press.

16. Stitch the edges down, stitching as close as possible.

17. Iron your table runner.