How to Make a Burlap Halloween Table Runner

Add a rustic touch to your Halloween table setting with a burlap runner decorated with ghostly bare branches and ravens.

By Marian Parsons, Mustard Seed Interiors
Filed under: Halloween, Decorating, Parties, How To

Materials Needed:

burlap fabric: length of table plus 20"
coordinating cotton thread
scissors
sewing machine
blank plastic stencil
computer
printer
printer paper

permanent marker
craft knife
cutting board or mat
2" foam brush
black acrylic paint
no. 2 liner brush
tin foil
Download: Crow Template

Cut and Sew Burlap Runner

Measure and cut burlap to table length plus 20 inches, which will leave a 10-inch overhang on each end of the table. Measure and cut runner to 20 inches wide (Image 1). Using coordinating thread, machine stitch all four sides of runner, one inch in from edge to prevent burlap from fraying beyond one inch (Image 2).

Create Stencil

Print crow template in 5" x 7" photo format or 8" x 10" if larger bird is desired. Place blank plastic stencil over printed template and trace with permanent marker. Place stencil on cutting board or mat. Use craft knife to cut out bird's outline. Tip: Leave a small part of bird's legs uncut in order to keep stencil connected.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-

Paint Branches

Use a pencil to lightly sketch bare branches on runner. Paint over sketched branches with artist's brush and black acrylic paint. Tip: Take a silhouette photo of a tree to use as inspiration when sketching branches.