browns plus some mauves and rose/drk. pinks in it. Should/ could, I use the mauve color for the bobbin thread or go to the trouble to change the bobbin thread everytime I change top thread? It is going to be on the table most od the time and I want the back to look decent also. Since it is kinda thick, what kind of backing should I use so it will not look messy when I am through? Thanks fo all ideas!

if you use the same colors in the bobbin it will be reversible

Linda, you have lots of options. Be sure to post a photo before you give it away. I have been known to give things away before remembering to make a picture. Now, all of you have given me some ideas with ready made blank placemats. Kay

So many good ideas.

I made one with a plain lining and it turned out beautifully. I didn't have to worry about the back at all. If you decided to embroider both sides make sure the design is not too thick or at least not placed directly behind each other so as to make it thick in that spot.

Linda, I would use the same color as the fabric, or since I noticed that you have two, why don't you embroider on both and then sew them together as a reversible if they are made the same dimensions.

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by katydid 22 Sep 2010

Great idea. much better than to start ripping apart.

Another thought. Since you have a black one also why not do the plain embroidery on it and the jacobean design on the mauve one and stitch them together, thus hiding both "backs" and making it reversible.

I just thought of something else. The table runner is store bought and I aslo have a black one just like it. I could use the black one and change some of the browns in the design to a golden color and with the suggestion of using Black thread for the bottom, this would work. The table runners are finished the same on each side soooo if I change my thread on the med rusty-mauve table runner each time I change thread on top, it could be used on both sides. Trouble is, there are alot of thread changes. ALOT. This is where I would have gone and picked out some paints and painted the thing a few years ago! I have done only minor touchups with the paints in the last few years. Yes, i have cloth paints. I was really into that before I ever got my machines so that has been many many years ago when I started that. My arthritis is too bad now to try and tackle any large designs. If I can find the last WILD shirt that I painted, I will try and post a picture. It had Parrots on it and I had a design to go by. It was not free handed. It looks animated and the colors are BOLD! I kept it because it was my last big picture before I put down the paints. Of course, I stiil dable in them but it is too much trouble now because I have to start and stop so much. It takes forever to do even a small design..

The more I look at these table runners, the more I think I might just embroider a gold or a golden brown "F" on each end of the blk one and put a design only in the middle, like a scroll to match the gold initials. My DIL has very plain taste anyway. I like all of the idea's that all of you came up with, except I do not want to have to line it since it since both of the blanks are finished on both sides. Thanks to all of you for the great suggestions! Hugs, Linda

Instead of going into the trouble changing threads, why don't you use a lining, it will look decent on both sides.

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by theduchess 19 Sep 2010

A cream color batiste would work very nice and is not bulky.

I've done several table runners, one I made from scratch and one store bought. The store bought was white so I used a white bobbin, the one I made I just stitched as usual, then put a backing on it and finished with binding kinda like you do on a quilt. I came out pretty good. Also bought some tassels at the dollar store for each, looked pretty cool......

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by lflanders 19 Sep 2010

Karen, your quilts are beautiful. I did not know you were that into doing them as a full time thing. The very 1st one I saw of your was the most beautiful quilt I had ever seen and the points on the star were all precise to the point of being scary. You are a perfectionest!

My reason for thingking about the mauve one for my DIL is because everything in her house is browns and shades of brown with alot of black also. Brown is her thing like pastels are mine. Hugs, Linda

My suggestion would be to embroider the designs using whatever stabilizer is necessary to give you a nice stitch out. If it is a ready-made table runner that you aren't constructing, then it wil be your choice about color for the bobbin thread. If I was doing it, I would add a lining to the back to conceal the back on the stitching. JMHO

I have done these letters and know what you mean about a lot of stitching. EL designs stitch up exceptionally well although quite dense. If you have a program to change the density a little I would reduce by 5%. As for the bobbin thread. Just use black. If your tensions are correct they don't show through and you might even consider using a black cutaway stabilizer. I am assuming you mean a dark mauve. If you mean something like lilac than stick with white. Depending on the weight of your fabric and the tightness of the weave poly mesh might even do the trick. Don't use a tear away. Good luck. looking forward to seeing the picture
Edie

Why don't you try making samples first, with a similar weight fabric as the runner? You wouldn't have to stitch the entire design, just enough to see how it works with different stabilizer choices. If it is really important that the back looks as nice as the front, and you aren't going to use a light-weight backing fabric to cover the stitches (which is what I might consider doing, myself - a pretty piece of silk or similar in matching colors would be nice), maybe a wash-away or heat-away stabilizer might work, depending on whether the runner is washable or not. As for changing the bobbin thread to match the top thread color - do you want the piece to be reversible? If not, I would probably not worry too much about it, and use something that matches the fabric.

I don't know why you could not make the bobbin thread match the table runner, but I would probably use my normal bobbin thread. Depending upon the design and stitch count, I would probably use a heavier wt tear away. I have found that some of the Emb Library designs are dense, and can use the support. Using the tear away would elimnate you having the use the cutaway that would show some, regardless of what you do with it. Good Luck, and can't wait to see it.

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by lflanders 19 Sep 2010

This sounds good to me and it might be the option I take. I have got to get busy and get it done. I need it by tomorrow night and I have a Dr appt in the middle of the day tomorrow. I am also planning to serve my son and dil dinner tomorrow night. Today is their anniversary but they are out of town. They will not be back until late tonight and they work tomorrow. When I feed them, I also have her youngest daughter and 2 boys, 2 & 4, her Mom, and the 2 of them so it will be a family affair. For some reason, Gail seems to think that no one can do anything for her family but her and they all end back up at their house everytime something happens. Right now, her Mom will be there until she passes away or they are forced to put her in a nursing home. Her daughter left her lonetime partner with her 2 boys, gone back to school to be a RN and has a part-time job also so Gail and my son has full time(not legally) custody of them and keeps one of them in the house all of the time! The boy's Mom tries to get off on Mon, Wed, And Sun. nights because Gail has a cleaning business and she has to clean the Harley Place 3 times a week. She has had to give up all of her other places because of the turn of events in the last 2 months. And I think my life is confussing..... It is like a zoo at their place. I can't stay with her Mom because If she fell, I could not get her up. I can check her BP, her blood sugar, and try and keep her entertained and can even help her get to the bathroom but if worst came to worst, I could not pick her up if she fell. The boys are no problem. The baby has been around me all of his life and the oldest is very well behaved most of the time. My son is the one that is afraid to leave me with Gail's Mom.

by katydid 22 Sep 2010

Linda, you are not able to care for this lady. Don't let them make you feel bad when you turn them down. Kay

Acouple years ago I made a table runner for my coffee table. After making the top with the embroidery I sewed it to a piece of white fleece with the fleece a little larger than the top, then I went around the outside of the fleece with pinking shears. It came out very nice and washed up well. H&*

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by chenille 19 Sep 2010

This is a neat idea! I was going to suggest a lining but I like the idea of the fleece. I am doing placemats and I think this will work well with them too! Thanks a bunch!
Hugs, Nadyne

by lflanders 19 Sep 2010

Since it it finished on both sides, I will remember this idea for another project. Thanks, Linda