[ diy french runner ]

I'VE LOVED french linens for as long as I can remember and not only the popular grain sacks, but the hand embroidered tea towels and table linens.

{I've even been lucky enough to find a couple of pieces with my actual initials!}

But they are not always easy to find, and when you do, they can be pricey. Inspired by Chania at Razmataz and the pretty runner she made from tea towel yardage from the fabric store...

... I decided to pick some up in the blue colour to make my own. Then I decided to try my hand at embroidery to personalize it and create my own French runner.

I picked up some yardage {enough to make a very long runner to use later on a long farmhouse table} and some embroidery floss to match. I've had this embroidery booklet I had picked up at a yard sale for a couple of years but hadn't used it yet {you can google to find stitch instructions online as well}.

I searched the internet for some free antique alphabets that I could use as my pattern. I printed it out and transferred it to my linen by tracing it with carbon paper.

ok, now for the fun part! I chose the simple stem stitch to outline the letter...

then filled in the wide areas using a satin stitch...

It really wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be. It took a couple of hours but not bad for my first attempt...

Because I only have our small round table for now, I doubled it over {it would look better on a table with a square edge}.

I think this runner now gives our place a French seaside feel. Two of my favourite things!

This was a fun project for an afternoon and I admit that now I'm kind of hooked on monogram embroidery. I have a feeling there will be more monograms in my future!

lisa

[dreamywhites; simplyfrenchvintage; laManche; razmataz]

linking to Good Life Wednesdays

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage