There is something mighty satisfying about turning a stack of worn-out blue jeans into something useful for the table. This braided denim table runner starts with simple long strips, just like the ones in that hands-on braid you’ve already seen, and with a little steady work it becomes a thick, sturdy runner with real farmhouse charm. I love projects like this because they use up what we already have, and the finished piece feels both practical and handsome.
Out where I live, we were taught not to waste good fabric if there was one more life left in it. Old denim is especially generous that way. If you can cut strips and make a basic braid, you can make this runner, and the best part is that the faded seams and color changes in the jeans do half the decorating for you.
Materials
Instructions
1. Cut the legs off all the jeans, then trim away thick inseams and crotch seams so you can open the fabric into the largest flat sections possible.
2. Cut the denim into long strips 2 1/2 inches wide, working lengthwise down the leg pieces and across larger thigh sections until you have a generous pile.
3. Join short strips into three extra-long working lengths by placing two strip ends right sides together at a right angle, sewing a diagonal seam, trimming the excess, and pressing the seam open.
4. Keep adding strips until each of the three lengths measures about 13 to 14 feet long; this gives enough braid for a full runner about 14 x 54 inches.
5. Fold under 1 inch on one end of each long strip and stitch across it so the starting ends are neat and won’t fray while you braid.
6. Clip the three finished ends together and anchor them to a table edge, ironing board, or safety pin on a firm cushion so the braid stays even.
7. Braid the three denim strips tightly but not stiffly, smoothing each strip flat as you go so the braid stays broad and handsome instead of ropy and twisted.
8. When you reach the end, fold the strip ends under 1 inch, overlap them slightly, and stitch them together across the width to lock the braid closed.
9. Steam-press the entire braid well, using plenty of steam and your hands to flatten any bulky spots once the denim is cool enough to handle.
10. Coil the braid loosely into a long oval first to judge the final size, then reshape it into a straight table runner by laying it back and forth in snug side-by-side rows.
11. Starting at one end, hand-sew or machine-zigzag the braid rows together with heavy thread, catching only the edges where the rows meet so the stitching disappears into the braid.
12. Measure the runner and keep adding stitched rows until it is about 14 inches wide and 54 inches long, or sized to suit your table.
13. Cut two lengths of twill tape to match the short ends, tuck each one under the end braid, and stitch in place to bind and reinforce the edges neatly.
14. Trim any loose threads, give the whole runner one last hard press with steam, and let it cool flat so it holds its shape.
Variations & Tips
For a longer table: Add a fifth pair of jeans and braid the strips into lengths closer to 16 feet so you can build a runner for a six- to eight-foot table without coming up short.
For extra color: Mix in black, gray, or white denim from one pair of jeans for a striped look that still feels classic and tidy.
If the seams get bulky: Stagger your strip joins so they do not all land in the same section of the braid; that keeps the runner flatter and easier to sew together.
For a softer finish: Wash and dry the completed runner once before using it on the table; denim relaxes beautifully and the braid settles into itself in the nicest way.
To keep it square: Measure the width every few rows as you stitch the braid together, because denim has a way of creeping a little if you are not watching.
Easy care: Shake it out often, spot-clean small spills, and machine-wash on gentle only when needed; then lay it flat or drape it over a drying rack so the shape stays true.
My favorite finishing touch: I like to set this runner with a wooden bowl, a crock of garden flowers, or a line of little pumpkins in the fall. Denim is humble cloth, but dressed up just a touch, it looks right at home at a good table.