10 Christmas & Holiday Table Runner Patterns with Free Tutorials
⚡ Quick Answer
- What's here: 10 Christmas and holiday table runner projects from Missouri Star — every one with a full free video tutorial
- Skill level: most are beginner friendly, and several use a single precut
- Time: a table runner is an afternoon project — the fastest here go together in a couple of hours
- Standard size: about 14" to 16" wide, with 6" to 12" of overhang at each end of the table
- Patterns: the video tutorials are always free to watch; six of these projects also have a written pattern (print or digital download) available to purchase if you prefer step-by-step instructions in hand
- Fabric: start with this year's Christmas fabric collections — one charm pack or jelly roll is often the whole runner
A table runner is the best return on effort in all of quilting. It uses one precut, it finishes in an afternoon, it makes the whole table look like you meant it — and at Christmas, it is the decoration people actually comment on.
Here are ten holiday runners from our tutorial library, from a wedge-tool classic to a snowman that doubles as a wall hanging. Each one links to a full video tutorial you can watch free.
Key Takeaways
- ➤One precut is usually enough. A charm pack or a jelly roll will carry most runners on this list, which makes them ideal for using up a holiday roll you fell for last year.
- ➤Start now, not in December. A runner is a two-hour project, but December is when everyone runs out of hours. Late summer and fall are when quilters get ahead.
- ➤Measure the table first. Aim for 6" to 12" of overhang at each end. Longer looks generous; shorter looks accidental.
- ➤Runners make excellent gifts. Small, fast, useful, and they suit people who do not have a bed to spare for a quilt.
- ➤Quilt it simply. Straight lines or a loose meander. A runner lives under plates and candles — dense custom quilting is effort nobody will see.
10 Christmas & Holiday Table Runner Tutorials
Every project below has a free video tutorial you can watch any time. Where a written pattern is also available to purchase — in print or as a digital download — it is noted on the project.
Free tutorial · beginner
Christmas Table Runner with the Large Wedge
Jenny's wedge-template runner — a striking radiating design from simple straight cuts. The one to make if you have never used a wedge tool. Free tutorial, no pattern needed. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · half-hex ruler
Half-Hex Christmas Table Runner
Half hexagons in holiday prints, set in rows. Fast, graphic, and very forgiving of busy Christmas fabrics. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · easiest
Easy Christmas Table Topper / Mini Tree Skirt
Two projects in one — a round topper for the table, or a mini skirt for a small tree. The fastest finish on this list. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · pattern available
Shimmering Snowflake Table Runner
17" x 41 1/2", built from 27 five-inch squares and a 15° triangle ruler. Reads as winter rather than Christmas, so it stays up through February. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · pattern available
Snowman Table Runner
Cheerful snowmen in a row. Works on the table or on the wall, and it earns its place from December right through the cold months. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · pattern available
Gifts of Love Table Runner
Wrapped-present blocks with ribbons and bows, made from simple piecing. Liz walks the whole thing through on video. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · pattern available
Gifts All Around Table Runner
A second take on the present block, arranged as a table topper. Charming with a scrappy mix of holiday prints. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · guest designer
O' Holy Night Table Runner
Amy Latta's quieter, more reverent runner — the one for a Christmas Eve table rather than a bright red-and-green scheme. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · patterns available
Triple Play: 3 Snowball Table Runners
Three different runners from one humble block, in a single tutorial. Best value on this page if you need several gifts. See the tutorial
Free tutorial · pattern available
Shimmering Stars Table Runner
Stars marching down the center in metallic or jewel-toned prints. Festive without being literal about it. See the tutorial
How Long Should a Holiday Runner Be?
The rule most quilters use: the runner should hang 6" to 12" over each end of the table. Measure the table length, add the overhang you want at both ends, and that is your finished length. Width usually lands between 14" and 16" — wide enough to anchor a centerpiece, narrow enough to leave room for plates.
| Table | Typical runner length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small round or square | 36" – 40" | Or skip the runner and make a topper instead |
| Standard six-seat rectangle | 54" – 72" | The sweet spot for most tutorials on this page |
| Long farmhouse or holiday extension table | 72" – 90"+ | Add a row of blocks, or piece two runners end to end |
| Sideboard or buffet | 36" – 48" | Shorter and narrower — it shares the surface with serving dishes |
We go deeper on measuring in Table Runner Sizes: How Long Should a Table Runner Be?.
💡 Pro Tip: Make two of whatever you choose. The second one takes half the time — all the thinking is done — and a table runner is the gift that fits anyone, including the person who hosts every year and never gets anything handmade.
Picking Your Holiday Fabric
Runners are small, which means the fabric does most of the work. A single charm pack or jelly roll from a Christmas collection gives you a coordinated palette without any decisions — and this year’s Christmas fabric collections are pulled together in one place.
- •Traditional red and green reads as Christmas from across the room and never looks dated.
- •Icy blues, silvers and whites stretch the season — a snowflake runner stays out until the thaw.
- •Novelty prints want big, simple pieces so the print stays readable. Save the tiny piecing for tone-on-tones.
- •Low-volume backgrounds make holiday prints pop harder than a busy background ever will.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide should a table runner be?
Most finish between 14" and 16" wide. That is enough to hold a centerpiece and candles while leaving room for place settings on either side.
How much fabric do I need for a table runner?
Many of these projects run on a single precut — one charm pack or one jelly roll — plus backing, batting and binding. Each tutorial lists its own supplies.
Are these tutorials free?
Yes — every video tutorial on this page is free to watch and follow, and a few include a printable supply sheet listing fabric requirements and cutting sizes. The written patterns are a separate product: six of these designs have a pattern you can buy, either printed or as a digital download, if you would rather work from written step-by-step instructions than from the video.
What is the easiest holiday table runner for a beginner?
The Easy Christmas Table Topper / Mini Tree Skirt, or any of the Triple Play snowball runners. Straight seams, simple blocks, quick finishes.
When should I start holiday sewing?
Late summer and early fall. Runners are quick, but December fills up fast — and quilters who start in September are the ones giving handmade gifts instead of apologizing for them.
Can I use a table runner pattern for a wall hanging?
Easily. Several of these — the snowman especially — look just as good hung up. Add a hanging sleeve to the back before you bind it.
Pick one, pull a precut, and have the table sorted before the calendar turns.