Is my “hack” to recreate a ludicrously priced pottery barn table runner flawed? (Pic included)

[Koili]

So I have found this runner which I love. But it’s £90! I can’t believe anyone would spend that much for a strip of material. I have found a very similar piece of tartan which is currently on offer for £15/m. Also cotton. I was thinking I would buy the material and make some runners and placemats to create this look I have seen on Pinterest. It seems too straightforward. Am I missing something? I am not handy at all. Is there a reason people wouldn’t do the same? Is pottery barn assuming people
cant be arsed to mark their own even though it’s not that difficult?

Thing is you though, you can buy similar in places like Home Bargains or The Range for a few quid.

Vinted/eBay are brilliant for things like runners and table cloths.

Yes I do this all the time, and sometimes with clothes too. Make sure you allow extra fabric for the hems etc and as a PP mentioned be aware of the weight of the fabric - it might not have the desired effect if it’s too thin and light.

It’s true it does take time, and lots of people are just not handy/don’t have a sewing machine and wouldn’t want to bother. But I like sewing so it makes sense for me and it’s v satisfying when you produce your £90 dupe for a few quid.

Where did you find your fabric, OP?

@NeverDropYourMooncup can I be your friend. Love this level of practical! Good luck OP

the page on Amazon has lots of them even cheaper and napkins etc to match which is what i think you wanted

Reading the thread with interest just because my only knowledge of Pottery Barn is Ross is him and his "apothecary table of yore" 😁 where you can practically smell the opium 😁

It isn’t hugely flawed but £15/m is the kicker, as you will likely need a few metres at least depending on the size of your table.

it will be double the width of the table runner so you will have spare yes but unless you want a central seam you’ll still be needing some reasonable length. and you might not be able to buy in half metres.

Id be thinking I’d need at least 3m of stuff for that and maybe a little more for my table. And that’s way more than I would pay for any table decoration

Depending on the size of your table you can just use a long stole or even repurpose cheaper fabric from bedlinen wtc.

I love a wander around a Pottery Barn and like the fact that it’s now available here even if I’m likely to only ever really browse on line. It used to annoy me that you couldn’t even look at the website from here.

I have some really good battery candles from PB which have a lovely realistic flicker. I bought mine from PB in Australia quite a few years ago and they are still going strong. Only other thing I ever bought was a lovely simple chrome coloured multi stemmed candle holder - very simple and elegant. Again bought in PB in Australia. It was only when I got it home my son pointed out it is a Menorah. I just loved the simplicity of it.

I was quite excited to see PB available in the UK but the prices are fucking extortionate and the delivery is pretty tasty too.

I would make my own too!

Hiobbycraft sell 28cm by 2m rolls of tartan that are idea for a runner for £5.

If you want to skip the faffing with the sewing machine. There is a tape that you place in the fabric and then use an iron to glue it together. No machine needed. Is it bias tape? I can’t remember. Found mine in b and m

This is true but I wouldn't have a problem with a central seam on a runner, just make sure it goes under a large centrepiece. If the fabric is a typical width, usually about 140cm, or even if it's narrower, you could get a runner out of 1.5m. There may be cheaper tartan cotton out there too - the Hobbycraft option is worth investigating, and try Fabworks, FabricLand etc.

If you make your own and add weights make sure it is washable.

To go back to your original point OP, I'm seriously considering taking sewing lessons so I can learn to make my own clothes or doing alterations as I'm sick of nothing fitting or not being quite right, ie all dresses are too big on top and too small on bottom as they're simply not made to fit me despite being very typically woman shaped.

I made a runner, 4 placemats and 4 cushion covers from a pair of (fairly thin) Sainsbury's curtains and couple of meters plain backing fabric. All plain straight sewing. Honestly get yourself a sewing machine for Christmas you won't look back.

I'm rubbish at adding pictures though