MAKING AN EASTER TABLE RUNNER
“Easter. The joy of candy, colors, creativity and costuming. A season unlike any other.”
~Grant Morrison, Scottish author of Batman
When I was a little girl growing up in Malawi, my mother bought me a plastic sewing machine. It was battery-run and she had ordered it from a catalogue.
This was long before online shops and social media. I had chosen this present gift a few months earlier and it arrived through the post office.
Of course, I was ecstatic. I wanted to sew many dresses for my clay and banana dolls. However, the passion did not last long, and I soon found more joy in books than in needles, threads, fabrics and fashion magazines.
Later, in secondary school, I avoided needlework like the plague. I did not want to attend any class where sewing was required.
It thus came as a big surprise (even to myself), that I began to love sewing as an adult. What had happened? Had some bolts in my brain come loose?
Sewing suddenly became appealing and indispensable.
I now understand why sewing could be considered the eighth art, alongside painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, music, theatre and film.
Sewing is the technical foundation for fashion design. I love the fact that I can shape my ideas into original clothes, and oh how I love clothes.
This process reminds me of how we use language. First, we have a thought, and then we bring it to life through voice, paper or screen.
For this simple Easter table runner, I had to let my creativity come into play. First, I chose the right fabric and length. Since the theme was Easter, this part was quite easy. However, the colours still had to match those in the living room.
Similarly, when I speak or write, I must understand the subject and choose the right language tools to convey my message. I can use short or long sentences, large or small paragraphs. I simply need to piece them together to create meaning and beauty.
Over time, I have realised that many of my passions involve the careful assembly of small parts to create a stunning whole.
Think about cooking, writing and sewing. All of these require attention to detail, which, when combined, produces something truly artistic.
In cooking, we chop onions and tomatoes to make a sauce. In writing, we use nouns, verbs and adjectives to form sentences, which then grow into paragraphs and stories.
For this table runner, I had to pay close attention to proportions, just as one would consider ingredients in a recipe. I spent time measuring and double-checking, ensuring that the final result would satisfy me. Sewing requires precision, as correcting mistakes can be time-consuming.
Planning is the most important part. Once the beginning is right, the rest follows more easily.
That is why I always use a test piece of fabric before starting. Imagine cutting all your fabric only to ruin it by using the wrong needle!
All these steps are necessary to create something durable, something that will stand the test of time.
In the end, sewing the Easter table runner itself was quite simple. I even had time to make two: one with exposed, decorative serged edges, and another with hidden stitches for a more elegant, finished look.
Overall, I loved this project because it fulfilled my creative impulses. It brought me calm and gave me space to think, not only about the project, but about other things as well.
That is what sewing does for me. It brings serenity, nurtures my creativity and sharpens my mind so that I can perform better in other creative fields.
˚˖𓍢ִִ໋🌼🧺˚˖𓍢ִ🌿˚.🌷
Further Exploration: Gorgeous DIY Easter Table Runner—Very Easy to Make with Stunning Results! I’m Over the Moon! (Level A2-B1-B2)˚˖𓍢ִִ໋🌼🌸
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Read: More posts like “Making an Easter Table Runner”
- Beautiful DIY Easter Fabric Basket—Creative and Colourful! Definitely Something You Should Make! (Level A2-B1-B2), Learn English With Africa, April 2026
- TÁYÉ—1 Beautiful Skirt, 5 Outstanding Outfits: July AFRICAN PRINT FASHION With TAIWO ADEBESIN! (Level B1-B2) July 2023)
- Why Learning How to Sew is Like LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH (Informative Article), Level B1-B2), January, 2019
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks English, French, Polish, Italian, Chichewa and Chitumbuka. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Video music credit:
- P.C.G.C.P. by PC III, Free music Archive, Attribution 4.0 International License.
- 100% Instrumental by Kontext, Free Music Archive, Attribution 4.0 International License.
Blog Article: Gorgeous DIY Easter Table Runner—Very Easy to Make with Stunning Results! I’m Over the Moon! (Level A2-B1-B2)˚˖𓍢ִִ໋🌼🌸© Learn English With Africa, April 2026
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