I’d like to take some time to talk about table toppers. (Try saying that five times fast!) When I say table toppers, I’m not talking about runners. What’s the difference? Runners are typically rectangles and they’re designed to be placed along the center of the table—table toppers come in a wide variety of shapes and look beautiful anywhere on the table. If you’ve ever felt like you want to design a runner, but feel hemmed in (no pun intended) by your table shape or size, you might actually want to make a table topper instead.
Creative Concepts
Grape Tablet Topper by Gabi van Tassell from the 2018 issue. Photo by George Boe
Because table toppers aren’t limited to a specific shape or table placement, you can have a lot of fun with the design. One of the first table topper projects we featured in Little Looms, Gabi van Tassell’s Grape Table Topper from Little Looms 2018, is a prime example.
For her project, Gabi used hexagon pin-loom pieces to create a grape-shaped centerpiece with beautiful texture and depth. I love that Gabi chose to use a purple yarn with subtle shifts in color and value, so you end up with grapes that feel sophisticated—just imagine how amazing this piece would look next to a cheese board at your next party!
Queen Bee Table Topper by Gabi van Tassell from Sumemr 2023. Photo by Matt Graves
Another favorite tablet topper of mine also happens to be another Gabi van Tassel original, her Queen Bee Table Topper from the Summer 2023 issue. While the shape is slightly more traditional, the mosaic-style bee design elevates this table topper to a work of art. If you told me this was based on an Ancient Roman tile design, I’d believe you. I would happily sip a mug of chamomile tea—sweetened with a generous dollop of honey, of course—in front of this table topper.
Falling Leaves Table Runner and Trivets by Brittany Wells from Fall 2023. Photo by Matt Graves
While most of the table topper projects we’ve featured in Little Looms have been pin loom, I do have a great example of a rigid-heddle trivet that doubles as a decorative table topper—and it uses a really fun technique that can open up a whole world of rigid-heddle table topper options.
For her Falling Leaves Table Runner and Trivet Set from the Fall 2023 issue, designer Brittany Wells used wools natural ability to full to her advantage (her full advantage you might say). After fulling her woven cloth until solid, Brittany cut the fabric into four leaf-shaped trivets which she finished with a simple blanket stitch. These little trivets are adorable table decorations that will also hold up to heat. If leaves aren’t your thing, you can use Brittany’s technique to cut fulled cloth into any shape you like!
Final Thoughts
Now I’m just barely scratching the surface of table topper design with these examples. While I could go on and on about table toppers that I love and why, I’d rather encourage you to go out and weave some of your own! Use these examples as jumping off points, or design something completely original. Whatever you do, I hope you have fun!
Happy Weaving,
Christina