Labor Day Labor

I started this table runner for my mom a few weeks ago thinking that it would be an easy project and something patriotic for this Labor Day weekend. I never dreamed it would take as much time as it did! Look closely....it's not quilted but woven. It required lots and lots of fabric tubes sewn up and turned inside out and three layers of weaving. Ten horizontal rows (one white, two blue, one white, two blue, etc.) and then a layer of rows woven on the diagonal facing left and a third layer on the diagonal facing right. The directions were nearly impossible to understand. I gave up many times. Mom gave up completely and I was about to trash the entire lot of fabric (about five yards) but I just couldn't let it go. It was like a jigsaw puzzle that occupies every brain cell. It was all consuming....I did not want to give in and finally I figured it out. Don't ask me how...I just did. I will never ever ever make another one! It does look beautiful on her table and she's proud to have it.