Back to School Crayon Table Runner

We really like to make a big deal about going back to school each fall. The kids are always excited to see their friends again, looking forward to new and exciting classrooms, and anxious to tell us all about it! So each year, on the first day of school, we have a Back to School Dinner Party. Last year we had a pencil theme going, and this year, the crayon gets the spotlight! Since our last name is Greene, we of course had to have a green crayon!This year is extra special because our 3rd child is entering kindergarten! He is actually the very first of our children to go to kindergarten, because I homeschooled the first two kids for their first 2 years of school. Their little brother is beyond excited to be joining them, as well as to have the opportunity to make his own friends.

I always keep these pretty simple, with paper plates and cups, and plastic silverware. They are easy to throw together with supplies entirely from the Dollar Tree, and the kids LOVE the themes!

 

Want to start your own back to school family traditions? You can have fun creating a dinner and environment, where your children can share with you every detail of their first day of school! Find the FREE pattern for the Crayon Table Runner below, or the FREE pattern for the Pencil Table Runner HERE. 

Materials:
Worsted weight yarns in the crayon colors of your choice!
I used 1 skein of Red Heart Super Saver in Medium Thyme and Black, and 2 skeins of Red Heart with Love, Lettuce. 
Crochet hook: H, 5 mm
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Measuring tape for measuring your table
 
Terms and abbreviations to know:
Ch – chain
Sts – stitches
Dc – double crochet
Dc2tog – a decrease, using double crochet to crochet two sts together, making only 1 st

​Notes:  This pattern is worked from the bottom up, in turning rows. Turning chs do NOT count as sts. When making the color changes for the center black portion of the crayon, carry the color you’re not currently using, behind your stitches so that you can pick it back up when needed.
Gauge: 8 rows and 13 sts = 4 inches
Finished project dimensions: approximately 17.5 inches wide and 56 inches long
Gauge is not important, however, useful in measuring just how many rows you may need for a different size table. This was made to fit the length of a table 66 inches long and 48 inches wide, however, I did not want it all the way to the ends.All text and images are owned by Erin Greene of ekayg, copyright ©2018. Images may not be used by anyone else without express written permission. If used, the ekayg watermark must be visible. Pattern may be shared, but NOT be copied and passed off as anyone else’s work. Pattern credit must be linked back to ekayg. Finished products made from this pattern may be used for sale.

Starting at the bottom, in the darker shade of your color:
Ch 59
Row 1: turn and turn your ch over to work through the back loops of the chs. This will give it a much more even look on the bottom. dc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 57 chs, ch 1 and turn; 58 sts
Rows 2-7: ch 2 and turn, dc in each st across; 58 sts
Pull light green through to complete final st of row 7. 

In light green:
Row 8: ch 2 and turn, dc in each st across; 58 sts
Row 9: ch 2 and turn, 2 dc in next sts, dc in next st, (2 dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts)5x, 2 dc2tog, dc in next st, 2 dc in last st; 58 sts
Pull black through to complete final st of row 9.In black:
Row 10-11: repeat row 9
Pull light green through to complete final st of row 11.

In light green:
Rows 12-13: repeat row 9
Pull black through to complete final st of row 13.

In black:
Row 14: repeat row 9
Next row will be worked in the opposite method of row 9, to sort of smooth the pattern back out and get rid of the ripple. So now increases are worked where there were decreases, and decreases are worked where there were increases. 
Row 15: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next st, (2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc2tog, dc in next 2 sts)5x, 2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next st, dc2tog for last 2 sts; 58 sts
Pull light green through to complete final st of row 15.

In light green:
Rows 16-21: ch 1 and turn, dc in each st across; 58 sts
Row 22: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 28 sts, dc black in next 2 sts, dc green in next 28 sts; 58 sts
Row 23: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 27 sts, dc black in next 4 sts, dc green in next 27 sts; 58 sts
Row 24: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 25 sts, dc black in next 8 sts, dc green in next 25 sts; 58 sts
Row 25: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 23 sts, dc black in next 12 sts, dc green in next 23 sts; 58 sts
Row 26: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 21 sts, dc black in next 16 sts, dc green in next 21 sts; 58 sts
Row 27: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 19 sts, dc black in next 20 sts, dc green in next 19 sts; 58 sts
Row 28-29: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 17 sts, dc black in next 24 sts, dc green in next 17 st; 58 sts
Row 30-31: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 16 sts, dc black in next 26 sts, dc green in next 16 sts; 58 sts
Rows 32-33: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 15 sts, dc black in next 28 sts, dc green in next 15 sts; 58 sts
Rows 34-59: ch 1 and turn, dc green in next 14 sts, dc black in next 30 sts, dc green in next 14 sts; 58 sts *add or subtract rows here to adjust the length of your table runner. 
Rows 60-61: repeat rows 32-33: 58 sts
Rows 62-63: repeat rows 30-31; 58 sts
​Rows 64-65: repeat rows 28-29; 58 sts
Row 66: repeat row 27; 58 sts
Row 67: repeat row 26; 58 sts
Row 68:  repeat row 25; 58 sts
Row 69: repeat row 24; 58 sts
Row 70: repeat row 23; 58 sts
Row 71: repeat row 22; 58 sts
Rows 72-77: repeat rows 16-21; 58 sts
Pull black through to complete final st of row 77.

In black:
Row 78: ch 1 and turn, dc in each st across; 58 sts
Row 79: repeat row 9; 58 sts
Pull light green through to complete final st of row 79. 

In light green:
Rows 80-81: repeat row 9; 58 sts
Pull black through to complete final st of row 81.

In black:
Rows 82-83: repeat row 9; 58 sts
Pull light green through to complete final st of row 83.
Fasten off black.

In light green:
Row 84: repeat row 15; 58 sts
Row 85: ch 1 and turn, dc in each st across; 58 sts
Pull dark green through to complete final st of row 85.
Fasten off light green.

In dark green:
Rows 86-87: ch 1 and turn, dc in each st across; 58 sts
Row 88: ch 1 and turn, 2 dc2tog, dc in next 50 sts, 2 dc2tog; 54 sts
Row 89: ch 1 and turn, sc in each st across; 54 sts
Row 90: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 50 sts, dc2tog; 52 sts
Row 91: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 48 sts, dc2tog; 50 sts
Row 92: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 46 sts, dc2tog; 48 sts
​Row 93: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 44 sts, dc2tog; 46 sts
Row 94: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 42 sts, dc2tog; 44 sts
Row 95: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 40 sts, dc2tog; 42 sts
Row 96: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 38 sts, dc2tog; 40 sts
Row 97: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 36 sts, dc2tog; 38 sts
Row 98: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 34 sts, dc2tog; 36 sts
Row 99: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 32 sts, dc2tog; 34 sts
Row 100: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 30 sts, dc2tog; 32 sts
Row 101: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 28 sts, dc2tog; 30 sts
Row 102: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 26 sts, dc2tog; 28 sts
Row 103: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 24 sts, dc2tog; 26 sts
Row 104: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 22 sts, dc2tog; 24 sts
Row 105: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 20 sts, dc2tog; 22 sts
Row 106: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 18 sts, dc2tog; 20 sts
Row 107: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 16 sts, dc2tog; 18 sts
Row 108: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 14 sts, dc2tog; 16 sts
Row 109: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 12 sts, dc2tog; 14 sts
Row 110: ch 1 and turn, dc2tog, dc in next 10 sts, dc2tog; 12 sts

 

The plates are super easy!
What you need: 

• square yellow plates
• dark green napkins
• assorted colored plastic utensils

I bought all of these items at our local Dollar Tree!

Simply open up your napkin, and place like a diamond facing you. Place your plate, turned like a square, on the top half of he napkin, with the top point under the plate. Fold the side corners over the front on the bottom of the plate. Then, fold the bottom of the diamond back, underneath the plate. There is no tap involved! This way, the napkin is accessible, and can be pulled off for using during the meal. 

Place your different colored plastic utensils on the plate like crayons in a box, and you have a fun place setting for you children to enjoy! 

The cups were a little more time consuming and labor intensive, but still easy to do.  

What you need:

• 1 stack of paper cups in dark blue
• 1 stack of paper cups in light blue
• scissors
• double sided tape (glue stick might work too)
• a sharp cutting utensil (a rotary cutter for fabric works well on the duct tape!)
• black duct tape

You don’t have to use blue cups, but you need to have two different shades of the same color to represent the crayon and the crayon wrapper.

Cut the bottom and the top (about 1/2 inch) off the lighter cups. Place some of your double sided tape around the center of the dark cups. Then slide the lighter one over top, pressing to stick to the tape. 

Cut your duct tape into strips. Using a rotary cutter on a fabric cutting mat is very helpful in keeping the strips even! Tape the strips around the top and bottom of the cut light cup, leaving some of the color showing on both sides.

​Crayon cups! 

Place some school supplies in some mason jars, and a globe provides a fun themed center piece for your table runner!  

Prepare some fun foods; maybe a family favorite recipe and you’ve got yourself a fun back to school dinner party! This tradition is a great way to get your kids excited about the school year. It gives them something fun to look forward to after their first day!