Sew Your Own Tablecloth
Tablecloths can add a touch of elegance or style to any table surface, and you can sew one in the comfort of your own home. Throughout American history, tablecloths have been considered an elegant, and even necessary, accessory to the dining experience. As you scan the tablecloths in your local department store, you’ll find that they can be pricey. You may also not be able to find the exact pattern or style that perfectly fits your living or dining room. To guarantee you are getting exactly the design and dimensions you want from your tablecloth, you can sew your own. Sewing your own tablecloth is an affordable alternative that takes rudimentary sewing ability and a few supplies from your local fabric store.
Measure Your Table
Sewing your own tablecloth will take about an hour. To start making your own tablecloth, you’ll first need measuring tape, a pencil, a piece of paper and the table you’d like to cover with your cloth. Measure the dimensions, length and width, of your table with your measuring tape. Note the dimensions with your pencil onto your piece of paper. Next, you will determine how far you’d like your tablecloth to overhang, or drop. Add your overhang measurement to your dimensions, and add one more inch for your seam allowance.
Purchase Your Supplies
Take your measurements to your local fabric store. Buy the fabric of your choice with a minimum width of 54 inches. Cotton or cotton polyester blend fabrics will work best for this project. Determine the amount of yards you will need to purchase by taking your measurements to a yardage conversion chart in the store, or ask a sales associate for assistance. In addition to your fabric, you will want to pick up a few sewing supplies for this project. You will need fabric-marking pens, a pincushion, sewing pins, a thimble, sewing needles, thread, a cutting mat and a sharp pair of scissors. If you don’t already own a sewing machine, you may want to purchase one for this project.
Cut and Sew
Wash and press your newly purchased fabric to prevent shrinkage after it’s sewn. Lay out your fabric on your cutting mat and position your fabric so the wrong side is up. Use the rulers on your mat, and determine the lines that correspond with your final table measurements. Cut your fabric with your scissors along those lines. You now have the fabric cut for your tablecloth.
Take your fabric to your iron and ironing board, and using a small ruler as a guide, press your cut fabric edge down 1/2-inch. Use your sewing pins to pin your pressed edge into place. Take your pinned fabric to your sewing machine and stitch over your pressed edge to create your hem. At each corner of your fabric, lift your foot from the pedal of the sewing machine, keep the needle inserted in the fabric and turn the fabric 90 degrees and continue sewing your hem in a straight line. Complete this for all sides of your tablecloth. Finish off your stitching and remove your fabric from the sewing machine. You now have a custom, sewn tablecloth that is ready for use in your dining room or kitchen.
