Oct 6
2012

Sewing a square or rectangular tablecloth

Making a rectangular or square tablecloth is easy as pie once you get past the calculating and measuring. In a previous tutorial, we went over how to match and sew the pattern if you need extra width. Once you have your big piece of fabric, it’s just about measuring the final dimensions and doing a simple hem.

Supplies

(Click fabrics for direct links for purchase at Warehouse Fabrics Inc.)

Sydney Tropic

The pattern

To determine the dimensions of your tablecloth

Width = width of table + 2(drop) +2(hem) — my example: 40 + 2(11.5) + 2(.5) = 64″
Length = length of table + 2(drop) + 2(hem) — my example: 80 + 2(11.5) + 2(.5) = 104″
In photos at the bottom, you can see that I calculated my drop so the tablecloth will fall to the top of the chair cushions.

If the width of the fabric is enough

If you’re making a tablecloth for a narrow table and the width of the fabric as it comes is sufficient, then, lucky day!, you can simply cut the fabric to the necessary size and hem it as shown below.

If you need extra width – matching patterns

Most home dec fabric is around 55″ wide, so you may very well need more fabric to cover the width of your table. You’ll achieve this by sewing side panels of fabric to either side of your main panel, but you’ll want to match the print on the fabric so that it appears to be one continuous piece and isn’t interrupted by an obvious seam. You’ll need extra lengths of fabric. To determine your yardage for a project like this, please see this tutorial.

The process

	On each side of your cloth you will fold over and press 1/2″ and then fold over and press another 1/2″ to form your hem. I like to trim just a little out of the corners on two of the sides so that when I fold over the other edge, it’s much less bulky. This is optional.
	Sew your hem. I think it looks nicer when you use a slightly longer stitch length than you would to do a regular seam.
	You should end up with this, as shown from the wrong side.
	From the outside.
	Another view. Nice and crisp and ready to be used as the base of a lovely table setting! You’ll see below that I chose to line up my seams with the edge of the table so it would look neat.

Other views

(Click for bigger views)

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Categorized: For the Home

Marion Wilson

This post is so helpful! These tips will help in other projects as well!
Robyn

Yes, they can definitely be applied to many projects! I’m glad they helped!
Amy

I am in the process of working on tablecloths for our tailgates, so great timing on the article! I was originally going to do the hems this way, but right now I am thinking in the short term I will use a glue hem product so they won’t fray, then order a spool of bias tape or binding and sew that along the edges.
Robyn

That works, too! For me, doing a binding would take me longer, but I’m sure some people are much faster and more efficient at it than I am! It would definitely add a neat aesthetic effect.