My mom the other day thought that she didn’t need a big rectangle of a kitchen tablecloth— but a round one. So, do you know what she did? She dug around in her closet and found an older not being used bedspread. That’s right bedspread…and chopped it right up and made herself a custom tablecloth. Just what she wanted.
If you have a wrong size tablecloth or bedspread that is screaming from the cupboard to be used— here is your how to:
How to Customize your tablecloth Tutorial
It really is pretty simple when you think about it.
Close-up of the bedspread– nicely dense quilt pattern. Thin, not puffy. Perfect for a tablecloth!
Materials Needed:
* bedspread or tablecloth
* scissors
* sewing machine or serger
* string
Step 1: Take that string and tape one end to the center of the table. The table we are customizing is a round one……directions would be different for other shapes. Pull that string down over the edge to the length that you would like it. We pulled it just past the bottom of the table edge so it draped nicely. Cut the string at this length.
Step 2: Fold the tablecloth into 4ths. The outside ecges matching up as well as you can…but really this will be cut off, so if it won’t go perfect…don’t freak out.
Step 3: Lay the string from step 1 —one end will be at the center point and the other end will be loose. Take a marker and while holding the string in one hand move the marker along with the other– you will be marking your cut line. You don’t need to mark a solid line…just something you can follow along with, with your scissors.
Step 4: You will now need to finish the outside edge. Serge all the way around it or you could use a zig-zag stitch with your sewing machine.
Step 5: Make a binding. You could either add a seperate binding or fold over the outside edge once and sew down using a straight stitch. Sew back around on this new ‘binding’ again. Makes it a more finished looking edge.
What do you think? Have any bedspreads hanging out and ready for a new life? Give it a try and let us all know how it went, and of course what it looks like!
Have any other suggestions? What else could we make tablecloths out of?
Becky Jorgensen is the creative quilter behind Patchwork Posse, the Patchwork Planner and her online quilt group Patchworkers Plus. You can find her patterns in books, magazines, and her quilt membership. Gather your quilting supplies, organize your sewing space, explore the process of disappearing quilt blocks, or finish a free quilt pattern. I'll help you use what you have, finish what you start and make your quilting journey fun!
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That`s a real purty tablecloth but I must say YIKES! I could never have cut into that bedspread! It reminds me of some of my granny`s matelasse bedspreads I spent hours running my fingers across while I was supposed to be napping!
What a great idea–Go Mom! I have an oval table that I can never find an affordable tablecloth for and I too hate using the rectangles. I’ll be looking in the bedspread sections now!
Hi there! I received your #17 matchbox, thank you! 😉
thanks sarah– i love them all! each day opening them is full of surprises
As long as it is bigger than your table it will work perfectly! Plus, think of all the extra fabric on the outsides —what to do with that?!
perfect last minute gift! thank-you!
I have used a stained linen tablecloth to make a pouch! Still have more to make more. Also, you can use the same idea to make a tablecloth out of new fabric! It is hard to find bigger than 70″ tablecloths for large old oak tables I have to make my own. This is a really nice idea for unused bedspreads! I will have to try it.
making bags would be super fun! great idea.