Make Your Own Fabric Tablecloth from Scratch

DIY Tablecloth Tutorial

List of Materials to Make Tablecloth

For this project, you'll want a few tools that will make cutting long strips of fabric easier than ever before.

• Item 1: Start with Fiskars® Original Orange Handled Scissors™ like you would for any sewing project.
• Item 2: Add in the Fiskars® Acrylic Ruler Connector and two Fiskars® Acrylic Rulers (6" x 24") to make longer cuts than ever before. You can get all of these tools in the Fiskars® Acrylic Ruler Connector Set.
• Item 3: You'll also find the Fiskars® Sewing Gauge helpful in this project.
• Item 4: To round out your materials, you'll need the Fiskars® Folding Cutting Mat with Non-Slip Base (24" x 36") and Fiskars® Classic Stick Rotary Cutter (45mm).

Steps on How to Make a Tablecloth

Step 1. Cut the fabric. Determine your desired tablecloth size and cut the fabric using the rotary cutter and cutting mat to protect your surface. Use the Fiskars® Acrylic Ruler Connector to conveniently cut longer swathes of fabric by placing it at the top of one ruler and bottom of the next to align two rulers together to allow for straight long cuts.

Step 2. Hem the tablecloth. Use the sewing gauge to fold and press one raw fabric edge by 1/2" with an iron. Next, use the sewing gauge again to measure 1" and fold and press with an iron, hiding the raw edge within the fold. Repeat for all four edges of the tablecloth.

Step 3. Sew the hem. Sew the hem close to the inside of the tablecloth with a straight stitch. Pivot at the corners.

Step 4. Cut felt strips. Add a pop of color to the edges of your tablecloth by adding colorful strips of felt. Use the rotary cutter to cut multiple strips of felt. Varying the thickness of the strips can produce a fun final look.

Step 5. Mark the placement of the felt strips. Use the two acrylic rulers and acrylic ruler connector to mark straight lines along one short edge of the tablecloth.

Step 6. Sew the felt to the tablecloth. Sewing slowly, sew the felt to the tablecloth along the marked lines. Repeat for the opposite end of the tablecloth.

Step 7. Finish the tablecloth. Use your scissors to trim all loose threads for a polished presentation.

Best Materials for a DIY Tablecloth

I find that a busy tablecloth can make a dining room table feel very cluttered, but I always like adding some color into my projects. My solution for this was to choose a natural and subdued color as my main fabric for my tablecloth and add in some brighter seasonal colors in a coordinating fabric around the edge. I also found that this worked perfectly with my Thanksgiving tablespace, so it helped to tie everything together for my holiday meal!

I generally choose a cotton fabric that is easy to wash since this is an item that is bound to get food spilled on it at some point. I recommend you pick a solid base color that coordinates with the paint color or other accents in your dining room or kitchen and use that as a base.

Style Ideas for a DIY Tablecloth
The style of your tablecloth is totally customizable. Looking for a beachy theme? Try a dip-dyed tablecloth. Want a vibrant, bold statement piece? Go for a vivid color and add hints of metallic thread and linings. If you are classic through and through, go for a clean white linen than can dress up any table setting. The options are endless!