Holiday Crafts: Make This Elegant Holiday Tablecloth

Not that I have a table large enough, nor friends fancy enough (sorry guys) to warrant such an extravagance, but after seeing a gorgeous linen similar to this tablecloth, I knew I had to recreate it. There's something about the silky pleated skirt that just skims the floor that's reminiscent of a ball gown and sends me twirling and spinning around the dance floor (even if it is only in my head).

For many Thanksgiving and the ensuing December festivities are formal affairs. So, with the holidays fast approaching I thought it was the perfect time to stitch up this linen and put it out there for all you crafters. In addition to a dining table linen, it would be a beautiful cover for an entryway table or a buffet table.

So let's get crafting.

1. To make the tablecloth, first measure your table -- length, width and height. Find a solid cream-colored tablecloth to fit your table that will drop between 10 and 14 inches on all sides. The drop (the part that hangs over the edge of the table) should be even all around. If it is not even all around, measure, mark and cut it so that the drop is the same number of inches on all sides. Now measure and record the adjusted tablecloth length and tablecloth width.

Measure the distance between the drop of the cloth and the floor. To this number, add 3 1/2 inches. This is the cutting height of the skirt. The number includes seam allowances at the top and for the bottom seam to be turned under twice for a finished hem. It also adds a bit extra so that the cloth will skim the floor. NOTE: Instructions use a 3/4 inch seam allowance throughout.

2. Figure out how much fabric you need. To figure out the amount of fabric you need, first add the tablecloth length and the tablecloth width together, then multiply by 2. To this number add 12 inches for gathering at the corners. The result is the number of running inches needed. Divide the number of running inches by 36 to find the number of yards needed. NOTE: If the cutting height of the skirt is equal or less than half the width of the fabric you wish to buy, then you can divide the number of yards needed in half.

FOR EXAMPLE: The table I used (my sister's), is 72L x 42W x 30H. The tablecloth dropped 14 inches on all sides. So, the cutting height of the skirt was 19 1/2 inches (drop to the floor is 16 inches plus 3 1/2 inches for seam allowances).

The number of yards needed was 10. I added the tablecloth length (100) to the tablecloth width (70) = 170. I multiplied by 2 = (340), then added 12 inches to get the number of running inches needed (352). When I divided this by 36, I got the number of yards needed (9.8), which I rounded up to 10 yards.

Take the tablecloth to your fabric store to find a polyester blend fabric (do not use silk, it can't be machine washed and is difficult to sew) that coordinates in color. I found this blended crinkle pleated fabric which was 54 inches wide, so I divided the number of yards needed in half because the cutting height of the skirt (19 1/2 inches) was less than half the fabric width (54 divided by 2 = 27). Even if the fabric was 45 inches wide, I still could have halved the yardage needed.

Also purchase black grosgrain ribbon, about 7/8-inch or 1-inch wide by the number of yards needed (from above).



3. Now that you've honed your math skills and found an amazing fabric, you're ready to go. Lie your fabric on a flat surface and cut a strip equal to the cutting height of the skirt by the number of running inches. You may need to piece the fabric strips together to get the total number of running inches.

4. For the skirt: With right sides facing, sew the strip ends together to form one long loop. Lie the tablecloth on the floor, right side up. Place the skirt fabric right side down atop the tablecloth aligning raw edges of skirt and edges of tablecloth. Arrange and adjust so that fabric is flat on the sides and gathers evenly at the corners. Pin in place and sew.

5. On a well-protected surface, turn the raw edges of the skirt bottom to the wrong side and press with a hot iron. Turn it to the wrong side again, press and pin. Sew to make a finished hem. With right side face up, lie the ribbon along the seam where the tablecloth and the skirt meet. Sandwich fusible web tape between the ribbon and the cloth. Pin in place and press with a hot iron according to package directions.


This all sounds way more complicated than the project really is. Once you get past the measuring and cutting, it's a piece of cake...or pumpkin pie!