How to Sew a Holiday Tablecloth

Holidays are a traditional time for entertaining family and friends. You can get just the look you want (and the size you need) for your holiday table by making your own tablecloth, whether you want a whimsical print or an elegant cloth in holiday colors. Many fabric stores carry some holiday fabric throughout the year. However, you can often find a larger selection of holiday fabrics as the holiday approaches, and at special prices afterward if you want to get a head start for the next year. The first step in sewing a holiday tablecloth is figuring out how much fabric you need.

Things You'll Need

• measuring tape
• holiday fabric
• matching thread
• scissors
• straight pins
• iron
• ironing board
• sewing machine

Instructions

Buy Fabric for a Holiday Tablecloth

1. Measure the width and length of your table to figure out how much fabric you’ll need. If your table is round, measure the widest and longest parts of the table.

2. Decide how much drop you want on your holiday tablecloth, or how much you want the cloth to hang over the edge of the table. You may want a long drop for a formal tablecloth (or if your table has imperfections you’d like to hide), or a shorter drop to help make sure your guests don’t have too much tablecloth in their laps.

3. Add enough room for the drop to your table measurements. Add another inch to each measurement for hems. For example, if your table is 48 inches wide and 72 inches long and you want a seven inch drop, you’ll need the tablecloth to be 56 inches wide and 80 inches long.

4. Calculate how much fabric you’ll need. Since most holiday fabrics are not wide enough to cover most tables, you’ll probably need to sew several pieces together. For example, to make a tablecloth 56 by 80 inches from 44 inch wide fabric, you’ll need two pieces of fabric, each 2 1/4 yards long, or 4 1/2 yards.

5. Choose holiday fabric that matches the style you want, such as a fun holiday print, simple snowflakes or an elegant burgundy. If you want a solid color, you may be able to find wide width fabrics in the home decor section. Make sure the fabric is machine washable.

6. Wash, dry and iron the fabric if needed.

Sew a Holiday Tablecloth

1. Sewing pieces together: If you need to sew several pieces of holiday fabric together to make the tablecloth wide enough, cut the fabric into two or more pieces, each the length you want the tablecloth. Cut one of the pieces in half lengthwise. This will keep the tablecloth from having a seam down the middle.

2. Place the pieces of the tablecloth right sides together, with the widest piece in the middle.

3. Pin the pieces together, then sew them together using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.

4. Round off the corners of the fabric for an oval or circular table. You can use the method described in the Resource section below, or simply put the tablecloth on the table and mark how much you need to trim from each corner with pins.

5. Hem the tablecloth by folding the edges over 1/4 to 1/2 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric. Press the fold, then fold it over again and press it again. (You may want to use smaller hems for a rounded tablecloth.) Stitch the folded edges in place using matching thread.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add holiday trim around the lower edge of the tablecloth for an extra festive look.

• You may want to buy extra tablecloth fabric if you want to make matching holiday napkins.

• Use caution when working with scissors, pins, irons and sewing machines.

Resources

• Here are some tablecloth making tips.