How to Make a Pleated Table Skirt

Table skirts fit around the edge of a table. They work with or without tablecloths. Pleated table skirts allow a lot of extra fabric so that human legs can fit under the table without being uncomfortable. Table skirts are perfect for tables with unsightly legs you want covered. It is often easier to make a table skirt rather than try to buy one that has the right measurements.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Pins
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine
• Velcro

Instructions

1. Measure all around the table that you are making the table skirt for. Double that measurement to find out how much fabric you need to buy. Do not forget to measure the height from the tabletop to the floor to make sure that the standard 45-inch-width fabric will work.

2. Wash and iron the fabric before measuring and cutting to prevent shrinkage.

3. Trim off any excess width of fabric if necessary. Make sure to leave a few extra inches to allow for hemming.

4. Fold under all the raw edges a ½ inch and pin in place. Sew a hem all the way around the edges of the fabric. Remove all the pins as you sew.

5. Lay the fabric out on a large, flat surface. Use the floor if necessary.

6. Start in the middle of the top edge of the fabric and fold the fabric to make a pleat. Make sure the pleat is facing the right. Put a pin through the pleat to hold in place.

7. Continue working your way to the right folding in pleats and pinning in place.

8. Measure the length of the table skirt once you have completed pinning all the pleats on the right side of the skirt. Make sure that it measures just over half of the total table measurement. Leave an inch or two extra for overlap. Make adjustments by increasing or decreasing the sizes of the pleats if necessary.

9. Work the pleats on the left side of the table skirt. Make sure the pleats point to the left. Pin all the pleats in place.

10. Sew all the way across the table skirt two inches down from the top. Sew all the way across the table skirt again, this time sewing a ½ inch from the top, removing the pins as you sew.

11. Iron the pleats for a crisp look.

12. Add Velcro to the overlapping ends of the table skirt. Attach the hook side of the Velcro to the topside of the table skirt and the loop side of the Velcro to the underside of the table skirt.

References

• Table Skirt How To
• Make a Table Skirt