How To Make A Fitted Tablecloth

A while back, I posted about how my silly girls love pulling on the kitchen tablecloth.  You can find that post here.  WELL... I found a solution to the problem and here is how I did it.   Read on to learn how to make your very own fitted tablecloth:).  A friend of mine actually suggested that it's more like a shower cap, but for your table...LOL!

Note:  There are tons of fabric stores that sell beautiful laminated cotton prints, but they are pricey.  Since our kitchen table takes quite a beating, I didn't want to spend too much on fancy fabric.  Instead, I purchased a cute (round) tablecloth that was on sale at Target....YES, this is the "Semi-homemade" way to make a fitted tablecloth:). 

MATERIALS:

A cute & cheap tablecloth (From WallyWorld or Target)

1 package of 1/4" elastic

sewing machine

thread

scissors

safety pin

 

 STEP 1:
After you have completely unwrapped your new tablecloth, find the edge and fold it over about 1.5" to 2".  Set your machine to a straight stitch and begin sewing.  Be sure to back stitch a few times so that you can lock your stitches in place.

STEP 2:  Continue sewing a 1.5" to 2" seam around the tablecloth. 

  

Since you're sewing in a circle, it might be difficult to keep the seam allowance even.  Don't worry, because this part will be under the table where no one can see it!  In the picture below you will see that my seams are not exactly perfect:).

STEP 3:  Sew around the tablecloth, but stop and back stitch about 2" from where you began sewing.  You want to leave a small gap to feed the elastic through.

 

STEP 4:  Open your package of elastic and attach one end to a safety pin.  I used 46" of elastic for my table, but if you want to make this to your specifications, I suggest not cutting the elastic until the very end.

 

STEP 5:  Feed the elastic and safety pin through the casing that you just made.

When you are done feeding the elastic through the casing, your project should look like this....

 (Top View)

 (Bottom View)

STEP 6:  If you plan on making another tablecloth, secure the elastic by pinning it all together with your safety pin.  I never sew the elastic casing shut because I like to reuse the elastic for other tablecloths when I decide to switch everything out.

 

Here is my sorry looking table that is just dying to have a splash of color......:(

TaDa!!!!  

This table went from drabbb:(... to FABULOUS in less than an hour and for under $7!!! :)  

Enjoy!  If you decide to make your very own fitted tablecloth, please post a pic on my Sew Snazzy Stitches facebook page.  I would LOVE to see how this turned out for you:).
Nap time is OVER, so I have to get going.  Have a FABULOUS day everyone!!!!

Toddlers & Tablecloths!

My two silly daughters are the inspiration behind most of the stuff I sew.  This project is no exception....

Meet Miss "M". 

It's possible that this little stinker might just grow up to be an interior designer.  She has shown quite a bit of interest in household decorating (which is not always a good thing).

 Here she is rearranging the kitchen tablecloth.

 Since we have two toddlers who insist on feeding themselves, it's inevitable that food and milk will end up spilled all over the table.  My valiant attempt to protect the kitchen table backfired when the girls realized that it was funny to pull on tablecloths and send anything on top of it CRASHING to the ground. 

  

I give you exhibit A...

After just a few tugs, the tablecloth is no longer in it's proper place.  Isn't she setting such a wonderful example for her little sister?  ;)

Here is my little designer, standing proudly next to her covered table.  Too bad her days of rearranging the tablecloth are OVER!  This is one war that I actually won!  I came up with a way to keep the tablecloth ON the table and (of course) it involves my sewing machine.

If you are currently experiencing tablecloth "issues", I will be posting a solution soon!  My very first tutorial will be about how to make a fitted tablecloth.  If you have a house full of kids, you have got to try this project.  It's simple and oh so PRACTICAL!  Stay tuned because in my next blog post, I will show you how to make one:).