Hey everyone! Today you are going to learn how to make a no-seam tablecloth that covers your table in one wide, easy piece.
Meet the fabric
This one is the Blue Teal Barcodes Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard.
It comes from PBS Fabrics.
It was made by Paintbrush Studio Fabrics.
The width of fabric is 118 inches.
That is extra wide, folks.
The fiber type is cotton.
The tags call out the barcodes pattern.
They also call it abstract.
The colors in the name are blue and teal.
The tags describe it as blue green too.
It is sold by the yard.
So you can order the length your table needs.
Why it suits a tablecloth
A tablecloth is a flat cover for your table.
It protects the top and adds color fast.
This wideback suits it in a big way.
One width can span most tables easily.
You will have no seam down the middle.
No seam means no ridge under your dishes.
It also means no pattern to match across.
The barcodes design does the decorating for you.
You do not need piecing or applique here.
Let that blue and teal be the star.
Just like that, simple becomes fun.
I am making a cloth for a rectangular table today.
My table is 40 inches wide by 72 inches long.
My finished cloth will be 56 by 88 inches.
That gives an 8-inch drop on every side.
Measure your own table before you cut.
Add twice the drop you want to each side.
Completely up to you on that drop.
Materials list
- Blue Teal Barcodes Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard — 2 yards gives you room to cut a 57 by 89-inch piece, square it well, and hem it, since the fabric is 118 inches wide
- Thread — I reach for a 50-weight cotton in a blue or teal that blends well
- A fresh needle — an 80/12 universal or quilting needle for hemming two layers of cotton
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, and large mat, or fabric scissors if you prefer
- Pins or clips, a tape measure, an iron, and your sewing machine
- Optional — a second cotton for a reversible side, only if you want a heavier cloth
Brief steps
Step 1: Press and measure. Press your fabric well. Measure your table top first. Write down the length and width. Then add your drop twice to each number.
Step 2: Cut one big piece. Cut your cloth 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer than finished size. That extra inch is for your hems. Use the 118-inch width for the long side and save cutting stress.
Step 3: Square the corners. Fold the cloth in quarters lightly. Check that opposite sides match. Trim any wavy edge with your ruler. This step keeps your drop even all around.
Step 4: Press the hem. Fold each edge in 1/2 inch and press. Fold it in another 1/2 inch and press again. Pin or clip as you go. Miter the corners by folding a neat diagonal tuck inside.
Step 5: Stitch the hem. Sew close to the inner folded edge. Keep your stitch length around 2.5. Go steady around the corners and pivot with the needle down. Backstitch at the start and end to tie off.
Step 6: Press and try it on. Give the finished cloth a good final press. Lay it on your table and smooth from the center out. Check the drop is even on all four sides. Here we go.
Practical tips from my sewing table
Prewash if you plan to wash it often.
Cotton can shrink a little on first wash.
Better to shrink it before you hem.
Then your drop stays the size you planned.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
A wide cloth is mostly measuring and pressing.
Take your time with that pressing, y'all.
Good pressing makes stitching really really easy.
Slow down at those mitered corners.
Slow down there, or the needle can struggle.
Use a walking foot if layers start to shift.
It helps feed that hem nice and even.
If your hem wiggles a little, keep going.
Nobody at dinner is measuring your stitching.
Here is the permission part.
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
A tablecloth is meant to be used and loved.
Take your time. It is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Make one for everyday meals in this teal.
Then, completely up to you, save the leftover wideback for a quilt back later. Alrighty.
Thank you so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue Teal Barcodes Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
