Oval Table Cloth Tutorial

Recently, I read a post from the Craftiness Is Not Optional blog (an excellent blog, by the way) on how to make a fitted table cloth using oil cloth. Like Jess, the brain behind CINO, I, too, have young children and saw the benefits of using oilcloth (or laminated cotton) to cover a table where children frequently spill milk, juice, water, sand, paint, etc, etc, etc.

Jess' instructions were to make a fitted table cloth for an unattractive rectangular picnic table. My current kitchen table is a beautiful oval dining table recently acquired from my grandparents. I needed something to cover this table which could take a beating, wouldn't cost a fortune and would protect this antique. I loved the idea of a fitted table cover, but I'm a bit of a sewing novice, so I chose to make a very simple and short (only 5 inches of extra fabric on the edges) cover.

So, below you will find instructions on how I made my table cover for my 44 x 66 oval table. It is important that you know I have a thick table pad which rests on the table most of the time. I used this to trace onto my fabric as the template to base my measurements.

the table with table pad

Materials:

• 2.5 yards of oilcloth or laminated cotton (at least 55 inches wide) I used Heather Bailey's "Lindy Leaf in Blue"  laminated cotton from the Nicely Jane Collection.
• 9 yards of single biased tape
• thread
• pins
• scissors
• ruler or measuring tape
• pencil

Directions:

1. Place your fabric on the ground with the WRONG side facing up. 

 

2. Place the table pad on top of the fabric and center it.

3. Trace the shape using your pencil. Remove the pad. 

  

4. Using a ruler, measure 5 inches from the traced line and make 2-inch-long lines around the traced shape. This is the distance between the edge of the table and the hem. 

5. Using sharp scissors, cut along the dotted lines. You can connect these lines before cutting if it is easier for you. 

6. Attach the bias tape by sandwiching the edge of the fabric between the tape folds and pin in place. 7.Using a 3/8 in seam allowance, sew the tape and the fabric.

  

Voila! You now have a cute table cloth!