Small Tablecloth Tutorial - ALYOF

My goal this month for A Lovely Year of Finishes was to sew up a new tablecloth for my remodeled kitchen.  I also thought I would include a tutorial in case anyone wanted  to make their own.  It is super simple!

BTW - This is the same process I use for finishing the edges of unlined dinner napkins and curtains in case those are on your to-do list. 

The first step is to get the fabric pre-washed (to remove shrinkage) and then pressed.  I use either starch or a starch alternative like Best Press to get it really nice and flat.

 You will want to remove the selvages and square up the pressed fabric to the size you need.  When cutting your fabric to size, you will need to compensate for the 2.5" you will loose in the finished edging. 

 I always ensure my cut piece is nice and square by folding it into a triangle so I can measure it on my cutting mat.

 At your ironing board, fold down 1/4" and press to the wrong side around all 4 sides of the cloth..  I use a small ruler to help with this.  

You can also mark your fabric with a line if that is easiest to follow.  

(Using Best Press on this step will help to ensure the fold doesn't open up in handling.)

 Next, with the 1/4" still pressed down, you will fold in and press an additional 1" on all 4 sides of the cloth.  Once again, the use of starch or Best Press will keep the folds from opening up.

On a flat surface, open up the 1" fold but keep the 1/4" fold, down.  In the corners, draw a line at 45 degrees through the fold marks.  I use the 45 degree mark on my ruler to line up with either the edge of the cloth or the fold mark.  Remember to mark all four corners.

Now fold the corners right side together (keeping the 1/4" folded down).  The outer edge of the cloth should be lined up and come to a point. Sew on the pencil line, remembering to back stitch at the beginning and end of the line.  Sew all four corners.

Trim the corner about 1/4" from the stitched line.  I will also trim away some of the bulk at the corner where the fold is.

 Now just fold in that corner and you will get a nice mitered corner with a sharp point.  Give all the edges another press.

 On the ironing board, I also pin down the fold so it is ready for topstitching.

In a nice contrasting or complimentary thread (your choice), stitch along the inside fold about 1/16" from the edge.  Remember to backstitch when you start out.  To turn the corners, put the needle down right in the miter, lift the presser foot and turn. I also backstitch at the end.

 A wonderful finish to the back of your tablecloth!

 Now if I can just find time to finish painting my chairs, I can start to enjoy my new little eating area.

 

Having made no progress what-so-ever on my April ALYOF project, I am pleased I accomplished this month's goal.  A big thanks to Sew Bittersweet Designs for helping me hold myself accountable in finishing up some of these older projects.  

And I finished this one up so early in the month.....Hurray!

 

 

Linking up with My Quilt Infatuation, Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, TGIFF, Richard and Tanya Quilts and Fort Worth Fabric Studio.