How to Sew a Custom Tablecloth with Ruffles and Pleats

Learn the simple steps to sew a custom tablecloth with ruffles and pleats using white cotton canvas fabric.

This post was originally written on November 5,2012. I just stumbled on it again and decided to update it on January 17,2022. I still have the table that got a custom tablecloth in this post. But, it has gotten a farmhouse table makeover since then!

Here’s a stroll back to the original post (when we lived in our previous house):

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I’m having so much fun working on a completely unexpected project. Last Monday, our entryway looked like this:

That picture was quickly snapped at about 5:30 p.m ~ right before I decided to turn the place topsy turvy and paint it!  (I wrote about it here.)

Now I’ve been accessorizing and getting the place back together again.  Of course I want it to look completely a bit different.

We tried putting the church pew in place of the table, but it didn’t last long.

We all missed having a table, and that pew just seemed a little big for the space.

So, back in came the table.  I really love it, but I wanted to spiff it up a bit with a custom tablecloth.

 

How to sew a custom tablecloth with ruffles AND pleats!

Supplies needed:

• Cotton canvas fabric to fit the size of table you’ll be covering
• sewing machine
• pins

Step by step instrustions

Step 1: Cut or rip the fabric so you end up with a piece for the top, and piece (or pieces) for the overhanging sides.

But, honestly, I was making things up as I went. The fabric I used was a white cotton canvas that I bought ages ago, and rather than cut it, I just tore it to the size I needed.  I love it when fabric co-operates that way.

I find sewing things like this requires measuring and math.  The first thing I did was mis-calculate and tore my piece 1/2 an inch shorter that I intended… {But, it ended up working out o.k.  Whew!}

Cut the top piece so it is the size of the top plus a 1/2 inch seam allowance around all sides.

Cut the side piece so that it it is double the length of the circumference of the table wide and the length you would like it plus 1/2 seam allowance for the top and 1 inch seam allowance for the hem. (You may need to piece together some fabric to get the circumference width you need.)

Step 2: Hem the side (ruffle) piece

Fold the hem edge up 1/2 inch and iron. Fold up again 1/2 inch and iron. Then, using a straight stitch on your sewing machine, hem the bottom of the ruffle piece.

(Hemming a ruffle that was almost double the length of the circumference of the table seemed like I was sewing miles and miles!)

Step 3: Sew a long stitch 1/2 inch from the top of  the ruffle piece fabric and pull it so it gathers.

Once you have gathered up the fabric to make a ruffle, pin the ruffle to the tablecloth top while it is on the table (with right sides together).

I watched a video of Miss Mustard Seed doing some slipcovers and was impressed with her mad skills at pinning fabric right on the object to make it fit perfectly.  {I didn’t find it quite as easy as she made it look…}  In fact, this tablecloth was somewhat inspired by that beautiful ottoman in her living room:

To see a video on how to custom fit a slipcover by pinfitting, you may find this video helpful:

Step 4: If your table sits against the wall, you can turn part of the table cloth into pleats!

Oh, I love those pleats …

So, I made my tablecloth a “duel personality” one…

Ruffles on one side

and some Miss Mustard Seed pleats on the other!

Step 4: Sew the ruffle piece to the tablecloth top.

Using your pins as a guide, use a straight stitch to sew the top and side pieces together.

Since one side is always up against the wall, I can just turn it to whichever side I’m in the mood for.

Pleated…?

or ruffled?

Today,  it’s ruffled.

Other sewing tutorials:

• How to make zippered cushion covers
• How to make lavendar bags sachets
• How to sew rod pocket curtains

Linking to:  Home Stories A-Z, Chic on a Shoestring, Freckled Laundry, Miss Mustard Seed