The book of Classic Picnic Decorating says one must always default to the red and white checked tablecloth. We say, “To heck with that!” Besides, there’s no such book! Instead, we invite you to create your own vibrant and stylish table covering. Our instructions take you through the steps to make a banded tablecloth, using three different fabrics.

We used standard quilting cottons for our casual patio party vibe. Notice how we blended a floral with a paisley and a stripe… once again breaking all the rules for a wonderful finish! Take a look at our tutorial: The Top 10 Designer Prints for Blending Colors and Prints to learn more about our favorite tips for blending motifs. If you plan on leaving your tablecloth out for an extended period of time, consider a heavier duty option, such as lightweight canvas or outdoor fabric.

The unique ties at each corner look great and foil the wind by helping secure the tablecloth to the table.

This project looks rather fancy, but thanks to our clever corners, it’s constructed with simple straight seams. Even if you’re just starting out on your sewing journey, this project is beginner friendly from start to finish.

Our sample was designed to cover a standard “buffet table” — the type you often find at event rental companies: 6 feet (72″) long x 30″ wide. We added a 12″ drop length around all four sides. You can adjust the measurements to best fit your own rectangular table.

Our sample was originally made using fabric from Heather Bailey’s Freshcut collection. It’s a much older collection that is no longer readily available, but since the tablecloth can be made completely from quilting cottons, you can mix and match from any of the hundreds of beautiful collections that come out each season.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Sewing machine and standard presser foot

Fabric and Other Supplies

• 2⅛ yards of 44″+ wide fabric for the one inner tablecloth band: we used Graphic Mum in brown/turquoise from Heather Bailey’s Freshcut collection
• 2⅛yards of 44″+ wide fabric for the two outer tablecloth bands: we originally used Dotted Paisley in green from Heather Bailey’s Freshcut collection
• 2¼ yards of 44″+ wide fabric for the tablecloth drop panels: we originally used Stripe in gold from Heather Bailey’s Freshcut collection
• ⅔ yard of 44″+ wide fabric for the 8 corner ties (each tie is 23″): we originally used Graphic Mum in brown/turquoise from Heather Bailey’s Freshcut collection
  NOTE: This cut is given separately in case you’d like to use a fourth fabric just for the ties. We simply used leftover fabric from our inner band cut. In fact, you will have leftover fabric from cutting both bands. This is because we wanted to be able to cut each of our bands as continuous panels. If you want to piece your panels, you cold certainly get away with less yardage. Take a look at the cutting diagrams below to plan your fabric shopping list. 
• All purpose thread to match the fabrics
• See-through ruler
• Measuring tape
• Fabric pen or pencil
• Seam gauge
• Seam ripper
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Iron and ironing board
• Straight pins

Getting Started

1. On the fabric you are using for the one Inner Tablecloth Band (Graphic Mum-brown/turquoise in our sample), measure and draw ONE 11″ wide x 73″ long rectangle.
   
2. Cut around drawn edges.
3. On the fabric you are using for the two Outer Tablecloth Bands (Dotted Paisley-green in our sample), measure and draw TWO rectangles, each 11″ wide x 73″ long.
   
4. Cut around drawn edges.
5. On the fabric you are using for the Tablecloth Drop Panels (Stripe-gold in our sample), draw FOUR rectangles that are each 37″ wide x 13″ high, and two rectangles that are each 31″ wide x 13″ high.
   
6. Cut around drawn edges.
7. On the fabric you are using for the Side Ties (Graphic Mum-brown/turquoise in our sample), draw eight rectangular strips that are each 2½” wide x 24″ long.
   
8. Cut around drawn edges.

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

1. With right sides together, pin one of the Outer Tablecloth Bands to the Inner Tablecloth Band along the 73″ edges, and sew together using a ½” seam allowance.
2. With right sides together, pin the second Outer Tablecloth Bands to the opposite 73″ edge of the Inner Tablecloth Band, and sew together using a ½” seam allowance.
3. At your ironing board, press both of these seam allowances open and flat.
   
4. Set the tablecloth top aside.
5. Pin two of the 37″ width Tablecloth Drop pieces right sides together along their inner 13″ edges, and sew together using a ½” seam allowance. Repeat this with the remaining two 37″ width Tablecloth Drop pieces.
6. At your ironing board, press both of these seam allowances open and flat.
7. You will now have two long strips of Tablecloth Drop pieces that are each 73″ x 13″.
8. You also have the two Tablecloth Drop pieces that were cut at 31″ x 13″. These two pieces stay as is.
9. For each of these four Tablecloth Drop pieces, you need to finish the edges with a simple double-turn hem. To do this, for each piece, turn the right side of the fabric under ¼” and press along ONE long edge and BOTH short edges. After pressing these three edges on each piece, turn them all again another ¼” and edgestitch all around to create your double-turn ¼” hemmed edges. You will now have two Tablecloth Drop pieces that are 72″ wide x 12½” high, finished on three sides; as well as two Tablecloth Drop pieces that are 30″ wide x 12½” high, finished on three sides.
   NOTE: If you are brand new to hemming, check out our full Simple Hems tutorial. 
10. With everything hemmed, pin both of the 30″ wide Tablecloth Drop pieces right sides together with the tablecloth top at each short end, lining up the raw edges and leaving a ½” space on each side.
    
11. Sew together using a ½” seam allowance.
12. Fold each 30″ wide Tablecloth Drop piece up and out of the way of the new seam, so the end panel drop fabric does not get caught under the new seam.
13. Pin the 72″ wide Tablecloth Drop pieces right sides together with the tablecloth top along each long side, again lining up the raw edges and leaving a ½” space on each side.
    
14. Sew together using a ½” seam allowance.
    
15. At your ironing board, flip the tablecloth to the wrong side, and press the raw edge corner of the tablecloth top towards the inside of the tablecloth.
    
16. Then press both seam allowances where the Tablecloth Drop pieces join the tablecloth top towards the inside of the tablecloth top.
    
17. Set tablecloth aside.
    NOTE: You can simply leave the corners and seam allowances pressed as described above, or you could topstitch around the entire perimeter of the tablecloth to insure the seam allowances and the corner points stay exactly where you want them. 
18. To make the Side Ties, take one of the Side Ties strips and press back each end ½”. Next, fold both corners of one of these ends at a 45° angle towards the center of the tie as shown in the diagram below. Then, press back each long edge ½” so they meet in the middle. Finally, press the entire tie in half lengthwise and edgestitch around the entire tie.
    
19. Repeat for all eight ties. You will now have eight finished Side Ties that are 23″ length and about ¾” width, with one angled end and one squared-off end.
20. At each of the four corners of the Tablecloth Drop, pin the squared-off end of each finished Side Tie to the Tablecloth Drop, so they are 2″ below the seam and 1½” in from the edge. Pin in place, the secure to the drop panels with a simple rectangular bo stitch.
    
21. Repeat this at each corner.
22. Lay the finished tablecloth on top of table and tie each corner together to help secure it to the table.

Substitute ribbons for corner ties

In our sample, we made our own 23″ x ¾” width ties for the tablecloth corners. However, you can save a little time by buying satin or grosgrain ribbon (⅔ yard per tie, or 5⅓ yards total for eight ties), which comes in pre-determined widths and colorful, unique designs.

To tidy up the ends of your ribbons, you can fold back the ribbon end at least ¼”- ½”, and then topstitch the ribbon onto the Tablecloth Drop panel. For the loose end of the ribbon, you may choose to fold the end on itself twice in ¼”- ½” folds and topstitch for a clean, finished look, or you can also cut the ribbon ends at a 45 degree angle and leave them raw, perhaps sealing the cut with seam sealant.