How to Make a Tablecloth With a Contrasting Border Design
- 1). Wash, dry and iron the tablecloth and border fabrics.
- 2). Add one inch to the desired finished width and length of the tablecloth. Be sure to allow for adequate drop over the sides of the table. Cut the tablecloth fabric to these measurements.
- 3). Add 3/4 inch to the desired width of the contrasting border and cut strips of the border fabric to this measurement.
- 4). Cut two strips of the border fabric to the exact length of the cut tablecloth fabric. Cut two strips of the border fabric to the width of the tablecloth fabric plus one inch.
- 5). Fold over 1/4 inch of fabric to the back along one long edge of each border strip, and press a crisp crease along the fold.
- 6). Pin the right side of the exact-length strips of border fabric to the wrong side along both corresponding edges of the tablecloth fabric, with the raw edges and ends even. Sew the strips along both edges with a 1/2 inch seam.
- 7). Fold the border fabric to the front along the seam line and press the edge neatly. Pin the loose folded edge of the border fabric to the front of the tablecloth and sew close to the folded edge of the border fabric.
- 8). Pin the right side of remaining border strips to the wrong side along both ends of the tablecloth fabric, with the raw edges even and the strips extending 1/2 inch beyond the finished edge of the tablecloth at each corner. Fold the ends of each strip tightly around the finished edge of the tablecloth and pin. Sew the border strips to the tablecloth with a 1/2 inch seam.
- 9). Trim away the fabric inside the seam allowance at a 45 degree angle at each corner. Take care to cut close to the end of the seam line without cutting through the stitching.
- 10
Pull the border fabric out straight at each corner. At each corner, press a crease in the border fabric that lines up with the finished edge of the tablecloth. - 11
Fold the border fabric over so that the crease at each corner runs along the exposed seam line, and press to create a 45 degree angle in the ends of the border fabric. Trim away a triangle of border fabric 1/4 inch inside the 45 degree angle crease to reduce bulk at the corner. - 12
Fold the border fabric to the front along the seam line and press the edge neatly. Pin the loose folded edge and mitered corners of the border fabric to the front of the tablecloth. Sew close to the loose folded edge and the fold at the mitered corners of the border fabric.
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