DIY Striped Tablecloth!

So bright and cheery!

I DID IT!  After spying on some delicious tablecloths last week, I finally finished making a Spring-y/Summer-y tablecloth of my own;)  It was pretty straightforward, but it is not simply just paint it and your done.  Because we’re dealing with fabric, it needed to be pre-washed and also after painting, it needed to sit for 72 hours and then heat set in the dryer for 30 minutes.  Afterwards it is ready to be washed and used….and all that down time is worth it!  Below is a how-to and some tips that I learned from doing this project, I hope you enjoy ;)

Materials:

• Fabric (I bought a heavy cotton, upholstery, water-resistant fabric I found at Jo-Ann Etc.)
• Craft/Fabric paint (buy enough so you do not have to water down)
• Paint brush
• Masking or Painters tape
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• drop cloth or newspapers (for laying under fabric)

Here’s What I Did:

1. Wash fabric
2. Cut fabric to desired size (I actually did this after I painted, but it would probably be better to do it before)
   

   Lay drop cloth or newspaper underneath fabric

3. Put drop cloth or newspapers underneath the fabric
4. Apply tape to fabric in desired pattern (I didn’t really measure much, I just “eyed” it)
   

   Tape fabric

5. Paint fabric and let dry (see dry times on craft/fabric paint label)
   

   Paint fabric

6. Peel off tape
7. Let sit for 72 hours (or follow paint instructions)
   

   Peel off tape

8. Heat set in dryer for 30 minutes on high
9. Let cool
10. Wash and dry fabric
11. Iron if needed/allowed
12. Either in iron or fold in edges
13. Sew edges to hem, use Serger or hand hem
    

    I folded in the unfinished edge and sewed a straight line

    

    So FUN ;)