Project: Autumn Inspired Table Setting, Part 1

Autumn is my favorite season, no contest. I love pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pies, pumpkin scented candles, carving pumpkins, really anything to do with that cute orange squash! I also love the smell of the rain, the changing of the leaves, apple cider... Words really cannot express the way I feel in the fall, so I must show my love through crafts! 

This post is the first of two projects, a tablecloth and placemats, so watch for the second installment!

Tablecloth Ingredients:

• A piece of linen large enough to cover your table and hang over the side.  Make sure you get a piece a few inches larger than you want, for the hem.

• Thread.   I used embroidery thread in a shimmery gold color

Tools:

• Sewing machine
• Scissors/ rotary cutter & cutting mat
• Sewing needle
• measuring tape
• Straight pins

One

  To make the tablecloth, cut your material to a size a few inches larger than you wish the final tablecloth to be. Try to cut as straight as possible. 

  Fold all edges over approximately one inch, and pin in place, letting the corners pop up as shown in the first photo.

Two

When all sides have been folded and pinned, cut the excess fabric from each corner, as shown in photo two.

Three

Carefully unpin the two pins holding a corner in place, and fold that corner in again, overlapping the original fold as in photo three. 

Four

While holding the corner in place, fold each side of the hem in to meet in the center of your corner. Pin as shown in photo four. This may take a few tries to come out even, so don't worry if you don't get it the first time!

Once you have a corner folded, go around the tablecloth again, removing your pins one at a time, folding the hem over itself and re-pinning it. Fold and pin each corner the same way as the first one. 

Five

Now that the hem is folded over twice, and no cut edges are showing, you are ready to sew. I used a double zigzag stitch, for durability and decoration. Sew around the tablecloth, making sure to sew through both folds in the hem and to maintain an equal distance from the edge. 

Tip: When you get to a corner, make sure the needle is through the fabric, then lift the presser foot and turn the fabric around the needle 90 degrees. This ensures that your stitches will line up, and lets you keep sewing with little time wasted.

After you have finished sewing, use your hand sewing needle to pull any loose ends to the back (folded) side, tie them off, and cut them away. 

Iron the tablecloth to remove any wrinkles, and to create crisp edges. 

Enjoy!