Patchwork Quilt Tablecloth

Some of the main things that make a patchwork quilt so appealing work against you if you decide to make a patchwork tablecloth. A quilt is eye-catching if the original squares are cut into various shapes, and sewn back together, but all of that sewing means lumps and bumps on the top of a table - not ideal. Another loveable element about a patchwork quilt is that the batting inside makes the quilt warm and cozy. But batting inside a tablecloth means, once again, that youll be adding bulk, which doesnt work well on top of a table. If you eliminate some of the features of a traditional patchwork quilt, and make a more simplistic version, you can create a lovely tablecloth with a patchwork theme.

It can be really challenging to make a round patchwork tablecloth but a square or rectangular one is very easy. A sheet makes a nice backing on the cloth but a thin piece of cut fabric will also work. Trim a sheet, or cut the fabric, to be the size you want for the tablecloth. Hem the cloth on all four sides and lay it back over the table.

Purchase quilt blocks or cut your own. If you purchase the blocks, buy the ones without the batting quilted onto them. Theres no need to hem the quilt blocks; that will add bulk where you dont need it. Rather than sew the blocks onto the backing, which will also add lumps under the cloth, use fabric glue to attach them. Fabric glue dries clear and can be laundered. Lay the blocks on the backing so that you can see the design youre creating. Pin the quilt blocks to the backing for now. When youre ready to put a square onto the quilt, unpin the square, and draw tiny marks to show where the corners go. Although fabric glue comes in a dispensing bottle you can often end up with more glue than you need, and, therefore, a stiff feel in glued places on the cloth. Instead of dispensing it from the bottle, use a small paint brush. Brush in only one direction across, and one direction, down, to apply a thin line of the glue to the back of each square, around the perimeter. Position the quilt block onto the backing, centering it inside the corner marks. Smooth out the edges and move on to the next block the glue dries quickly. Make any design you want on the patchwork tablecloth. You can get lots of ideas when you look at quilt pictures online. The unusual tablecloth looks really great in a country home, a room with rustic accents, or on the table of a friend who loves patchwork quilts.