Easy Burlap Tablecloth

 

I’ve been needing a kitchen table for my guest house for a looooooooong time now.

But I wasn’t sure what I wanted.

At first, I was thinking my husband could make me an island with some bar stools to use as my eating area in the guest house.

But I placed a large buffet table in the middle of the room, to get an idea of what an island would look like, and I didn’t like it.

It took away from the detail of the cabinets.

So then I started thinking I wanted a small table with two chairs.

But what kind of table did I want?

Well, I found what I wanted in my favorite inspiration spot…Ballard Designs magazine. (If you don’t get this magazine in the mail, visit their website and sign up to get it FREE in the mail.)

ballard designs burlap tablecloth knock off

It is a burlap tablecloth with jute trim and sells for $85.00.

Of course I said, “Why buy it, when I can make it?”

So I went to Hobby Lobby and got 4 1/2 yards of burlap. I like their burlap because it is a softer, smoother material, and it doesn’t stink like most burlap. :)

Their burlap was on sale for $1.99 a yard, so it cost me only $9.00.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

And here is the table I was going to use. It was a small patio table that Mom and Dad had on their back porch. Since I was covering it with a tablecloth, it didn’t matter what it looked like underneath! And it was the perfect size. (And price…FREE!)

Here’s how I measured it:

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

(Do not laugh at my drawing! I just really thought you would need to see this part if you wanted to make your own tablecloth. You would just use the measurements of the table you were using, not mine, of course.)

That is a total length of 94 inches.

My burlap was 45 inches wide. So I folded it over lengthwise 47 inches (half of the 94 inches I needed.)

I did that TWICE, so I would have two identical pieces.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

Then I took one of those pieces and cut it right down the middle.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

I laid the two smaller pieces on both sides of the larger piece. I unfolded them to show you what it would look like.

IMG_3933

Then I sewed each of the two smaller pieces to each side of the whole piece. Ladies, I didn’t even pin the pieces together! I just held the pieces together on the sewing machine and sewed a straight stitch all the way down. The burlap did well this way. I wouldn’t be able to do that with every fabric. And I wasn’t worried if the ends matched up perfectly because I knew I would be trimming it and adding fringe.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

(The reason you add two smaller pieces to the side is so that you don’t have a seam running down the middle of the top of your table. Doing it this way keeps the seams on the sides of the table.)

Now, we are almost finished.

You need to fold this entire piece in half (from top to bottom).

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

Then fold it in half again, just like folding a piece of paper (from side to side).

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

Since the total length of my tablecloth was 94 inches, I needed to take half that amount to measure where I was going to cut the material, which was 47 inches.

Since I couldn’t find my sewing tape measure, I used my husband’s metal tape measure to cut a string 47 inches long.

My oldest son helped me with this part.

He held the string at the top corner of the material, as I measured.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

Then I drew a line from one side to the other to show where to cut.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

 

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

(My son told me I should leave the scissors on the material to show you guys that I cut it with them. How cute is that?)

The angle at which I took this picture makes the right side look long than the other side, but they are both 47 inches long.

Then I put it on the table to see if it worked. (I was doubting myself a little at this point.)

But it DID!

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

Now I need to add some fringe at the bottom. I found some at Hobby Lobby that I loved, but even with the 40% off coupon, it is still pretty pricey.

So I am on the hunt for a bargain, or a homemade version.

I will post about that when I get it finished.

I could just sew a hem on the bottom, but I was really wanting some cute fringe.

But for now, I am very pleased with the results.

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

And now our guests have a place to eat!

how to make a round burlap tablecloth

I will be getting some glass to put on top of the table to protect the burlap.

The two black chairs on each side of the table were purchased at Goodwill for $30.00.

They looked like this when I bought them…

March 2009 162

And after I re-did them, they looked like this…

chairs 019

You can read about that project HERE.

I thought I would be using them by the couch in the “living” area of the guest house. But now I think they are perfect for the kitchen table.

I still have some more projects for the guest house that I am working on, and I will share them as soon as they are finished.

But for now, thanks for letting me share this project with you!

IMG_3929

Blessings,

 

75 Comments

  1. I love the burlap table cloth!~
    The chairs too are awesome!
    When I thought of fringe for burlap a mop came to mind LOL
    Too bad the mop head did not come in strips :)

  2. Traci,

    Wow, what a fantastic project! Your step by step instructions are wonderful. You creativity is such an inspiration for myself and countless others. Thank you for sharing..
    Dee Dee

  3. Hi Traci! Oh, the burlap talbecloth looks wonderful. You did a great job. I haven't made a tablecloth in some time, but I do it just like you did. Your little guest house is so precious! Have you shown it before? I'll have to search back through your posts and see.
    Thank you for the tip on ordering the Ballards catalog! I just signed up for one.
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

  4. Your brilliant. Now I know I can do this to. Great step by step instructions. And I love the guest house, thank you for sharing this how to.

    Oh yea, the chairs are great too. I like everything. :))

  5. Traci!
    Oh honey how beautiful this tablecloth is. I am going to have to check out our Hobby Lobby to see what this burlap looks like. It is absolutely beautiful on your table. I can't wait to see what the trim looks like that you selected for this project. You are a very good seamstress Traci and I so love your projects. I wish we lived closer where we could share this love of refurbishing together.

    Thanks for sharing. I pray that you and DH and the boys have a wonderful Halloween tomorrow. Be safe. We will have the 7 grandkids here. They so love this special time of year. Our house will be running over with love.

    Much love, Sherry

  6. Wow… it looks so great!! Thanks for the great step-by-step, I wouldn't have thought to have the two pieces on the sides so I wouldn't have a big ol' seem down the center! :) So cute that your helper had the idea to show the scissors!

  7. Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to see the table cloth with the fringe.

    Wish we lived close; I'd have you fix all my design dilemmas. You can see the treasure in the trash! I loved the chairs!

  8. Great tute! And thanks for the tip on the Hobby Blobby burlap. I'd been using the stiff and stinky kind from Walmart. I love that kitchen!

  9. Traci, this project may not be quite done, but oh my goodness… I LOVED the tutorial, idea, chair redo… everything! I can see why you added the burlap, it really offers a warm element to your kitchen. This is awesome!

    What is up with that cheap burlap price?!? It's 9$ a yard/metre in my area. Cough cough.. I only bought 1 yard cuz I'm cheap! I need to find a much better deal to have more.

    I LOVE this, girl! Thanks for linking to the party!

    p.s. what a lovely kitchen! You have amazing style. I must snoop further… :)

    FJ Donna

  10. Very pretty! Your guest house kitchen is lovely. Very pretty and soothing. The open cupboards are such a lovely touch. Hoping you find the trim you are looking for on sale somewhere. I'm sure many will benefit from your generous tutorial too. I agree with another poster though, I'm loving your beautiful floors. The wide plank and the colour are so great. Thanks for sharing.

  11. Oh this is nice. Thanks for showing the step by step of how you did it….and how cute of your son to say "add the scissors" in the pic.
    You got a great deal on the burlap. Good luck finding the fringe at a great price. Your table and chairs look great in your guest house.

  12. Wow, Traci…that really turned out great! I love how you recreated the expensive one and did it on the cheap! And it really looks great on that table!

    Btw, I love the tribute picture of your mom. She was a very beautiful lady and I really admire her faith. It's nice of you to share that with us; people of great unwavering faith are an inspiration to me.

    Nancy

  13. So cute and I love your cabinets! My boys always give me suggestions and want to help too (makes you feel good that they take pride in what you do:) Your table looks great! ~Ashley

  14. That looks great! Did you get just run of the mill burlap at a say…Hobby Lobby? When I looked at it I feared it would be way too stiff but yours looks perfect.
    Hugs
    Robin
    All Things Heart and Home

  15. Great job Traci
    I hope you will post this to the Knock off as well–

    I got my ornaments and my extra gift–thank you so much–you didn't have to do that. I totally understood your delay–you needed to be with your mom and devote your time to her. How is your Dad doing?

    Cheri

  16. Hey now! I love that idea! Do you have a Tuesday Morning close by? They had some luscious trim and tassles too, on clearance…..

  17. Very Nice! I love it! I just love your blog. Inspriation in decorating and inspiration in life. Thanks for your comment on my blog. I am so glad their are Mothers like you raising such fine boys!!!! I pray one day my daughter will find a man raised by a Mother like you! Hey, Who knows what the future may hold for our two little angels ;)

  18. Thanks for the tutorial! I know you probably want a trim like what is on the Ballard table cloth but another suggestion would be to make a ruffle out of the left over burlap, drop cloth or even a black & white check would be cute. Can't wait to see what you do.
    Renee

  19. Wow! That turned out great! I am always afraid to sew my own because of the circle…you made it look so easy! I am looking for chairs just like that! So, so cute! And great job re-doing them!

    Tamera@doubledelight

  20. I have a couple yards of burlap and didn't know what to do with it! Thanks for the idea and it turn out beautifuly!

  21. Hello al the way from Dubai! :)

    Bumped in to your blog a few days ago and meant to comment but ended up liking so many posts of yours I wanted to comment on each one….and I am seriously hard pressed for time with a crazy naughty toddler at home. So it kept getting postponed. Anyhow, over here in the middle east, our weekend is fri/sat. As I get ready to go to church, I just read a few more posts and am so delighted each time. I am a first time new mommy, it can get isolating and frustrating and reading blogs like yours keeps me going. I love all that you write and share. I will be back everyday and you bet, commenting more! Just like you, I am also very close to my mom, who is ofcourse back home in India. Was sad to read about your mom…

    Finally, I just had an idea for the trimming on this table cloth in burlap. How about sticking some different sizes of buttons?? They could be assorted colours or just some theeme colour, spaced closely or little further apart…or how about making burlap bows-tacking a button on it and sticking them around at different intervals….if you just tack them in a simple stitch it can all come off too and for christmas you can agin chnage the colour of the bows….just some ideas coming to me….hope they make sense. :) Using buttons all around, would probably be painstaking though….

    Thank you for sharing such beauty and calm with us…..

    Cheers
    Harshika
    Mommy to : Yohaan, 20 months :) and wife to Johnson
    Dubai

  22. Here I was thinking I was being original making my own burlap tablecloth (you would think so from all the crazy looks I got when I mentioned what the burlap was for at the store) and here you’ve already done it, and have a tutorial to boot. It is perfect timing too as I haven’t ever made a tablecloth before but I need to make one now because it is the last thing I need for my living room makeover.. I was just trying to figure out how to make a tablecloth without the seam running down the middle this morning. Thank you so much! I think I will dust off my sewing machine and get started first thing in the morning.

  23. Traci,

    How did you learn to sew? I’m “playing it by ear” here, because there are no sewing classes available here and I’d have to drive an hour each way to take one.

    Elisha

  24. I’ve loved all of you burlap projects and understand you prefer the product from Hobby Lobby because it is softer. I was wondering if you still pre-wash and if so do you use a fabric softener as well. I’m going to be making some roman blinds and am unsure how much to buy. Ie. do i need to allow for shrinkage. Thanks for any advice.

    Teresa

  25. Wow

    What an amazing post your very talented and your burlap tablecloths look fantastic, such great photos and instruction, we are burlap fans too and love Burlap, kepp up the good work we will stay tuned for more.

    Thank you and god bless.
    Ryan

  26. Thank you for this wonderful tutorial!!! I just used it to make a burlap tablecloth for the unity candle table for my wedding. It looks AWESOME!!!

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