MELISSA HEATH
Transform a humble canvas dropsheet into a fabulous tablecloth with these crafty projects, each high on style and easy on the purse strings.
Project 1: Polka dot tablecloth
You will need:
Monarch leak-proof canvas dropsheet, $24.90/1.5m x 3.65m, Bunnings
White acrylic paint
Derivan fabric fixative, $14.95/250ml, Spotlight
1 x A4 stencil sheet, $15/pack of 3, Spotlight
20c coin, and scalpel or craft blade
Paintbrush
9m trim; we used ‘Barbara’ ruffle trim in Ivory, $4.95/m, Spotlight
Method:
1. Wash your dropsheet on a normal cycle and line dry. Measure the length of your table and work out your desired tablecloth length – we suggest a minimum 25cm hang on each side. Cut to length and hem.
2. To make dot paint, add 2 parts acrylic paint to 1 part fabric fixative and mix well. The mixture should be about the consistency of thickened cream – you may need to add a little water, depending on the thickness of your acrylic paint.
3. Using a 20c coin, trace a random pattern of circles onto your stencil sheet. Carefully cut out circles with a scalpel or craft blade. Lay your cloth flat and place the stencil in the top corner. Dab paint into the cut-out circles using a paintbrush. Once you’ve painted all the circles, move the stencil across to a clean area where the spots will meet up nicely. Repeat until entire cloth is painted with spots.
4. Lay an old teatowel or similar over your cloth and iron on medium heat to set the paint. Don’t let the iron get too hot as it may melt the cloth’s plastic backing.
5. Pin the ruffle trim all the way around the tablecloth’s edge and sew with a matching thread.
Project 2: Dip-dyed tablecloth
You will need:
Monarch leak-proof canvas dropsheet, $24.90/1.5m x 3.65m, Bunnings
2 packets Dylon fabric dye in Flamingo Pink, $12.95/50g, Spotlight
Safety pins and elastic bands
Method:
1. Wash your dropsheet on a normal cycle and line dry. Measure the length of your table and work out your desired tablecloth length – we suggest a minimum 25cm hang on each side. Cut to length and hem.
2. Place cloth on the table and, using safety pins, roughly mark out a line where you’d like your coloured dye to finish – our line was about halfway between the edge of the tabletop and bottom of the sheet.
3. In a large tub, mix both packets of dye solution according to the packet instructions. Wear rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands.
4. Note: you may need an extra set of hands to assist with this step. Tie the centre of your sheet into a bunch with an elastic band, making sure that the hems are all aligned at the bottom. Dip the edges of the cloth into the tub of dye, almost to your safety pin marked line. We hung our bunched cloth over the laundry tub tap with the ends immersed in the dye solution, and left it there overnight to achieve maximum intensity of colour.
5. Carefully remove cloth from the tub and wring out any excess dye. Run through a normal wash cycle in your machine. Line dry in shade.
Project 3: Place setting tablecloth
You will need:
Monarch leak-proof canvas dropsheet, $24.90/1.5m x 3.65m, Bunnings
Grey acrylic paint
Derivan fabric fixative, $14.95/250ml, Spotlight
1 x A4 stencil sheet, $15/pack of 3, Spotlight
Downloaded stencil from homebeautiful.com.au,
or plate and cutlery to make your own
Scalpel or craft blade
Paintbrush
9m trim; we used crinoline trim in Black, $3.99/m, Spotlight
Method:
1. Wash your dropsheet on a normal cycle and line dry. Measure the length of your table and work out your desired tablecloth length – we suggest a minimum 25cm hang on each side. Cut to length and hem.
2. To make place setting paint, add 2 parts acrylic paint to 1 part fabric fixative and mix well. The mixture should be about the consistency of thickened cream – you may need to add a little water, depending on the thickness of your acrylic paint.
3. Make a stencil by tracing a dinner plate, knife and fork, using either actual crockery or a printed image as your guide. Carefully cut out the shapes with a scalpel or craft blade.
4. Lay your cloth on the table and position the stencil at a place setting, using your dining chairs as a guide. Carefully dab paint into the cut-outs using a paintbrush. Move your stencil to the next place setting and repeat until all settings are painted onto the cloth.
5. Lay an old teatowel or similar over your cloth and iron on medium heat to set the paint. Don’t let the iron get too hot as it may melt the cloth’s plastic backing.
6. Pin the trim all the way around the cloth’s edge and sew with a matching thread.
Tip: The cloth’s plastic backing will prevent any paint bleeding through, so you can use your dining table as your work surface.
