Things You'll Need
Yardstick or measuring tape
Calculator
Making a tablecloth for a round table can be a rewarding sewing project because you can instantly see the result of your labor. The difficult part of sewing a round tablecloth is calculating how much fabric you need to buy. Since fabric comes in linear yards, it can be difficult to predict how much yardage you need for a large circular shape. However, once you figure out how to calculate yardage, you can purchase your fabric confidently, knowing that you won't run out of fabric mid-project or buy more than you need.
Step 1
Measure the diameter of the table. Using your yardstick, measure from the top edge of one side of the table to the top edge at the opposite side of the table. Write this measurement down on a piece of paper. For our example, we'll calculate the yardage needed for a circular tablecloth that has a diameter of 24 inches.
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Step 2
Measure the drop for your tablecloth. The drop is the amount of fabric you want to hang down off the edge of the table. For example, if you want your tablecloth to drop 12 inches off the side of the table, your drop is 12 inches. If you want the tablecloth to drop all the way to the floor, measure from the top of the table down to the floor and record this measurement. Our example 24-inch diameter tablecloth will have a drop of 30 inches. That is, we want the tablecloth to hang down 30 inches from the table top all the way to the floor.
Step 3
Multiply the drop measurement by 2. Add this number to the diameter, and then add one more inch for the tablecloth's hem. This number is the total width and length in inches that you'll need for your tablecloth. For our example, we will use the following calculation: 30 x 2 + 24 + 1 = 85 inches.
Step 4
Determine the number of fabric widths you'll need to make your tablecloth. According to our calculations, we need the tablecloth to be 85 inches wide, but it's nearly impossible to find fabric that wide. Therefore, we'll have to sew two or more widths of fabric together to achieve the 85 inches. Multiply your tablecloth's width by 2. For our example, we'll multiply 85 by 2 to get 170 inches. Divide the number of inches by 36 to get the number of yards you need for your tablecloth: 170 divided by 36 rounds up to 4 3/4 yards. This is the amount of fabric to purchase for our example tablecloth.
Step 5
To double check your calculations, look at tablecloth yardage charts online.
Tip
Double check your measurements before doing your calculations.
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