After seeing this birthday part at hip hooray blog here, I fell in LOVE with her table cloth. But buying fabric long enough to fit around the table in every color? No way I could afford that. So I bought a bunch of those cheap plastic table skirts and used that instead of fabric. It was a fun experiment. I wasn’t sure if it would sew well, or if it would work with the ruffler, but it did and was fun! It was really windy and it made the ruffles flow and fly it was really fun to see all the colors!
I actually had almost an entire roll in blue left over from the Dr. Seuss party so I used that as my base. First I measured my tables. My table is 39″ x 45″ so I added 39+39+45+45= 168″ (or 14′) so I unrolled that amount for around the table. Then I cut it to right height, 29″. For the ruffles I cut them 6 inches tall and just started ruffling. I’m actually not sure how long they were, since I just cut off the leftover at the end. I had my ruffler settings to ruffle every stitch, and at about 1/3 the full ruffle lengths. Also I had my stitch setting at 4, which is the longest stitch my machine will do.
I started at the bottom of the table (actually I started at the top with the first table cloth, it was a nightmare, so for the second I got smart and started on the bottom! your welcome!) and ruffled the purple the whole length of the blue sheet.
Then I did blue, then green, over lapping about 1/2″ to an 1″ (depending on how straight I was able to keep it as I sewed!)
Then the yellow and the orange. Next I actually used my regular sewing foot to sew this 14 feet of ruffles onto the 39″ x 45″ top of the tablecloth (just another length of the blue). And once that was done I went back to the ruffler and added the red ruffle. In the first tablecloth I actually did the red ruffle first, then the rest and THEN sewed it to the top. It was really difficult to get it through the machine so I figured it I sewed the sides and top together before adding the red ruffle it would be easier. It was, but not much. Maybe next time I’ll just tape the sides to the top…? Although with the wind we had I’m not sure that would have worked!
And here is what it looked like in the end! It was on both the craft table and the food table and it turned out SO cute! I made both of them in about an hour in the morning before the party so super easy (the second one took half the time, or less, than the first one).
To see the entire Rainbow Garden Birthday party click here!
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shunta
Do you sell the rainbow table cloths.
Ashlee
I’ve been asked this a few times. I hadn’t considered it. They looked good from far away, but had some ripping issues (the perforations from sewing create a great line for the plastic tablecloth’s to rip). And I don’t like selling items that I fear aren’t in PERFECT condition. But at the same time they take a LOT of work so I can’t sell them as cheaply as I fear the quality feels. But understanding that if you were still interested I would do it for you. Although my sewing machine is broken right now, and with the remodeling going on I don’t have access to my crafts and supplies for another few weeks. I would also consider doing it as a fabric instead of the plastic, but the supplies would cost more.
ALICIA ALLEN
This is awesome! You did an incredible job. My be after you tinker around with different cheap-er materials you can find a way to make some that you feel comfortable enough to sell. Good luck!! 🙂
Ashlee
Good idea!!! I do get lots of requests, but finding the best and QUICKEST way to make them so they don’t cost an arm and a leg is hard. I should try again!
Katie
Every decide to make the table cloths??? I am interested 🙂
Ashlee
I closed my store about 18 months ago and don’t sell any of my creations, that’s why I do tutorials! So other people can make their own! Sorry!
Meagan Johnson
I am curious about how many tablecloths it took…. And what to do if I didn’t have a blue base to see them too. This is super cool but I feel like the tutorial didn’t provide much actual direction on cutting or measuring the actual pieces?
Ashlee Prisbrey
sorry, I just winged it, and tried to explain it the best I could afterwards. I bought these plastic table skirts, one in each color, and cut off two 6 inch rows, I just tossed the extras. And sewed them (ruffled) to a base, you can use anything you want as a base, i just used a plain plastic table cloth.
Keaira
Could you make one for me? I don’t mind it not looking as perfect lol. I just love the ruffles!!
Ashlee
I love the ruffles too! I don’t make and sell items, sorry! i bet someone on ETSY sells something like this, or would be happy to do it for you.