The Gorgeous DIY Tablecloth That Requires Absolutely Zero Sewing Skills

If you can iron a shirt, you can make a tablecloth. There's no need for a sewing machine or a needle and thread at all. Boring mass-produced tablecloths have nothing on your own handmade version. Decorate your dining table with your own creation in a fabric you'd never find with a premade item. For all of us who shy away from fabric-based projects because we're short on sewing tools and confidence, get to know heat-activated hem tape. With the heat of an iron, this miracle product holds hems with nary a stitch in sight. A fold and a press with a hot iron finish raw fabric edges much more quickly than you can do on a sewing machine.

Get yourself a few yards in a fabric that sparks your fancy, heat up the iron, and whip up your own no-sew tablecloth in no time. Other supplies you'll need for this DIY are fabric glue, enough bath towels to cover your table, and a pillowcase to protect the tablecloth material as you iron. If you tend to have messy meals, you may want to grab a can of Scotchgard to protect your creation against spills and stains.

The average dining table ranges from about 60 to 84 inches long and 36 to 42 inches wide. Typical fabric widths are about 45 inches, 54 to 60 inches, or 72 inches, so consider that when you're hunting down material for this project. You may be able to get away with as few as two yards of fabric for your tablecloth. Thrift stores can be great sources for unique fabric, and repurposed bed sheets also can make adorable table coverings.

Toss your fabric in the washer (heat-activated hem tape works best on pre-washed fabric), and lay out enough bath towels to shield your tabletop from the iron's heat. Tack down a strip of hem tape along the fabric's edge with a few dots of glue — only enough to hold it in place as you iron. Working with about 6 inches of hem at a time, fold ¾ of an inch of the material over the hem tape, and cover the section you're hemming with the protective fabric. Then, place the hot iron over the spot you want to fuse, and let it sit for 10 seconds to activate the glue. Check that the glue holds before repeating these steps the rest of the way along the hem.

When you get to the cut ends of the fabric, fold those edges over twice before activating the glue tape as this will give you a cleaner finish. Give your cloth a few coats of the protective Scotchgard spray in a well-ventilated area after you're finished. But first, test the spray on a corner of the tablecloth before applying it to the entire tablecloth to make sure it won't discolor or damage the fabric. Once it's dry, smooth it over your table, come up with a fun tablescape idea, and invite some friends over for an inaugural feast.