somethin a little crafty

So last week I went to VoldeMart and bought some damask print vinyl over in their fabric section ($2.97/yd). It was the only print that I liked. I've been wanting to make a tablecloth for my kitchen table for awhile now. I'm sick of the kids using 409 on my table & taking the finish off, not to mention all the crusty oatmeal smears along the edge that mysteriously get overlooked while washing. AND it's inevitable that someone spills something during a meal, that drains into the cracks of the leaves.
So I wanted SOMETHING!
I remember my sister telling me a LONG time ago (like 8 years or something) that she wanted a tablecloth that had elastic around the edge that could stay on the table - making for easy cleanup and protection for the wood.
Which brings us back to the damask print I found at the store.
My table is 5 feet wide and about 6 feet long (7 if I add the extra leaf, but I don't). The vinyl comes in 4' wide rolls (I think) so I couldn't just get enough for the length. So I grabbed 4 yards and had the lady cut it half. I brought it home, squared it off and sewed down the long edges - making it long enough for my table. Then I laid it onto my table and just eyeballed it. I cut - leaving about 4" overhang on the sides - all the way around. Then I flipped that baby over and started pinning the edges up to make the casing for the elastic. No need for 1/4" fold and then another 1 1/2" fold, it doesn't fray. I just folded about 2" up and pinned.

Then I sewed. I left a 3" opening and sewed all the way around. Because my table is oval, the fabric overlaps during the curves. I didn't want to risk snipping and then having it tear or not catching it - so I just let the fabric fold. No one sees it anyway, it's under the table.
After I did that, I grabbed my elastic (I used 1" thick stuff that I had on hand) and had Thor hold the tip at one end of the table, Mr. Fantastic helped guide the elastic around (so that it wouldn't come off, I didn't want it stretched) and then I cut it at the other end - so that it measured half of the circumference of the table. Then using my trusty safety pin, I guided the elastic through. Once I reached the end, I safety pinned the ends together to the opening (so it wouldn't get lost) and tried it on the table.
Once I was sure that it looked right and wasn't sagging in places, I took it off, sewed the elastic together and then sewed the casing closed (and the tip of my thumb).

And that was it.

What think ye?

Time to refinish the chairs to a darker color so that it looks a little more esthetically pleasing. :)
I suppose, if you don't have a pretty vinyl that you like, you can find pretty fabric and make an actual tablecloth and then make a cover out of clear vinyl. That would be fun, too! Then you can switch it out for seasons and special birthday celebrations or something.
Thanks for stopping by today!