Vinyl Tablecloth Update

1:19 PM

Over a year ago I used tablecloth to make a fitted tablecloth for our dining table.
It has been awesome to protect the wood and made clean up easy with the messy kids.
But it's life came to an end after 1.5 years of use, lots of messes, and I even melted a few holes by an edge of a hot dish that wasn't completely on a pot holder.

So the original black damask tablecloth went in the trash and I needed to make a new one.
But I couldn't find any tablecloth printed vinyl I liked.  I even looked at laminated cotton, which was expensive but even then nothing stood out.

So I ended up paying $3.00 for just the clear, thinnest vinyl and made the same fitted tablecloth.
Tutorial here.
But I didn't finish the edge with bias tape or hemming or anything, just a straight cut.

Now I use linen tablecloths and this just protects them from having to wash them every day, which would be the case with kids.  So it's a little tacky, like sitting on Grandma's vinyl encased couch, but if anyone ever does come over we'll pull off the plastic and eat on the real linen tablecloth.  But no one ever really comes over, so for most of the time we'll have the plastic easy cleanup.


I actually like the idea of having the fitted clear topper tablecloth so I can change out the colors with the season/ event. I did kind of get sick of the black damask after a while, and this opens up a lot of fun opportunities to make printed cloth tablecloths that are fitted and can be exchanged.

I haven't tried it, but I thought if dry erase markers come off easily, it would be a fun drawing mat too.  I'm thinking dry erase probably won't wipe off though.

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22 comments

  1. If dry erase markers don't come off, you could try Vis a vis markers. They're used to write on overhead transparencies.

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  2. Great idea. I'm wondering how the seams look close up. I'm worried if I did that I wouldn't be happy being able to see them all the time (I'm a perfectionist and never forget my mistakes). Although I'm drooling at your damask one.

    And I too am completely underwhelmed at the choices of vinyl/oilcloth/laminates available right now. I looked for weeks trying to find something to make this same type of cover for my son's play table and finally gave up and just put a clear piece of vinyl on it (but I didn't sew it or anything due to my aforementioned fear of looking at my tiny mistakes every time I play with him at it). Where has all the fashionable plastic gone?

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  3. It might be cute to put some cute place mats or name things under the vinyl where each person usually sits....or you could do silhouettes of where to place you fork, knife, spoon, plate and cup under for teaching the little ones! My wheels are turning! lol!! :) Great Idea!

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  4. I don't know if it is for sale anywhere in your neighbourhood, but KitchKitchen has a fine collection of tablecloth!

    I pass you the website, in case you're interested...

    http://www.kitschkitchen.nl/product/product08.php?cat_nr=8

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  5. My MIL always has a real tablecloth underneath a layer of heavyweight clear vinyl and I love it. It is easy to clean but looks like the beautiful tablecloth she has underneath. I don't think it's tacky--I much prefer it to the vinyl tablecloths I see that aren't very cute.

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  6. what a great idea. I don't know how I ever missed your first tablecloth. Did you not post about it? Anyway thanks for the idea! I need to make one of these for my 70" round table! Got to go shopping for some cute oil cloth. I can't find any linen table cloths that are big enough to put under a clear one. Thanks for sharing

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  7. It's a great idea, sometimes functional isn't pretty!

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  8. Oh, I loved Vis a Vis markers as a kid. Those would be awesome!

    I did sew with invisible thread, so the seams aren't that noticeable to me. But I'm definitely not a perfectionist!

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  9. It's funny that you posted this. Just last week I got clear vinyl for my table. I actually uses a heavy duty stapler and stapled it on the underside. It has been fantastic! So much easier to clean!
    I love your blog and read it all the time. Thanks for taking the time to do it. You are great!

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  10. It's funny that you posted this. Just last week I got clear vinyl for my table. I actually uses a heavy duty stapler and stapled it on the underside. It has been fantastic! So much easier to clean!
    I love your blog and read it all the time. Thanks for taking the time to do it. You are great!

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  11. I grew up with this on my mom's table my whole life and it never bothered me. I really should get some for my own house. She had some thicker plastic though.

    Regarding the markers: I'm a teacher and you can get those dry erase or vis a vis markers off using cleaner (they make cleaner) or if you use some of that hand sanitizer it somes right off. :)

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  12. I grew up with plastic on the table all the time. Mom used it to protect her expensive oak table. I have plastic on my table right now, and wouldn't change a thing.
    Looks good!

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  13. Ooo, you could put all kinds of vintage sheets under there in the spring and summer! I kind of wish I didn't have an awful oval shaped table.... with a weird lip edge. Drat those very sturdy and ugly hand me downs :)

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  14. Very clever. I need one for kameron. Our table is round so I'm not sure I could make that work

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  15. Mr. Clean sponge! Those things definitely clean the stuff off...although I have also been known to use rubbing alcohol or NON-ACETONE nail polish remover in a pinch for stuff coming off the vinyl.

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  16. Now that's one of the best ideas I've seen in a while! I hate having tablecloths slide around on the table top, and either a fitted cloth or the clear cover sound perfect!

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  17. Totally doing this!!! I have 4 kids, and most of their food ends up on the table! Love the drawing idea ... might make dinertime more fun! How about the new dry erase crayons? I use them, and LOVE them!

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  18. We recently bought clear vinyl for our table and I love it. I don't have to wash the table cloth all the time. I bought some cute fabric to go under it too. It was under 20 bucks for the whole project.

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  19. nice post. Now you can use this b2b sites in india list to promote table linen import & export business.

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  20. Very good idea. It's so nice to have table covers that you don't have to worry about messing up! Involving the kids in the making of a tablecloth might be fun too :)

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  21. I putt a fairly thick clear plastic cover on my 60" round kitchen table. The problem I found with it was that it kind of slid around the table too much and the sides flared out a bit too much. I altered it by sewing darts every few inches around the sides so that the sides hug the table edge. Now it stays right in place.

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  22. I don't think my comment went thru so trying again . . . Did u see the vinyl to fit as well? Wondering if it is even sew-able. I love the idea of having a favorite fabric for a table cloth. Thank you!

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