Tablecloth Holders

TABLE CLOTH HOLDERS by BIRDHOUSE COTTAGE CRAFTS

The saying goes – Necessity is the mother of invention - and how right it is.

I have found that the wind invariably blows tablecloths on outside tables away, even if you use the clip on weights or table clips. We live very outdoor lives in the southern hemisphere and I have a furnished veranda that gets a lot of use all year round.

When planning an outside party I was worried about the wind coming up and decided to try tying the tablecloth to the table just under the overhang. I used a piece of rustic looking twine and it worked, and never even slipped down the table. The idea is so simple I wonder why no one has thought of it before (well, not to my knowledge). So I have expanded on that idea and created designs to be used to decorate each corner of the table. Of course you don’t only have to only use this idea outside. The decorations look equally good when used inside for special occasions.

When space on top of the table is at a premium, decorate the corners. Perfect for weddings, parties, and teatime with the ladies. Customize the blanks for your own special occasion. The 5x7 size is made completely in the hoop and for the 4x4 designs it is necessary to join the two designs together on the sewing machine, that make up the completed Table Cloth Holder.

Materials You will need:

· Tablecloth Embroidery Designs from Birdhouse Cottage Crafts

· Tear away stabilizer

· Felt in different coloursor Easy Felt

· A variety of materials and lace from your stash

· Temporary adhesive spray such as 505

· 15mm wide ribbon in co-coordinating colours, long enough to go round your table plus make a bow.

· Decorations of your choice.

How to Make the Table Cloth Holder Design

These instructions are for the Bells Table Cloth Holder Design. The thread color choice is yours.

1 Hoop two layers of tear away stabiliser.

2 Sew Overall outline of design.

1 Sew Outline of bells and bow.

2 Remove embroidery hoop from machine. Place material or felt over the bells and bow shape using temporary adhesive spray to keep in place. Return embroidery hoop to machine.

3 & 4 Secures material/felt in place. Remove embroidery hoop from machine. Trim excess material/felt away from outside of bells and bow. Return embroidery hoop to machine.

5 Back of bells – use a darker shade of thread than the material/felt colouryou used for the bells and bow

6 Bell ringer – suggest gold/yellow or bronze

7 (optional) Outline of bells without ribbon. Remove embroidery hoop from machine. Cover bells shape with lace that will let the colourshow through. Return embroidery hoop to machine. Secure lace with this stitch. Remove embroidery hoop from machine. Trim excess lace from outside shape. Return embroidery hoop to machine.

8 Satin stitch edging for bells

9 Satin stitch edging for bow. Remove embroidery hoop from machine. Place a piece of material over the BACK of the design. Return embroidery hoop to machine. Stitch zigzag stitch. Remove embroidery hoop from machine. Trim away all excess material from outside design shape on the front and back of the design. Return embroidery hoop to machine.

10 Buttonholes

11 Satin stitch outline.

Your Table Cloth Holder is now almost complete. Remove embroidery hoop from machine.

Put a line of fray stop over the buttonholes both front and back. When dry, cut the buttonholes open. You will need to make a design for each corner of your table.

Thread the ribbon through the buttonholes for three of the corners and for the fourth corner thread one side of the ribbon through two buttonholes and the other through the other two buttonholes so that the two ends come through the center two buttonholes.

Position around your table and pull quite tight and make a bow to secure in place.

Using lace and embossed lace to appliqué

I have used a piece of lace border over material to appliqué the Bells design.

I expanded on this idea and treated the ‘Blank’ design in the same way and hot-glued decorations onto the completed Table Cloth Holders. Then I tried using some heavily embossed lace – also using the Blank design - and this looks beautiful. I found it necessary to cover the embossed lace with a piece of tear away stabilizer to prevent the foot of the embroidery unit slipping under the lace.

Now you can add a number of different decorations to your table cloth holders. Large Artificial Silk Flowers, Bows and Grapes can all easily be glued in place with hot glue.

These directions may not be reproduced, copied or distributed without prior permission from Heather Beckett at Birdhouse Cottage Crafts. Thank you.