Let me entertain you, let me make you smile!
Okay, so I’m not going to do a few tricks like Gypsy Rose Lee but I will tell you the story of my yesterday . . . the day that nearly had me in tears. After that, I’ll give you a little tutorial for creating your own French Country Drop Cloth Tablecloth.
The day began with a flat – TOTALLY FLAT – tire, which I really had no time for. Next came the frantic text to the hubby who is working extremely long hours as the whole computer system at his work is changing and he barely has time to breathe let alone deal with the other stuff of life. Of course he called me back right away and assured me that all I had to do was call AAA and everything would be okay.
Next came the call to the lady at AAA who didn’t recognize my card number, or my name, or my husband’s name, and after doing some research informed me that my membership was never transferred over from Washington State. I told her that I knew that it had been transferred because I had already used AAA’s service for a tow to the shop when my old car broke down on the side of the highway. Of course, there was absolutely NO record of that occurrence.
Since I assured her that I had the card in my hand and that we had been members since 1994 she told me I could purchase a new plan and, for a same day fee, could “reinstate” our service and get the services of a tow truck. I somehow had the feeling that she didn’t believe me but . . . I was a desperate woman.
Then came the panic of looking in my wallet only to find that my Master Card was missing and being told by the AAA representative that she couldn’t accept anything but a card over the phone, followed by the whole process of making phone calls to places I might have left it, all the time knowing that I would have no way of driving to get it if someone had it, and finally looking in a place I would never put it, but where I obviously did put it, and the call back to get that silly AAA card “reinstated.”
Two hours later the tow truck driver arrived and put the spare on and I headed off to Firestone, where I’d already made an appointment for a new tire. Life is good.
Arriving at Firestone I’m told they don’t have said tire in stock but can have it “in no time” so I sat down with my laptap to wait. A long wait. A longer wait. An excruciatingly long wait due to the fact that even though I had my laptop I didn’t have any reading glasses to see what I was reading, let alone writing! I’m pretty sure someone out there got a very strange message from me yesterday.
Now while this seems like a minor tale of distress compared things that others may be going through, it was just the last straw in a series of crazy things that have been happening in our lives lately. The tears wanted to come but they DID NOT. As I messaged a friend last night who asked if I was okay, ” I wanted to cry but I am woman, hear me roar!” One day I will surely laugh at this story 🙂
So this is my ruffled French country tablecloth made out of my favorite linen-look fabric ever, painter’s drop cloths. Let’s get started with a tutorial. I’ll keep it short and sweet.
I always begin by washing and drying my drop cloths on the highest setting to make sure there will be no shrinkage later.
I placed my drop cloth on top of my table and used a pen to outline the table top. This tablecloth is custom fit to my table with three leaves in place, which is the size I (almost) always leave it. Why am I telling you this? I guess as sort of a disclaimer because I’d hate for you to make this tablecloth and realize that you made it too small or too big for the size you would normally leave your table.
Next I cut 5/8″ away from my marking to allow for seam allowance.
After measuring the circumference, or outer boundary, of the table I doubled that distance and cut an 18″ wide strip of drop cloth (plus a little – for seam and hem) to the doubled length. My drop cloth wasn’t large enough to cut one piece that long so I did have to piece it together in a couple of places.
I then basted and gathered my long strip of drop cloth to make the ruffle, laid it on top of the fabric piece that I’d cut to size on the table and pinned it in place, right sides together.
After sewing it together with a sturdy double stitch the fit was perfect. I machine hemmed along the bottom edge.
Yes, it is kinda wrinkly and shabby looking but so am I and that’s my style 🙂
While I was at it I quickly whipped up a table runner from some great faux grain sack fabric I found online.
I bought quite a bit of it so maybe I’ll make some pillows, or some place mats, or who know what else. You can find a link to that source HERE, and if you aren’t close to a hardware store that carries these wonderful linen-look painter’s drop cloths I’ve shared that link HERE.
Please note that any purchases made through Amazon here on my site do not cost you more than shopping directly through Amazon but do credit me with a small commission to help keep the lights on here at OldThingsNew.
By the way, thanks for listening to my tale of woe today. As Mr. OTN always says, “Pain shared is pain lessened.”
Blessings friends,
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays,SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
Good for you not to cry when so frustrated. I try to be brave and think how can I get this fixed.
Smiles
Patti, It’s beautiful! And oh, I feel your pain. Sometimes a pile of little things can feel like a HUGE thing. So, I’m sharing your pain and glad to help lessen it. Enjoy a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Patti, your tablecloth turned out just great! So sorry about your flat day. Those are not fun.
Hi Patti,
Your tale of woe with the tire, AAA, & Firestone was offset with your comment “…kinda wrinkly and shabby looking, but so am I…”. It had me laughing out loud and I am still chuckling. You are anything but that and I hope you know it!
Really like your tablecloth & plan to copy it. Thanks for sharing.
Oh dear! I can very much relate to your day with the flat tire. I love your story because it reminds me that I’m not alone in the frustration of forgetting my reading glasses!!!! I’m 66 and the worst thing, absolute most frustrating thing for me is not having good vision anymore. For anyone out there who doesn’t need reading glasses yet, savour and really appreciate how fortunate you are to have good eyesight! Never take it for granted! If you’ve ever tried to pluck your eyebrows with a magnifying glass AND your reading glasses on a tilt so that you might be able to see with one eye while the pluck the brow of the other one, well, you would completely embrace your good eyesight! Thanks for sharing your story Patti! And, I just love your tablecloth….and your dining room is lovely. I look forward to all your posts!
Oh my, you really did have a rough day, Patti! You are so not alone in needing to share with your blog friends. We are good listeners, and we don’t judge….well, most of us don’t, anyway!
I love making tablecloths out of drop cloths…..whoever it was who offered up drop cloths for use in sewing projects, really should win some kind of award. I really do love how you added the ruffle on your table and the addition of the tablerunner is so very pretty. I want to make slipcovers for my dark pine (and rather dated) dining room chairs. I have the picture in my head of how I want to do it; now I just have to translate that into a workable pattern & plan!
Warm hugs,
Carol
Great tutorial Patti! I wish I could sew, I really do but there are some things in life that I had to give up on and sewing was one of them…lol Loving your tablecloth, you should make those and put them in a shop.
For people like me! lol
Oh bless your heart!!! My goodness what a day! Sending you a virtual hug!
Thank you for this very good tutorial on your tablecloth. I found you via The Scoop 210. I love your tutorials and am going to start getting your blog.
Patti, So sorry about your day. When it rains, sometime it pours doesn’t it? The french country drop cloth table cloth is really pretty! Thank you for sharing the how to with us at Brag About It. Pinning and tweeting to share 🙂
~Laurie
Patti,
I adore your Painter’s Drop Cloth Tablecloth, dear friend!
“Mr. Ed” and I made Drop Cloth Tablecloths for our Bits ‘n Pieces booth tables a few years ago.
I still use them in my annual Garage $ales.
Bummer!
Flat tires are a total pain, but glad that it’s fixed and you are alright!
Keep smiling!
Fondly,
Pat
I’ll start with saying how sorry I am that you “had a day”. Unfortunately those happen to all of us.
I love the tablecloth. I have made a bunch of drop cloth tablecloths, but I have never made a fitted one like yours. I really like it.
I hope the rest of the week runs smoothly and thanks for sharing at SYC.
Gorgeous! I am so inspired! I am at the beginning stages of updating my dining room (tearing wallpaper down 🙁 ) and I have my heart set on trying to make drop cloth curtains. I was going to try and stencil a grain sack stripe on the bottom or along the length. Your table looks great and it is just the look I want too.
Great tutorial! The tablecloth looks fabulous on your table! Thanks for sharing at Thursday favorite things blog hop!
Patti, I’m so sorry to hear about your awful day! I hope that everything was straightened out with AAA and you were able to at least get compensated for your membership (that you had already paid for and clearly transferred). This table cloth is beautiful and has a very minimalist aspect to it. I’m drooling over your dining room as well. That rug is just to die for! Thanks so much for sharing this on #SHINEbloghop. We’re so happy you were able to join us this week.
Your table cloth turned out beautiful. I love the farmhouse/country look. Beautiful job 🙂
I’m so sorry you had such a bad day! My daughter recently had something like this happen to her and she called me up crying, you just want to hug them and make it all better. So here is a hug! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful project! I love it!!
Beautiful tablecloth… your dining room is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing at TableIt!
Patti….that is the cutest tablecloth!! Great job…and it’s perfect….love your whole dining room….
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
This looks great on your table! I recently did something similar on a piano bench.
Loveee this! Reminds me so much of my dining room! Beautiful! Visiting from Coffee and Conversations!
xoxo
Alicia
http://www.katemaeve.com
Your tablecloth came out beautiful. I had purchased a drop cloth many months ago, stashed it away in one of my fabric tubs, completely forgot about it, and just recently stumbled upon it when rummaging through that tub for something else! I put it through wash/dry cycles and have plans for making a summer cover blanket for a twin bed in one of the bedrooms. Don’t you just love the weight, texture and natural color of a drop cloths? It’s a generous yardage of quality fabric for a very affordable price!
Thanks for linking up to You’re Gonna Love it! You were the most popular link this week and you will be featured tomorrow on Kathe and My Blogs! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Patty, I love the table cloth that you made. Thank you for sharing it on SYC. Jo
That looks beautiful Patti! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
I’m sorry about your day. However, I love your drop cloth custom made table cloth. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
Love this ruffled tablecloth tutorial Patti. I’m delighted to be featuring it at tomorrow’s Shabbilicious Friday link party.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
WOW! I can’t believe that is from a drop cloth! Thanks for sharing with the Pretty Project Party! xoxo- Heather
I could feel your pain as I read the saga of your crappy day. Yes there are worse things could happen but while in the moment, it still crappy. I would have bawled my face off the minute I entered my home after such a day. So glad I saw your feature at Share Your Cup Thursday. My table could really use one of these and I just happen to have a new drop cloth in my fabric stash. Thank you so much for the tutorial! I hope your days have been better ones ☺
Beautiful!
Hi Patti, I’m Theresa from Shoestring Elegance here. I’m your newest follower! I love your blog! So beautiful. I have a party going on called What to do Weekends, I would be honored if you would come share your blog with my readers. I hope to see you there!
Hugs, Theresa.
You can join us here: http://shoestringelagance.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-to-do-weekends-162.html?m=1
Oh, I HAVE to make one for my table. I love that look. Anything drop cloth is for me!! I may buy extra and use the hem already there for my ruffle since I do not enjoy hemming!! It looks beautiful on your table!