How to Crochet Edging on a Tablecloth

Whether you are renewing an old linen or modernizing your grandmother’s old tablecloth, a beautiful crocheted edge will do the trick. Choose a bright color to make the tablecloth stand out, or select colors that will match your household decor. There are several designs that can be crocheted to compliment your linen. With simple crocheting skills, you may find the perfect edging pattern to coordinate with your tablecloth.

Determine the method you will use to add the crocheted edging onto the tablecloth. If the tablecloth is lace or has holes around the edge, you can crochet the edging directly onto the tablecloth through the holes. If the tablecloth is made from cloth, holes or stitching must be added to allow the crochet edging to be attached.

Count or measure for placement of the holes. For the stitches to match up correctly, the number of holes along each edge must equal a multiple of six, plus one. For example, one edge of the tablecloth could have 37 holes. This works because 36 is a multiple of six and 37 holes allows for the additional hole needed. Ensure that the holes line up properly by skipping over a few lace holes or spacing punched holes far enough apart.

Create holes with a fabric rotary blade. Line the blade up against a ruler positioned about 1/4 inch from the edge. Run the blade along the ruler creating small holes. Cut holes around every edge that you intend to crochet around.

Sew a blanket stitch around the edges of the tablecloth. A blanket stitch provides small loops along the edge that can hold crocheting. Insert the needle and crochet cotton into the back of the tablecloth, at one of the corners. Pull the thread through and insert the needle through the fabric again, as if sewing a hemline. As you pull the thread tight, pull the needle through the loop of thread. Pull tight against the fabric. Create a blanket stitch around the entire tablecloth.

Work with the right side facing you. Start in one of the corners and work single crochets around the entire tablecloth. Slip stitch to join at the beginning.

Begin in the hole in the corner, where the beginning and end of the single crochets met up. Create four double crochets into the corner hole.

Skip two stitches. Create a single crochet. Skip two stitches. Create five double crochets in the next stitch. Repeat this process until there are only four more stitches left on one edge of the tablecloth.

Create a single crochet. Skip two stitches. Create eight double crochets into the last stitch along the corner. Skip two stitches. Create a single crochet.

Turn your tablecloth and start crocheting the edge for the second side. Repeat Steps 2 through 4, working around the tablecloth, corner to corner.

Create three double crochets into the first corner you started with. Chain two. Create a slip stitch to join the first and last stitches together.

Tie off and cut the yarn, leaving approximately a 3-inch tail. Weave the tail into the stitches.