How to Design a Round Quilt Tablecloth

A quilted tablecloth can bring beauty and country charm to any kitchen or dining room. Whether the quilted tablecloth is pieced or appliqued, the finished project is sure to be a delightful addition to a table. Consider the colors you want to incorporate into your design and then browse quilting blocks and patterns either in books or online to find a block you want to use.

Measure the diameter of the table top and add 15 inches. Note the actual diameter of the table top for design purposes. The extra will be the drop of the tablecloth.

Pick a pattern for the central pattern on the top of the tablecloth.

An applique would be an ideal quilting pattern to use for a round tablecloth because the foundation fabric for the tablecloth can be cut and the applique can be placed in the very center of the tablecloth.

If a pieced block is desired, it is recommended that 1 block be placed in the center of the tablecloth, and then 4 blocks be placed at each corner of the center block (one at each corner) with the remaining area of the tablecloth plain fabric.

Select your colors for the tablecloth. Choose a main background color in either a light or dark color and then choose the complementary colors that will be used for the applique or pieced blocks.

Determine the size of the pattern for the table-top design. An applique pattern could encompass the very center of the table with a small pattern or it could be so large that it fills the entire top of the table.

If the table top is being made with pieced blocks, you will need to determine the size of the blocks so the blocks will all fit on the top of the table. For example, if the table has a diameter of 50 inches, it would be possible to fit five 12-inch quilt blocks on the top of the table in a checkerboard pattern.

Add additional fabric for the drop of the tablecloth. If the project is an applique, this is simply a matter of making sure that the foundational fabric has the dimensions from Step 1. If the project is make of pieced blocks, treat the center area as a square (5 quilt blocks and 4 plain fabric blocks) and add the additional round areas of fabric to the top, bottom, left and right sides to create a round tablecloth.