REVERSIBLE TABLECLOTHS ~ DOUBLE DUTY

I wanted to have two tablecloths to fit my two 6-ft banquet tables for Halloween and Fall parties/ dinners. You could obviously use this for any holiday or birthday or season. Even same holidays - just different prints to switch it out. Less laundering? Less ironing? No hemming, anyone?






So I cut two lengths of fabric for each - one for the front (Halloween in theme) and one for the back (Fall in theme). I layered them up to make sure they were squared up and identical in size. Incidentally, I just used 45" wide fabric and used the whole 45" width, because the tables are 30" wide and the overhang would be perfect. I like an overhang of 5"-10" on each side, so that fell within that range nicely. The length was about 2 or 2 1/8 yards each, again matching the overhang range.

(You can obviously adjust the measurements to fit your tables, just do the math with the overhangs in mind, and adjust your cut sizes accordingly).






Then I stitched the pieces, right sides together, at 1/2" seam allowance. I pivot at my corners to keep it clean.






All the way around except...a small section that I leave open so I can turn it inside out.






Then before I turn it inside out, I trim all four of the corners close to the stitching to eliminate that bulk when it's turned.






It's time to turn it inside out. Reach in that hole and grab everything and bring it all out. You will push out your corners last. I use one of these fancy point turners. You can use the bamboo or plastic kind. Do NOT use the tips of scissors (my mom taught me this way - but I don't think they had special point turners - and it worked fine UNTIL I pushed through too many corners with the sharp scissor tips!)






Using the pointed end (no, really?), push it gently into the corner and move it around slightly to make the point pretty and squared.






Then it should look like this on all your corners. Now you would think you would just press it right here like this but I like to do it a special way - because the results are smoother...






Lay it on your ironing board just like the above picture, BUT then pull the top layer toward you a little so that you can see at least a few inches of the bottom layer. Then press that seam so that it lays nice and flat. Avoid that upper folded edge or you will press a crease where you don't want it.






Then when you bring the layers back to line up on top of each other, you get a cleaner press on the edge. Press it now and it will be beautiful!






Remember that hole you left? Now you need to close it up. When you press the edges, it should just turn itself in naturally, flowing with the rest of the pressed edge, turning in the same 1/2" seam allowance.






Now you can do your topstitching. Using your presser foot as your guide (or some other guide you prefer), just set your stitch a little longer, and begin sewing around the edge. It will be about 1/4" - 3/8" from the edge.






Continue this stitch all the way around. You will pass over your opening, and it should catch both layers, closing the hole.






You are finished! Now you just need to give it a final press and it time to set the table.






Isn't it pretty when it's reversible? And so versatile - it's perfect for those of us who cannot make up their minds until the last minute, too. Or those of us who cannot decide between two fabrics and have to buy them both!






I joined the tables together to make a large square and my DD12 set the table - here's the final product in it's debut!


I would love to see any combinations of reversible tablecloths that you decide to create!