My kids are really hard on my kitchen table. They are even harder on the plastic table cloths I use to cover it. Here is an area where I totally FAIL in my attempt to live a greener life. I have been buying cheap, fleece-backed vinyl tablecloths which, have a life span of a couple of months (tops) at my house. They are not really washable (I tried, it was a disaster) and my youngest will inevitably poke a hole with his fork two days after I put a new one on the table. Did I mention the binder clips? To keep the cloth in place I have resorted to using extra large binder clips to clip it to the table frame. Trust me, it's a pain.
So, a few months ago I got the idea that I should make some fitted table covers from oilcloth and see if they stood up better. My first problem was finding oil cloth that I liked. I like neutral and muted colors in my house and most of the oil cloth I found was LOUD floral prints. I finally located some gingham check, one in green, one in brown, that I liked.
The first step was to make a pattern on my kitchen table top. I used some non-woven landscape fabric from Lowes for this step. I laid a piece on top of the table and traced around the edge. I then folded the shape in half each direction, roughly matching the traced lines. I added 3" along the outside edge of one quarter and cut four layers at once with my rotary cutter. I cut my fabric out using the pattern.
Next, I serged elastic all around the cut edge of the oval, stretching the elastic as I sewed. To determine the length of elastic required you need to measure around the circumference of your shape. You will need approximately half that length in elastic. I did not quarter my elastic and oval -- I simply sat down at my serger, anchored one end of the elastic with some stitches and then stretched as I sewed. When I had applied the elastic all the way around to the start I overlapped the ends slightly. It worked just fine.
I also made a fitted table pad using a purchased pad that I cut to the same pattern and applied elastic to in the same manner. I put that on underneath the oilcloth to help protect the table some more from those fork pokes.
I have found some really cute oilcloth patterns at Hart's Fabric and may order a couple more pieces. So far, this table cover has held up remarkably well, still looks brand new after a month's use and cleans up beautifully. I dream of the day when I can uncover the cherry wood that is hiding under the cover, but until then I think this will act as a good protectant.