DIY Table Scarf

I admit it, it’s Target’s fault. They got me hooked on the “table scarf” as an alternative to a standard tablecloth. I really don’t like a naked table. I need layers, pattern, color, design, something! With a table scarf, you still get to see the beauty of your table while adding a layer of style and a punch of color.

There is one problem, Target only has about 5 colors to pick from. To my surprise they haven’t added any holiday themed table scarfs. Not to worry, I know the measurements and the table scarfs have freyed edges, so it’s an easy DIY.

I began by finding a tablecloth with a pattern that would look good, even after triming it, a plaid in this case. You don’t want something that when you are finished, you’ve disrupted a design or pattern. I found a tablecloth in the colors I wanted for $10 – cheaper than the very limited choices at Target. I knew the final size should be somewhere between 50″x50″ and 52″x52″, so most rectangle tablecloths will work. In the end you just to need to make sure that it is square. I cut the hem off the sides and squared it up, pulled a few strings from each side to make sure that it had an evenly frayed edge, and voilà!

In the video you will see me make a slight cut and then rip the fabric. It’s an old trick that my home economics teacher taught me in 8th grade, thank you Mrs. Miller! Kids now days would call it a “life hack”, I call it smart. Mrs. Miller also taught me to wear clothes depending on whether I was a “cool or warm tone”, but that is a subject for another day. Seriously though, if you just cut a little slit in the edge of a piece of fabric and rip it, you will have a straight edge – and much straighter than I could ever cut.

I hope you enjoy this very simple DIY, and may you have a blessed Christmas!