AFDE 312 TABLE LINEN NOTES

TABLE TOP ACCESSORIES

- These include table cloths, runners, placemats, and napkins.
- They are used to cover table tops for both aesthetic functional purposes e.g. camouflage table
top defects.
- The items are available in square, round, oval and rectangular shapes etc.
TABLE CLOTHS;

 Average size should be cut or selected to cover the table top and drop from 5” to 10”to 16” for
strictly formal occasions on all sides (otherwise measure overhang to seat or floor as desired).

 Runners are approximately 12” wide and they too should drop from 5” to 10”.

 Placemats are generally rectangular, round or oval. Rectangular placemats are;

- Averagely are 12” by 18” or 10” by 14”

 Small cocktail napkins are 5” square. -larger napkins are 12” to 22” square.
Variety of fabrics and materials used e.g. Damask and sateen or twill woven, rib waves, plain weaves,
patters. For table cloths, fabrics/medium to heavy weight fabrics e.g. linen + cotton are used.
MATS
Place mats may be made from woven fabric-or by use of foam or synthetic or cotton paddling, -quilting
and finishing the edges by binding with bias /-cut fabric.
- Cut out the required size + seam allowance
- Cut underlining and interlining of same size as top fabric’-mark pattern on fabric, quilt-attach
binding.

HOW TO CALCULATE TABLE CLOTH SIZE;

- Take the width and length of the table (for square and rectangular tables) + (add) the drop to each side =
the size of tablecloth you need.
-The standard recommended drop for all tables is 8” (i.e. The amount that will hang over each other side
of the table.) -add hem allowance.
E.g.
a) A 36” square table;
36” wide + 16” (8” drops x 2 sides)
=52” wide square (x 52” wide)
(i.e. 52” by 52”) - then add hem allowance.
 8” (drop)

Total= 52” 8” 36” 8”

36”
8”

52”

b) For a 60” around table;

60” diameter + 16” (8” drop x 2) =76” round
-add hem allowance

8”
8” 60” 8”
= 76” round
8”
GENERALLY:

 The drop of the cloth may range from the arms of the chair, to the top of the chair seat - or all the
way to the floor.

 Always add the hem allowances.

 For light weight fabrics and curved edges-use ½” to 2” wide hems.

 For heavier fabrics and straight edges, use 2” to 4” hems.

 Use double folds and mitered corners for a professional look.

 Ensure that hems are well finished and pressed.

 For curved edges, use bias binding/or add other trimmings e.g. lace, fringes etc.

 Sizes; Standard “drop” or overhang for a table cloth = 8”

- 10” to 12” overhang reaches lap level
- For banquet tables =15” drops recommended
- 29” to 30” drop reaches the floor.

FABRICS
-Range from light, medium to heavy weight.
-High thread counts + natural fibres & their blends are best for table cloths.

Fabrics used (popular for table cloths);

 Cotton

 Linen

 Polyester (or poly-cotton blends)

 Vinyl.

 Silk (for functions e.g. weddings)-satin

 burlap/hemp like
(Read further on advantages and disadvantages of each fabric)

Ideal fabrics for table cloths / their properties;

  Polyester; -Is wrinkle and stain resistant.
- It washes well/easy

 Cotton
- Durable
- Lasts long
- if not colored can be hot washed and machine washes well.
Polyester-cotton blends -complement each other (in their weak points)
E.g.
- Polyester washes and cleans well
- It does not shrink and does not stain easily and releases stains well
- Does not fade
(Qualities that pure cotton lacks)

 Linen (though wrinkles easily) is strong and lustrous. Has a rich look.

 Silk and rayon – (have shrinkage issues and ideal for events )

 Vinyl -convenient to use coz only needed to wipe spills off with a damp cloth/are cheap in price.

 Silk and organza -best for wedding and events coz they offer a luxurious look /but require
delicate washing and care

 Vinyl -is good for informal dinning/picnics and outdoor dinning.

N/B Fabrics used for table cloths may be used for napkins and tablemats (to complement each other.)

TABLE MATS (PLACED MATS)

- Can be made out of fabric
- Quilted
- Woven / knitted / crocheted /macramé etc
- Made from a variety of materials.
-
• Tablemats are used to add vitality and drama to a table.
• They also add interest attraction (aesthetics) and are functional i.e. to protect table surface from
hot plates or items used to serve food at table.
• Mats may also be coordinated with the table cloth to define the place setting or cover. - drama
and vitality may be added to a table setting by using contrasting colors and patterns - or set off attractive
table with plain simple table mats.
• Whatever style you choose, ensure that the fabric and matching trims are fully washable, color
fast and pre- shrunk ( if making mats out of fabric) .
• NB.Table mats may be made out of other materials that are not necessarily fabric
- (16” x 16” standard round) a small size rectangular tablemat is 20cm x 30cm
- ( 8” x 12” round table ) mat may have a diameter of 25cm – 30cm. If the table is large
make larger mats e.g. 12” x 18” / or 12” – 14”W

A) Simple Quilted Table mats.

- Since mart table need protection from hot plates, it is practical to insulate table mats by
quilting them within wadding/ padding or interlining.
- For a reversible mat, use a suitable lining or contrasting fabric on the underside.

Material required:
- Needle ( or sewing machine)
- Fabric ( top, bottom lining, interlining or waddling)
- Sewing thread
-
Procedure;
i. Establish the size of the tablemat and add a 1.5 cm seam allows all around.
- Add another 2cm (1”) all around to accommodate the padding – cut the top fabric piece, lining
or contrasting fabric for the underside and the wadding to this size.
ii. With right sides together and raw edges aligned, place the top piece and the lining / contrasting
fabric together.
- Place the waddling on top of both pieces
- Pin and tack in place

iii. Stitch around the tablemat through all three layers but leaving a small opening at one end( see fig)
- Trim any corners and excess fabric and snip any curves.

iv. Turn the mat right side out lightly press the seam to form a neat edge .
v. Fold in the raw edges of the opening and pin all around the sides to hold the seam flat.
-Top stitch around the tablemat, being sure to stitch the opening closed. Press lightly
N.B. An attractive way of finishing off these simply qualified table mats is to hand-quilt a small design in
the middle or to one side of the mat.
B). Quilted table mats with bound edges.

 The materials required are as these for the simple quilted mats, however bias binding is
additional.

 Draw pattern outlines on the top fabric along which you will stitch. -patterns printed on the fabric
can also be emphasized by stitching along them to produce interesting quilts.-You may also draw
simple diagonals, lines, straight lines or square as simple substitutes for complex quilt designs.
Procedure;
1. Establish the size of the tablemat and add 2cm (1”) all round to accommodate the quilting.
 - Cut the top piece of fabric, the lining or contrasting fabric for the under side, and the waddling to this
size.
2. With wrong sides together and raw edges aligned, place the top and bottom pieces together. Insert the
wadding or quilting pieces between them.
3. Using tailors chalk; mark the quilting pattern of your choice on the top piece (if not done before).
4. Working along the marked patter, pin and then tack through all three layers of fabric. –stitch along the
tacked lines, working from the center of the mat outwards the sides.
5. Trim any skew edges that may have been formed by the quilting and round off the corners of the mat,
using a small plate as a guide.
6. Bind the raw edges of the mat with the bias binding .
NB: When quilting increases your stitch length to prevent puckering.

Activity-Get the relevant material and make the two types of table mats using hand quilting/ machine
quilting.

TABLE NAPKINS

 These are both functional and decorative.

- These are functional in that they act as feeders or aprons to protect the user’s garments from spills
and food crumbs as they dine. (They may be hung around the individuals neck or placed on the
lap). They may also be used as serviettes to wipe hands or the mouth as one dines .
- They are a decoration as they add to the aesthetic appeal of the place or cover the setting at the
dining table especially when folded in various interesting patterns.
N.B. When using them at a cover setting, they are often placed to the left hand side of the place setting
(main plate) towards the left end of the cutlery arrangement next to the fork -(or can be on the cover
plate).

 Table napkins can be of any size ranging between 30 cm (12”in )or 6” to 22”) square to very
large (22”) 45 cm (18”in) square (i.e. smaller nor bigger than the stated dimensions)
–It is therefore important to consider the size of napkins you require prior to purchasing your
fabric to prevent wastage.

 The fabric should be washable and color fast

 The basic napkin has a 1 cm (3/8 “) or smaller double- turned hem.

 However you may employ different methods or techniques of finishing hem or edge. – 1cm
hem e.g.
1. Use of different trims such as lace, braid, bias binding e.t.c
 2. You may scallop the corners using a circular devise such as a plate, then satin stitch or loop stitch
the raw edges.
3. You may stitch just inside the edge, and then fray the edge all around to form a fringe.
4. Or applique a design onto a corner of each hemmed napkin.
. . . Cut the napkin piece the required size plus 2cm (1”) or extra allowance to cater for the hem allowance
or the desired type of the edge finishing .(you may double fold or miter the corners).
N.B: Table cloths may be finished in the same design as napkins .

TABLE RUNNERS

 Can be used with table cloth or alone to protect table or for decorative value.

 Standard width =12 “to 18” wide.

 The drops vary as for the table cloth (from 5” to 10”).

 Different edge finishing techniques may be applied.