How to Measure for a Tablecloth Overlay

A red floor-length tablecloth with a white lace overlay is a traditional look for the Christmas dinner table. Layer an army-navy tablecloth with square lace inserts over a pastel undercloth to create a fresh spring atmosphere for Easter. Full-length cloths are wonderful for disguising a folding table, but they can look too formal for a casual occasion. Add an overlay of printed cloth to make the table suitable for any occasion. Measure correctly to choose a perfectly-fitting overlay for your tablecloth. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Floor Length Tablecloth

1

Measure the length and width of the table. Measure the height of the table, the distance from the edge of the table to the floor.

2

Divide the height of the table by three. This calculates a third of the distance from the top of the table to the floor.

3

Add two times this number to the length and width of the table to calculate the dimensions for an overlay that will reach a third of the way down the under cloth.

4

Add four times this number to the length and width of the table to calculate the dimensions for an overlay that will reach two-thirds of the way down the under cloth. Either size overlay will have a pleasing proportion.

Short Tablecloth

5

Place the tablecloth on the table. Adjust the cloth until the same amount of fabric hangs off on all sides.

6

Measure the length and width of the table. Measure the drop of the tablecloth. The drop is the distance from the edge of the table to the edge of the cloth. The drop on the sides should be equal to the drop on the ends.

7

Divide the drop measurement by three. Add twice this number to the length and width of the table to calculate the ideal size for an overlay. An overlay that covers the top third of the drop is pleasing to the eye.