Table Linens

We currently have an old red tablecloth that is actually two smaller tablecloths sewn together so it would fit the table. This is fine and dandy when you have to share your apartment with roommates of varying degrees of cleanliness.

Current Red Tablecloth
(Note the seam up the middle)

As a housewarming gift, we received a new tablecloth for our dining room table. It is 60″ x 120″ and has lovely fall colors in it. I have some brown placemats and cloth napkins that actually complement it beautifully.

Table with brown place settings

Fall Tablecloth

My plan is to rip out the stitches of the red table cloth and use one to make an accent placemat runners (you know the table runner that goes side to side instead of from head to foot of the table) over the new tablecloth to help tone down the pattern. And of course, new placemats for the head and foot of the table.

Here are my prelim ideas:

They accent each other nicely

I toyed with this idea

I love the simplicity of this

I started by cutting one of the two red tablecloths into four equal strips. I hemmed the edges and added it to the table. How lovely!

And now for the two placemats:

I also want to make brown placemat runners for our Friendsgiving event in November.  That project to come!