Collecting Vintage Tablecloths – Crafts Ideas & Resources

It’s no secret that I love vintage patterns, crafts and fabrics–and that includes tablecloths. The fabrics are soft and durable, usually a good quality cotton or cotton/linen blend and the patterns deliciously whimsical, folk artsy and retro. Perfect for brightening up the kitchen or sewing with!

Here are a few craft ideas using the tablecloths, as well as resources listed for those who love to collect them…

Craft Ideas For Vintage Tablecloths

• Jumpers and summer dresses for young girls
• Drawstring bags, gift bags, diaper bags, purses & totes
• Pillowcases, cushions
• Quilts
• Vanity skirts
• Kitchen and bedroom curtains & valances
• Footstool covers
• Stuffed toys
• Book covers
• Wallets, checkbook covers
• Tissue Holders
• Tea cozy
• Aprons
• Basket liners
• Placemats
• Table runners
• Picnic napkins
• Clothespin bags
• Pretty much anything in this list
• Look at what eBay sellers are making with the tablecloths, they’re usually on the cutting edge of great ideas

Resources For Collectors

• Collecting Vintage Tablecloths
• History of the Printed Tablecloth
• The Collector’s Guide To Vintage Tablecloths *eBay Discussion Thread
• Buying Vintage Tablecloths Online

Tips For Collectors: Hunting for vintage textile treasures

• Inspect the item completely! open it up and look for wear holes or weak spots – these may become bigger holes after washing if the cloth had be improperly washed or stored in the past.
• Watch for fugitive dyes and significant fading – Early kitchen textile dyes can be unstable and will fade unevenly. Hold the cloth up to the light to see if there is evidence of missing colors or a faded pattern – this will reduce the value of the cloth.
• Measure- most vintage tablecloths were 50″ or 54″ wide and varying lengths- sometime you will find a 38″ wide BBQ or patio tablecloth. Anything 36″ wide is most likely a vintage fabric piece and not a tablecloth. 60″ x 60″ wide cloths most likely will be reproduction tablecloths so it pays to measure all cloths in the store.

Here’s a tip I never thought of:

Most vintage printed tablecloths you can find today are in smaller sizes ranging from 32″ square to 54″ square. I recommend buying a several larger gingham and plain tablecloths in primary colors to show off your smaller tablecloths.

Source: How to use and display vintage linens. Great idea!

There’s an online club you can join too: VintageTableclothsClub.com. It does cost $15 a year to help support the club’s expenses. I’m not affiliated with it and I’m not a member so I can’t personally vouch for the quality of information exchanged, but I have heard good things. If you’re a member or you join, I’d like to hear your thoughts on it .

Collecting vintage tablecloths is a hobby one can do relatively easily since the tablecloths are still common enough to find at thrift stores and garage sales–as well as quite affordable. Not only that–you can use these items productively in day-to-day living, not many vintage collections can provide that.

Now if only chenille blankets were as easy or affordable to collect, sigh .

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