Crafts, DIY, Drop Cloth Projects, Fall

How To Upcycle A Drop Cloth Into A DIY Tablecloth Runner

Have you ever tried to find tablecloth runners in various lengths? Well, it’s almost impossible, so I’m sharing how to upcycle a drop cloth into a painted tablecloth runner that can be customized for each table length. This quick and easy tutorial will teach you how to make your own table runners using inexpensive drop cloth fabric. You can get creative and make one that will work with your decor style and customize them for your table sizes. I now have DIY Tablecloth Runners for each of our outdoor kitchen tables. Yay!

I was planning a Welcome to Fall Dinner Party around our outdoor kitchen and patio area, and I wanted something to dress up the tables. Since the atmosphere is casual, I decided to use tablecloth runners instead of tablecloths. When I couldn’t find the sizes I needed, here’s what I did.

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Table of contents

How To Prepare Drop Cloth for Painting

A budget-friendly way to make tablecloths and tablecloth runners is to upcycle a drop cloth. They are relatively cheap, and their texture is excellent for hand painting.

Before you start this project, wash and dry the drop cloth. Remove from dryer while damp to avoid having to press.

Pre-washing will remove any dyes, chemicals, and starches. Pre-washing and drying will also shrink the fabric so that your finished tablecloth runners will be the correct size.

How To Measure For Your DIY Tablecloth Runners

First, you need to measure your tables. Measure the tabletop from end to end and then add 25 inches to the measurement. This will allow for a 12-inch drop at both ends of the table, plus an additional 1/2 inch at both edges for the hem.

Most table runners are 14 inches wide. However, you can adjust if your table is narrower or broader than usual. If you plan to hem the edges of your runner, allow about 1/2 inch on each side for the hem.

For a standard 60-inch long table, you would need to cut your fabric 85 inches long and 15 inches wide.

Canvas Drop cloth

How To Finish Edges of Upcycled Drop Cloth

To finish the edges of the upcycled drop cloth, I used a serger sewing machine to stitch the raw edges and stop them from fraying.

There are several options, including turning the edge under and stitching with a sewing machine.

If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can use fabric glue to fold the raw edge under. Another option is to leave the edges raw and use a liquid fray block to keep it from unraveling further. If you don’t plan to hem your table runner, you don’t need to add the extra 1/2 inches to each side.

Use serger to trim the edges of the table runner

Add Flowers To DIY Tablecloth Runner for Painting

Once you have your table runners cut to size and the edges taken care of, it’s time to draw your flowers.

Use a dark brown or black Sharpie marker with a fine point for this step.

Begin at the bottom edge of the runner and draw lines using the sharpie up the fabric at varying lengths. These will be the stems of your flowers.

Use sharpie pen to draw flowers and stems on drop cloth for painting

Next, begin to draw the flowers themselves. Begin in the center of each flower and draw a swirling circle for the flower’s center. Then, draw larger swirling circles for the petals.

I like to make some more round and others more oval in shape.

This is a fast process, and the flowers can be messy because no two should be identical.

Draw Flowers with sharpie pen for DIY Tablecloth Runner upcycled drop cloth for painting.

Handpaint the Flowers on the DIY Tablecloth Runner

For the next step, you will need to determine the colors for your flowers. I chose blue, orange and yellow. I also used Chalk Paint for the hand-painted flowers because it’s pliable and doesn’t require a fabric medium.

If you use regular craft paint, add a fabric medium so the DIY tablecloth runner will not be stiff where painted. Follow the directions on the fabric medium to mix your paint.

Paint colors for Hand-painted upcycled drop cloth for tablecloth runner.

Next, thin your paint with water at approximately a 50/50 ratio. Once you’ve applied the paint to the flowers, you’ll want to see through it.

Using the same swirling motion, paint each flower. You don’t need to stay within the lines as you paint. Allow your brush to float over the drawn flowers.

used watered down paint to paint the flowers for DIY Upcycled Drop Cloth for Painting Tablecloth Runner

In addition to the flowers, add a few leaves to the stems. I used just a dab of brown paint on each leaf for these.

paint flowers and stems on upcycled drop cloth for painting project.

Heat Set Tablecloth Runner

Use a hot iron or heat press to press over the entire painted area. You can now hand wash your table runner safely.

Supply List

Click the items listed below for resources.

DIY Hand-painted Drop Cloth Tablecloth Runner

Once the paint is dry, you can place your new Hand-painted Upcycled Drop Cloth Runners on the tables.

Upcycle Drop Cloth for Painting DIY Tablecloth Runner on Outdoor kitchen table.

I can’t wait to use the cute table runners at my fall event.

Hand-painted DIY Tablecloth Runner on outdoor kitchen table.

The colors work perfectly with the chair cushions I use in the outdoor kitchen.

Drop cloth for painting tablecloth runner

If you’d like to see more about the outdoor kitchen entertaining area, you can see before and after here.

Upcycled Drop Cloth For Painting DIY Tablecloth runner at outdoor kitchen for fall party

Click here to see how to make tassels to add to the table runners. If you’d like to see how I planned for this party click here and here are the table arrangement details.

Fall DIY Hand Painted Tablecloth Runner

Other DIY Tableware Ideas And DIY Drop Cloth Projects You Can Make


You can see how I made the Earthenware Vessel from a thrift store find here.

Fall DIY Tablecloth Runner for outdoor kitchen

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you.

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DIY Tablecloth runner for outdoor kitchen entertaining.

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54 Comments

  3. Good Morning Rachel
    LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I just adore your sweet flowers you painted on this wonderful runner. What a great idea to make them yourself since you couldn’t find what you were looking for. It looks great on your outdoor table. Your guests will think you purchased it
    have a great day Rachel
    deezie

    Reply

  4. I was wondering what I was going to do with my extra drop cloths! Excellent tutorial. Hope my drawing skills are as fabulous as yours! Crossing my fingers AND toes! Pinned. 🙂 BTW, you totally need to put this on the Farmhouse Friday Link Party – just sayin. 😉

    Reply

  11. I may try this with drawing autumn leaves on the runner – I need something to donate to the holiday bazaar this year. first, one for me!!!

    Reply

  13. OOh I so LOVE this simplicity! Already started sketching these flowers on paper and finding I can do this! Plus I’ve taken it a step further in making a butterfly in having five together and drawing out the antenna! Either way, THANK YOU as this will also be a drawing I do on envelopes when sending cards. Shall never forget this inspiration!!

    Reply

  14. WOW!! Great tutorial – I think I may try this one day soon. Yours is just perfect choices of colors and style. Well done. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Visiting from over at Thistlewood Farm’s “Thistlekeeping.” Glad to have found you!

    Reply

    1. Shari,
      Yes, I would press the image with a hot iron before using. Be sure to place a barrier layer of another fabric between the image and the iron to be safe. The paint could stick to the iron so the barrier layer is important to protect the iron as well as your painted image.
      Rachel

      Reply

  21. This turned out so cute! Love the idea of using a dropcloth as a runner and the handpainted details are so pretty. Brown sharpie: great idea!

    Reply

  23. This table runner is beautiful. The colors are perfect for fall. You’re so talented. I think if I tried to draw flowers they’d look like a kindergartner did it!

    Reply
  24. Pingback: FABULOUS FALL PROJECTS - Saved from Salvage

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