Chalkboard Tablecloth Tutorial

 I promised you a tutorial on making a chalkboard tablecloth similar to the one I made using Ghastlies fabric. That cloth was made for a round table, but I'm going to show you the basic process here in a square. This is made for a doll's table but the process is the same. Just measure your table and use those dimensions for the chalkboard portion of your cloth.

To begin, I used Roc-Lon Blackout Lining for the chalkboard. This is a lining sold in the drapery section of fabric stores. It has a "rubbery" feeling on one side that is smoother than the "fabric" side. You want to use this smooth side for your chalkboard side. You will also need Chalkboard paint. You can find this in most hardware stores.

Here is the can, but it came packaged in a box.

If you can't find the chalkboard paint, you can paint your surface with a double layer of gesso and a double layer of craft paint. You can use any color you wish! (It is a little more expensive and time consuming to do it this way, but if you have the supplies you might want to give it a try. Use matte finish paint!

Paint the surface, keeping your brush strokes as smooth as possible.

When your surface is completely dry, you can "prime" your chalkboard by covering it with chalk using the side of your stick of chalk. NOTE: you can do this after you sew on the borders if you wish.

Using a chalkboard eraser or a folded up piece of batting or felt, smooth the chalk all over the board. You are trying to redistribute the chalk, not remove it. When you write with the chalk, find a "soft" point on the chalk stick, not an extremely hard one. You don't want to scratch the surface. (This is also true on a regular chalkboard.) Your chalkboard surface is ready to go now. If you wash it off, you will need to "re-prime" the surface with chalk.

Sew borders on two opposite sides of the center. You can sew through this very easily!

After pressing them open (YES, you can press this! Just in case your fabric is different from mine, proceed with caution at first.) Sew the remaining two borders on. Press.

Now sew your outer borders in the same way.

 

 

 

After turning under the edges and sewing a narrow hem, you are finished! Have fun with your tablecloth - play hangman with your children.....

....leave notes for your family.....

or use it at a party!