Did your grannie ever lineup her kitchen cabinets with oilcloth? Perhaps she even had a desk covered with peppy polka dots in white and red or a cheery cherry print. Most of us have seen oilcloth, although a lot of may not understand what it is. It is absolutely not the first material we consider when considering home improvement these days, but it is thick, durable and perfectly cute. Could there be any better credentials for a children’s table, crafting bench or throwback furniture detailing? Nope!
Amy Renea
Oilcloth is made by attaching printed vinyl into a webbed cotton cloth. Traditionally oilcloth was created by adding layers of linseed oil to cotton fabric to make it water resistant. Aren’t you glad you reside in the era of modern production?
Amy Renea
Oilcloth is attached to any surface to give it a stronger finish and also to include design with cute prints, modern designs and innumerable variations of solids and patterns. The layouts are generally retro, but modern designers have produced some gorgeous new prints as well. You can find an idea of the variety available on eBay.
I found my roll of oilcloth at a local auction, selling for under $1. There was enough cloth to cover two tables still have lawns left over.
Amy Renea
That is what my desk looked like until it had been given a fresh face. Once upon a time, this table has been painted with chalkboard paint and utilized as a kids’ table. Then it had been given a coat of standard latex paint and utilized for art and meals. It had gotten its fair share of markers, scissors, scissors and skillet and needed some help. Below are the steps I needed to give it fresh life.
Amy Renea
1. Measure and cut on the oilcloth.
It couldn’t be easier to measure and reduce oilcloth. Simply lay it flat on the surface of the table and then slide a pair of scissors around the perimeter, leaving 2 to 3 inches of surplus.
Amy Renea
2. Examine the overhang.
After you’ve cut the cloth, organize it on the tabletop so that all the edges have the same amount of overhang.
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3. Smooth out any wrinkles.
Can you see bubbles in the edges of the cloth? Out those out before attaching the cloth to the table.
Amy Renea
Start at the center of the desk and smooth out any bubbles or lumps with your hands. You can use a credit card to smooth the fabric if you wish, but hands work just fine.
Amy Renea
4. Attach the fabric.
You can attach the fabric with adhesive, staples or even tape. Adding the cloth to a tabletop requires exactly the same method as attaching a canvas into a frame or re-covering a seat seat. Imagine you’re looking at a clock. Start at 12:00, then pull on the fabric tight and then attach 6:00, then 3:00, then 9:00. You want to make certain these four crossing points are as tight as possible.
Amy Renea
5. Pull the fabric into pleats.
Using a table, there’ll be pleating if you attach the cloth. Once you’ve glued or stapled the fabric at four equidistant points around the table, you can start pleating. Only fold down little pleats of fabric, attempting to minimize any wrinkles along the edge of the desk. Glue, tape or staple in the very edge of the fabric (where my thumb is) so that the fabric doesn’t hang down beneath the table.
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6. Double check and secure.
After you’ve worked your way around the table, return and make sure there are no wrinkles. I hot glued the fabric on the desk but then moved back on the final product and secured any loose pleats using a staple gun.
Amy Renea
When the cloth is secure, you finally have a brand new, washable surface, using a great pattern to boot up! This project requires a total of 10 minutes and cost less than $1. It is a challenge to beat that for an afternoon job.
To find out more about oilcloth jobs and possibilities, you may want to check out Oilcloth Addict.
More:
Sitting Pretty in Mismatched Chairs
Dining in the Round
