The Christmas table is where the day really happens: the big dinner, the board games, the selection boxes and the inevitable spilled gravy. A new tablecloth is one of the quickest, cheapest ways to make it feel festive, and when you buy fabric by the metre you can cut it to fit your table exactly rather than settling for a shop-bought size that never quite works.
Here are our favourite Christmas tablecloth fabrics in stock right now, from wipe-clean oilcloth for busy family dinners to soft cotton linen for a more relaxed, homemade look.
Wipe-Clean Oilcloth: Made for Real Family Dinners
If your Christmas involves children, cranberry sauce or red wine (or all three), oilcloth is your friend. It is a printed PVC with a polyester backing, so it is waterproof and wipes clean with a damp cloth. No washing, no ironing, no stress on Boxing Day.
Our Christmas Oilcloth PVC 'Let it Snow' Tablecloth Fabric in Red is a cheerful classic. It is 140cm wide and now £5.99 per metre (was £7.99), which makes a full-size festive tablecloth very affordable.
Prefer something a bit more traditional? The Christmas Tartan Oilcloth PVC Santa Tablecloth Fabric in Red pairs a cosy tartan look with Santa, perfect for a country-kitchen feel. It is also 140cm wide and reduced to £6.99 per metre (was £9.99).
Oilcloth is cut from the roll in one continuous length, and the edges do not fray, so you can simply trim it to size with sharp scissors. No sewing machine needed.
Cotton Linen Look: Soft, Natural and Washable
If you would like a tablecloth that drapes softly and feels more like table linen, a cotton linen blend is a lovely choice. Both of these are digitally printed on a medium-weight 200gsm fabric (80% cotton, 20% polyester), 140cm wide and machine washable at 30°C.
- Christmas Pudding & Cookies Cotton Linen Fabric, £12.00 per metre. A sweet-treats print of Christmas puddings and festive cookies, great for tablecloths, runners and matching aprons.
- Christmas Gnome & Snowman Patchwork Cotton Linen Fabric, £9.00 per metre (was £15.00). Patchwork squares of gnomes, snowmen and jingle bells. Stock is limited on this one, so don't leave it too late.
Cotton linen does need hemming, but it is one of the easiest projects you can sew. A simple double-fold hem around all four sides is all it takes.
How Much Fabric Do You Need for a Tablecloth?
Measuring is simple. You need the size of your table top plus a drop (the part that hangs over the edge) on every side.
- Measure the table length and width.
- Choose your drop. Around 20 to 30cm on each side looks neat for everyday dining.
- Add it up: table length + two drops = the length of fabric to buy. Do the same for the width.
- Allow for hems on cotton linen: add about 4cm to each measurement for a double-fold hem. Oilcloth needs no hem allowance.
As an example, a table 150cm long with a 25cm drop needs 200cm, so 2 metres of fabric. All four fabrics above are 140cm wide, which suits a table up to about 90cm wide with a 25cm drop each side. Because our fabrics are cut in one continuous length, you will not end up with an awkward join down the middle.
Quick Tips for a Festive Table
- Layer it up: use a plain tablecloth underneath and a festive print as a table runner down the middle.
- Protect your best linen: pop a clear or printed oilcloth over a fabric tablecloth for the main meal, then remove it for the evening.
- Use the offcuts: leftover cotton linen makes matching napkins, coasters, a bread basket liner or a festive apron for the cook.
- Get ahead: sewing your tablecloth in November means one less job when December gets busy.
Make Your Christmas Table Your Own
Whether you go for wipe-clean oilcloth for a hectic family dinner or soft printed cotton linen for a homemade look, buying by the metre means a tablecloth that fits your table perfectly and costs far less than you might expect.
Browse our Christmas tablecloth fabrics today and get your festive table sorted early. If you have any questions about which fabric suits your table, just get in touch with the team at Bull Ring Fabrics and we will be happy to help.
