Q: I love having picnics, but I have yet to figure out a way to keep the tablecloth on the picnic table from flying away. Do you have any suggestions?A: Picnics are so much fun -- but your fun can quickly be dashed if you have to hold down the tablecloth the entire time. So today I'm going to show you an easy way to make not only a beautiful tablecloth but also one that should never fly away, thanks to grommets and ribbon.
To create our tablecloth, I decided to use oilcloth because it's easy to work with, and I just love the way it looks. You don't have to use this type of material, though: outdoor fabrics like canvas work just as well.
1. Measure the table you want to cover and cut the oilcloth accordingly; this will be the center of the tablecloth.
2. Cut strips of coordinating oilcloth to fit the two long sides of the center cloth; the width will be determined by how much width is needed to cover the table and hang down approx. 1' on the long sides of the table. Use decorative shears to cut along both long edges of these strips.
3. Use adhesive to attach the strips to the center cloth along the long sides; set aside and let this dry.
4. Depending on the length of the tablecloth, install grommets along both long sides every foot or so.
5. Paint enough wooden beads to match up with the grommets and set aside to dry.
6. Cut lengths of ribbon and thread them through the grommets. Thread both ends of the ribbon through the wooden beads and knot once or twice to prevent the bead from slipping off.
Another quick and easy way to keep your tablecloth from flying away is to use bungee cords. Just attach the hooks of the bungee cord through adjacent grommets. This tablecloth won't be going anywhere with that kind of hold.
