How to Embroider Your Own Place Setting Tablecloth

To follow along the DIY posted by TikTok creator @angiecreated (which now has nearly 80,000 likes), take your tablecloth and lay it evenly over your table. You’re going to be making an outline for your embroidery, so make sure it's centered, otherwise your design will look skewed. 

Start by setting your table as you normally would. You can get fancy with it if you want, but keeping it simple just involves a plate, a fork, and a knife—and maybe a couple of drinking glasses if you so imbibe. Flip your plates upside down so that the rims are touching the table, and trace around each place setting with a pencil.

If you’re experienced with a sewing needle, then you may want to try adding outlines of a few cute food items—like bread or cheese—inside the outlines of the plates. Some embroidered tablecloths are also adorned with wine bottles or fruits in the center of the table. 

Next, it’s time to choose your colors. Black is an easy choice for a white tablecloth, but using multiple hues for the different outlines can add a fun and playful look. Pastels, primary colors, or earth tones are a few basic palettes to consider. Don’t forget to keep your usual dinnerware in mind when picking your shades: The embroidered outlines can be seen around each dish and utensil, so they should coordinate with your real place settings.

Once your sketch is all set, you can take the tablecloth and embroider around each pencil outline. The best part about this craft is that you don’t need any serious embroidery know-how to complete it. It works with a basic straight stitch for an adorable dotted outline look, or use an easy backstitch to create an embroidered outline without the gaps.

Wash your tablecloth or gently spot clean the pencil markings with a wet rag and some soap. And bon appetit—it's ready to use.

Tips for Creating Your Perfect Embroidered Tablecloth

You’ll likely want to embroider with a thick thread, as this ensures the outlines of your place settings are visible. Anywhere from three to six strands should get you a bold effect.

The idea behind this tablecloth design is showing the embroidery even when the table is set—this is why you should trace your plates upside down, so the rims don't cover your work. You may want to make your outlines slightly larger than each utensil, or you can embroider around your pencil outline rather than directly on top of it.

The comment section of @angiecreated's video agrees the tablecloth is adorable and easy to make. Some users across social media are even discussing using it as a way to teach their kids about proper place settings.

You could also opt to make reusable holiday-inspired tablecloths by tracing over the dishes you set out for special occasions, like your Thanksgiving dinner table setup. One commenter on TikTok said they have an embroidered tablecloth they add to each year: "My mother-in-law has us sign the same Thanksgiving tablecloth every year, and then she stitches over the names," they wrote. "The kids' handwriting over the years gets us every year."

Whether you want a sweet, family-friendly setting or just want to add some playfulness to your meals, this creation definitely deserves a spot at your table this year.