materials and tools

Heirloom

Linen Table Topper

Craft a truly charming

tablecloth as you explore

your sewing machine’s

heirloom capabilities.

• A square of unwashed handkerchief linen, about 45” x 45”

• Coordinating sewing thread

• Pins

• Scissors

• Wing needle

• Zigzag foot (BERNINA Reverse Motion Foot #1)

• Edgestitch foot (BERNINA Edgestitch Foot #10)

• Lightweight tear-away stabilizer (optional, for embroidery)

• Polyester embroidery thread (optional, for embroidery)

step one

Fold under and finger press ½” all around the square, pressing especially firmly at the corners. The natural stiffness of the linen makes it easy to crease.

Note: A steam iron may be used instead of finger pressing if you wish.

Created by Juliette Lanvers

step five

Unfold the corners, then fold and pin them as shown in the photo.

Heirloom

Linen Table Topper

step two

Unfold the fabric at the corners, where you will see a square defined by the creased lines.

step three

Cut this square out with scissors.

step four

Cut a 2”-wide strip of cardstock to use as a hem-folding guide.

Fold under 2” around all sides of the tablecloth, placing the narrow hem inside the new hem. Press especially firmly at the corners to create a marked square.

Heirloom

Linen Table Topper

step six

Mark a new sewing line perpendicular to the new crease and mark it with a pencil. Pin as shown in the photo.

step nine

Press the seam allowances open with your fingers.

step eight

Turn over the corner to check your work. If the seam is laying nice and flat you can cut the excess fabric away, leaving ¼” seam allowances.

step seven

Stitch along the marked line.

step twelve

step thirteen

...pivoting at the corners.

Tip: For this project, a star-shaped stitch was used for the Wing needle stitching. Another good choice is the entredeux stitch (701 on the B 580 screen shown here).

Heirloom

Linen Table Topper

step ten

Turn the corner right side out and press.

Attach the zigzag foot to your sewing machine and insert a Wing needle.

Select your favorite heirloom stitch.

step eleven

Attach the edgestitch foot and adjust the needle position approximately two steps to the right.

Place the inner folded edge against the guide and stitch the hem in place around all four sides...

Heirloom

Linen Table Topper

step fourteen

step seventeen (optional)

If desired, use an embroidery machine to embellish your linen tablecloth with words in a tone matching the occasion.

step sixteen

...just press it back in shape carefully when the stitching is finished.

step fifteen

Stitch along the hem, over the previous stitching.

The stitch will pull slightly at the fabric...

step one