Before You Toss That Worn Tablecloth, Repurpose It As Whimsical Christmas Decor

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Stained tablecloths are a sign you've eaten and drunk well, hopefully at a table surrounded by your favorite people. When the red wine and gravy spills appear to be here to stay on your lovingly crocheted table cover, the trash bin is the last place to put it! There are scores of genius ways to repurpose an old tablecloth that make the most of the fabric's beautiful handiwork. Many crocheted tablecloths are made up of lots of interconnected doily-like designs resembling flowers or snowflakes. If the stains or other signs of damage make your cloth unfit for further dinner table draping, snip it into strips for an instant snowflake garland. With any luck, you'll end up with links of crystalline shapes that are nearly ready to festoon around your home as-is.

Even if the piece is damaged beyond use on a table, it can be heart-rending to snip into a vintage tablecloth, especially if it's an heirloom. But lacy tablecloths are common thrift store finds that are perfect to repurpose for unique Christmas tree decor, if cutting into your great aunt's handiwork is out of the question. On outlets like Etsy and eBay, you can snag a cloth that fits the bill for between $20 and $30, and there are even some labeled as damaged (to assuage any scissor guilt you might have). Hand-hooked bedspreads are fair game for this upcycle, too. Once you've tracked down a cloth you won't cry when cutting into, also set aside some laundry starch and wire ornament hangers.

While strings of white snowflakes are classic and lovely, dyeing the cloth first to customize the look and color is an option. If you go this more colorful route, it will be easier to dye the entire cloth before cutting it up. For cheaper, homespun tinting, you can also tea stain your pure white fabric for an antiqued look.

Spread out your cloth to determine how best to cut it; the most "snowflakey" look will be cutting individual rows of the pattern from the long edge of the cloth. Both knit and crocheted material will fray when it's cut, so a product like Aleene's Stop Fraying Adhesive dabbed along the snipped areas will help this project stay in great condition for long-term use.

If you'd like the garland to have a flag bunting look, you can hang strips with hooks around the house or on the tree now. However, to make the most of the snowflake look, starching the strips first will help the fabric stay rigid and show off the intricacies of the patterns. You can pick up an easy spray like Aleene's Stiffen Quick to spritz along both sides of each strip. A cheaper, albeit messier, option is mixing 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup water, stirring it into 1 cup of boiling water, then immersing each strip in the thick mixture once it's cooled. Wring out the excess, and repeat for each strip. For either starching method, carefully spread out the material on a wipeable surface to dry; smooth each "flake" out for the starch to hold it in the best possible position. Once it's dry, these charming strips are ready to add cuteness to your Christmas.