Painted oilcloth was once a household staple. Today's versions are versatile and simple to work with -- their cut edges won't fray -- and their colorful designs make cheerful backgrounds for casual summer meals.
Lunch Bags
A Picnic Sandwich
Summer Cocktails
Kitchen Help and More
Strawberry-festooned place mats brighten a breakfast table. These mats are double-sided; choose one pattern, or mix and match.
Trace the outline of another place mat onto oilcloth. Cut two pieces for each mat; spray reverse sides lightly with spray mount, and press together with your hands. Next cut out final shape and machinestitch edges, leaving a seam allowance. Trim edges with scallop fabric shears, or finish a straight edge with bias tape.
If you had walked into any middle-class American kitchen nearly a century ago, you almost certainly would have found a table covered in oilcloth. Marketed to homemakers, it was durable, stylish, and -- at as little as 11 cents a yard -- a bargain. Oilcloth came in solid colors, bold geometric designs, and ornate patterns that mimicked fancy woven damasks. It was not, however, fancy. A heavy canvas or cotton fabric rendered waterproof with a coating of linseed oil and paint, it was a basic, everyday cloth that was easy to clean and inexpensive to replace when it wore thin from use.
Although original oilcloth is hard to find -- it fell out of style, and what remained either disintegrated or was discarded -- modern versions have a loyal following. Made of plastic or vinyl woven with cotton, updated oilcloth is as long-lasting and as adaptable as its predecessors. Use it anywhere you want a splash of color and a washable surface: on a breakfast tray, in a drawer, or over a favorite cookbook. And of course, use oilcloth on your table. When you wipe away those mealtime spills with ease, you'll thank those who came before you for inventing it.
to woddydotter: when i sew with oilcloth, i place a piece of tissue paper over where i am stitching, so my foot doesn't stick. then, just tear the paper off your stitches, voila!
Oilcloth placemats--great idea! Thank you.
Visit www.oilclothalley.com for over 75 great retro oilcloth prints. Available by the yard!
Is there a trick to machine sewing with oilcloth? My, granted, inexpensive, machine just couldn't do it.
Thanks
You can also get an adhesive backed laminate at JoAnne Fabrics to make your own laminate cloth.
thanks for the tip on ahmercantile.com.....i just went to the site and they have 40% off on all fabrics!
thanks for the tip on ahmercantile.com.....i just went to the site and they have 40% off on all fabrics!
you can get the oil cloth from www.ahmercantile.com i got my order in just a few days. lots to choose from..
I just bought really cute oil cloth at this website. I love the polka dots.
http://www.mendels.com
They have a nice sampler assortment you can buy even.
Am I wrong or is this the second or third time this craft has appeared in the last three months?
This brings back memories of table cloths, book covers and aprons!
Is wax cloth the same as oil cloth?
m. tobin
I have found oilcloth in most major fabric stores. I know Hancock Fabrics here in Illinois carry it. To the Australian folks: Perhaps the people in your fabric stores would know another name for oilcloth there. Would like to know that name myself! How about in Great Britain?
Chasingbubbles is great...thanks
Where can I buy oilcloth, fabric store or?
I love your crafts!!!, but is right, we expected more pictures of how to make them.
My local fabric store chain carries several different patterns of it. And the Michael's in Tulsa has fabric, also, so I bet they carry it.
In response to the question by "engli", today's oilcloth is cotton fabric bonded to vinyl. There are some beautiful patterns. Oilcloth in the past was canvas treated with oil to help make the canvas waterproof.
AGAIN a nice idea but no pictures on how to make them. Also no close ups of the ones in the picture. Come on get with it that is an easy craft that could be done easily with a little more direction.
I don't know what oilcloth is...do we call it comething else in Australia???
it looks like that printed vinyl that you put on the kitchen table as a cloth.
I'm from Australia and have absolutely no idea??
What is oilcloth?
Pryde's Old Westport in Kansas City, Missouri has oilcloth - their phone number is (816) 531-5588 - they are a family-owned kitchen store that has been around for about 40 years - I have no connection to them, I just like to shop there.
A lot of "local" hardware stores carry oilcloth.
here is a link to a tutorial on making them and she mentions where to buy oilcloth...sewmamasew
http://tumblingblocks.net/blog/index.cfm/2007/7/31/oilcloth-lunch-bag
google it, i can think of two places i have seen it recently. but of course cant remember where