Make the Tablecloth

Use a ruler and tailor's chalk to mark where you want each strand of the web -- both spokes and rings -- to be, positioning the outermost ring so it will be close to the edge of the table once the cloth is in place. Cut out ribbons for the pieces of the web; you'll need four ribbons longer than the tablecloth's diameter for the spokes, and sets of eight ribbons in graduated lengths for each of the rings around the web (we fit four rings on a 48-inch-diameter tablecloth).

Using iron-on adhesive strips, first iron the ring pieces in place along the markings. Then add the spokes so they all cross in the center and hide the "seams" where the ring pieces meet.

Make the Pom-Pom Spiders

Each dangling spider is made of two pom-poms in different sizes (for example, 1 inch and 2 inch diameter). We used white for contrast with the black tablecloth, but you could use black or another color. Brush on a little white glue to join the two pom-poms together, and let dry.

For the legs, cut four 6-inch lengths from satin rattail cord (or other cord) in same color as pom-poms, and tie knots about a quarter of the way in from each end to make the joints in the spider's legs. Glue the four cords parallel to one another across one side of the larger pom-pom, which is the spider's belly. Tie small knots of cord for eyes, clipping ends close, and glue them on top of the smaller pom-pom, which is the head. Safety-pin spiders to ends of the ribbons on the tablecloth.