You can see markets are on my mind, got a BIG one comming up Easter Sat and then the weekly ones go a bit mad for the summer. I currently use a burgandy colour throw over my table with a small white tablecloth over the top, but shortly I will have two tables so need another cover. I quite like the throws, especially ones that will go in the machine, but I can't decide whether to have blue ones (blue is my colour really) with the smal whilte tablecloths over the top, or whether to just have one layer (less time consuming and less washing) in say a more neutral colour. What do other folks use for their covers?
pS. I can't be doing with white sheets, with two markets a week from Easter that's just too much ironing for me :o ;D ;D ;D
Dressmaking lining material - goes in the wash and out in minutes, tumble dries, creases drop out (unlike cotton sheets) and isn't expensive. [Sorry, I have a thing about a creased cotton bedsheets draped over a table, always looks like they've whipped them off the bed on their way out of the door]. I then drape some cotton heavy weave fabric (Habitat buy years ago, probably meant for curtains) over the top to tone in. Not a brilliant photo ( we gained extra space so all the boxes came into play as display space) but ....
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6326554508_8b1c16bf3f_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueboxstudio/6326554508/)
Show stand - extra space (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueboxstudio/6326554508/) by Blue Box Studio (http://www.flickr.com/people/blueboxstudio/), on Flickr
If you have your own tables, why not make a table cover that just drops over the top and sides - none of the faffing to get the darn thing to fit properly, not drape in the mud/floor.
Always white. I used to use dark like velvet drapes etc but I learned that things don't really show up very well and colours are too confusing. I just have white, with white blocks and props and a couple of pieces of light wood.
For two tables, I use black velveteen on one side for silver jewellery and white sheeting for beads on the other.
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on March 12, 2012, 04:02:44 PM
Dressmaking lining material - goes in the wash and out in minutes, tumble dries, creases drop out (unlike cotton sheets) and isn't expensive. [Sorry, I have a thing about a creased cotton bedsheets draped over a table, always looks like they've whipped them off the bed on their way out of the door]. I then drape some cotton heavy weave fabric (Habitat buy years ago, probably meant for curtains) over the top to tone in. Not a brilliant photo ( we gained extra space so all the boxes came into play as display space) but ....
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6326554508_8b1c16bf3f_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueboxstudio/6326554508/)
Show stand - extra space (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueboxstudio/6326554508/) by Blue Box Studio (http://www.flickr.com/people/blueboxstudio/), on Flickr
If you have your own tables, why not make a table cover that just drops over the top and sides - none of the faffing to get the darn thing to fit properly, not drape in the mud/floor.
I agree about wrinkles, drives me nutty. Sadly I haven't got any old fabric that isn't highly patterned, do have an old curtain which would look nice, but only one and I need two.
Quote from: turnedlight on March 12, 2012, 04:18:23 PM
Always white. I used to use dark like velvet drapes etc but I learned that things don't really show up very well and colours are too confusing. I just have white, with white blocks and props and a couple of pieces of light wood.
I agree about light colours too, I love my burgandy throw, but have to put the little table cloths over the top to lighten it (I think black velvet would look soooo beautiful for silver jewellery, but I don't have much). UM, think I have just answered my own question - sorry folks, sometimes you need to share your brain with others to enable you to think! More tea. Thanks folks. :) :) :)
Ivory velvet - cheap, drapes well, doesn't crease :)
Down the market, sure to be useful plain fabrics there.
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on March 12, 2012, 05:11:42 PM
Down the market, sure to be useful plain fabrics there.
;D ;D ;D You'd think so wouldn't you, checked it out last week and there was nada! Might have to check out Barnstaple pannier market or there is a fabric seconds shop in Bude.
Have you tried Freecycle? I got some lovely plain fabrics that were end of rolls from the local curtain maker. If you have a local bridal gown maker they probably have ends.
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on March 12, 2012, 05:11:42 PM
Down the market, sure to be useful plain fabrics there.
Yep, if you have a seconds off-cuts place they're ideal. Stretchy non-iron jersey fabrics are great, I've got some that one side has a velour texture, I scrunch them up for a week, then hang them up without worrying about creases. When you trall around the shops scrunch up a bit of the fabric in your hand when looking at them ;) Also I use a really nice bit of devore velvet for my table top, with cheap satin underneath which looks really quite nice, does crease slightly but there are so many boxes and bits laid out it doesn't really notice
If you have any local Indian fabic shops they have some cheap ranges as well.
Ebay or the local market can be good. Ive used hussainfabrics (ebay) recently and they were very reasonable
I use a huge dark green tablecloth covered with a doubled white sheet all weighed down with black granite table mats so I have dark and light ;D When I have sold with Karen we used crushed velvet in cream and gold - with cream on top - no creases ;D
Afraid I do use sheets - ironed ones. They are large, cheap and come in various colours according to the season eg red/green at christmas. Most of my pieces are displayed on neutral coloured boards rather than directly on the table. My pet hate is drapes that are too short and give a good view of the boxes etc stashed under the table......
Lotti if you are going to Barnstaple try Heathcotes they are a good size fabric outlet (with parking) opposite the road that leads to Green Lanes Car Park I think it is Vicarage Street I have a huge roll of sky blue material I got from there and some black velvet It was a while ago but It was really reasonable and I used to buy all the fabrics to do the window design for our shop when we had it.....
Well I for one use bed sheets and am not ashamed :) They have never been slept on and are ironed within an inch of their lives. Having done a variety of different fairs for several years now I have tried various colours and fabrics, but I have to say that the white I use now with a strip of colour to tie in with my Tartan Trout logo is by far the best for showing off my pieces and letting people see the true colour of the glass. I have many bug bears at fairs, but wrinkled or dog haired display cloths ( yes I have seen this on more than one occasion) is by far one of my biggest.
Must stop reading this thread as 'Table Covers for Meerkats'....
Quote from: aercraft on March 12, 2012, 09:01:29 PM
Must stop reading this thread as 'Table Covers for Meerkats'....
;D ;D ;D ;D
Mine is darb brown faux suede bought on ebay, doesn't need ironing, then my display is mostly cream coloured boards and busts etc as these are my colours for the website cards etc.
So interesting hearing the variations. :) Thanks Jennie, will have a look, shame I was in sunny Barny yesterday (it wasn't sunny your way though was it!). Sarah, you are just a domestic goddesss, ironing to me is the work of the devil and I don't do it if I can't help it. With two markets a week and one with two tables I just can't do that much washing and ironing to keep the sheets looking pristine :) Think it is going to have to be a blue base (of some shade/kind) with the small embroidered white table clothes on top (need a bit of colour methinks). Just got to find the base now. Thanks for all your thoughts and sharing what you have. :) :) :) :) :) :)
What's ironing? I only do indoor fairs but, subject to us not pouring coffee over things, they get spruced up once a year, the rest of the time I glare at creases and they drop out :)
Quote from: Blue Box Studio on March 13, 2012, 06:49:25 PM
I glare at creases and they drop out :)
Scarey lady - pity it doesn't work on seagulls! ;D
Can I revive this thread please?
I need to dump my combination of white bed sheets and white table cloth (okay, I might keep the cloth on top of the new floor length cover) for something quick to throw on, non-crease, no-messing.
Reading back, I can't decide whether to go for white velvet, white crushed velvet, white lining material (would that be "pongee", whatever that is?) or white jersey.
I have a 10ft x 4ft stall to cover, and it needs to come to the floor on the front and both ends. My brain is hurting trying to do the maths ... help! ;D
Quote from: Lush! on March 31, 2012, 11:48:47 PM
white lining material (would that be "pongee", whatever that is?)
pongee is lightweight silk. My lining material is the polyester stuff you get to line coats and jackets. Being man made the creases drop out. Mine's quite wide, I think it normally is anyway, and easily reaches the floor and sides and just covers the top of the table. It is slippy, so I fight back with those picnic table clips you can anywhere now
(like these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tala-Table-Cloth-Clips-Set/dp/B004VQTHTE/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1333235290&sr=8-9)
Colette and I got crushed velvet from Minerva fabrics. Used it for the first time at Harrogate and it was spot on. £4 per m and no p+p. We'll have it at Flame Off, Julie.
If you have a Fabric Land where you live I would recommended that you pay them a visit - I have a chocolate crushed velvet which is lightweight to carry and crease free when on the table. The width is fine for all tables, reaching the floor at the front and draping over my side of the table by about 12 inches. I think I paid about £3.50 a metre as well so it's not overly expensive and goes in the washing machine / dryer too. The range of colours was vast also.
I have brought my tables to life with some table runners that I bought from Homebase in cream.
Interesting thread to see what all you guys use.
Good luck at your market...
Picnic table clips are a great idea, thanks for that Sue.
Shirley, I will come n cop a feel at FO, thanks!
Karen, no big fabric places round here so I'd shop on Ebay.
A regular craft fair/bead fair table is about 6ft by 3ft max, the market stall I need to cover is 10ft by 4ft, huuuuuuuuge! And I have to cover to the floor on the front and at least one side, so a single width of 150cm isn't enough.
I think I need 8m x 150cm, if I've worked it out right ???
I bought a black exhibition cloth, which is really nice and a giant white jacquard table cloth 7' 6" by 4' 4". I got the table cloth from ebay, someone had made some huge ones for a wedding, they were used once.
I was given some nice light blue fabric from a friend and made fitted table cloths in the end, and they do in the wash and don't need ironing, it's actually curtain fabric, but works a treat. :)
Sounds lovely Lotti, I couldn't buy a fitted one until I actually manage to get a table delivered :)
I know it's different, and I've only done about 3 craft shows/fetes, but I do it the way we do it for Orchid Shows, with variations. I have a long length of black dress lining (polyester), folded double down the middle of the length. I stick this down with parcel tape around the table/s, so that it just goes down to the floor, then put another piece over the top, and then whatever I want for the display (just black for Orchids, but I've got a lovely piece of material I sometimes use to show off fused dichroic jewellery - difficult to describe, but I've had offers for the fabric!). Reading the posts on here, I'd better get some pale/white if I'm going to sell any beads.
Nick
Well, on Wednesday I am having a table at a ladies night. NO NOT ONE OF THOSE LADIES NIGHTS! (Would be nice though.) Church hall - Ladies only - Local businesses. Nails, Waxing, Cupcakes, beads, jewellery, massage (head/neck) crafts, soaps, etc. DID I MENTION - BEADS - JEWELLERY. Well, the thread started about table covers (easily distracted) - I bought a whacking great red/ish table cloth from Boyes last Christmas cos we had 14 + to accomodate. £5.99. It's been rolled, folded, out again for DD birthday, out again for anniversary, valentine etc. Using it on Wednesday ;D and the best bit - IT WILL NOT NEED IRONING :)