We focused only on tablecloths made from natural fibers. The most common and affordable natural-fiber table linens are made from cotton. Prices vary depending on the quality of the fiber, the construction, and sometimes the name brand. Cotton linens generally have the smooth, polished look of tablecloths you’d see in a fine-dining restaurant.
Linen is also a great material for tablecloths. Made from the fibers of the flax plant, linen is absorbent and has a more-relaxed drape than cotton. Threads spun from flax fibers are thicker than cotton, and the result is the distinct, visible woven texture that linen goods are known for.
Quality craftsmanship and thoughtful details separate good tablecloths from great ones. Hems with clean, straight stitching and minimal puckering are a sign of a well-made product. Deep hems that measure at least 1 inch and mitered corners on square or rectangular shapes add weight to the drape and give tablecloths a polished drop. But round and oval tablecloths should be finished with a narrower hem, about ¼ inch or ⅜ inch, to avoid puckering.
“Puckering” describes the little ripples that appear along the hemline of a tablecloth after it’s laundered. This can happen if the fabric and thread shrink at different rates, the stitch tension is too tight, or the fabric wasn’t laundered before sewing. All of the tablecloths we’ve tested have puckered at various rates, but the worst offenders came out of the wash with rippled and fluttered hems that were impossible to iron flat.
We looked for tablecloths that are available in multiple sizes and shapes. Dining tables come in many sizes and shapes (square, rectangle, oval, and square). We set out to find the most attractive, high-quality tablecloths that come in a variety of cuts and dimensions.
Measure your dining table, and then add 20 to 24 inches to the length to account for an appropriate drop. Or you can use this Williams Sonoma chart. Keep in mind that all table linens made from natural fibers will shrink after laundering, about 5% in length and 3% in width. So if you’re worried about a tablecloth’s drop becoming too short after laundering, be safe and go up a size.
To test durability, we washed, dried, and pressed the tablecloths with a steam iron. We examined the fabric for pilling and the hems for puckering and fraying. We also measured each piece to gauge shrinkage after laundering. Any natural-fiber tablecloth will shrink some after the first wash.
We also looked at how attractive they were while in use. We draped the tablecloths over countertops, desks, and tables to examine the drape and drop of each one.
