Home improvement projects often require large amounts of fabric. Decorator fabrics come in hundreds of colors, patterns, and styles. They also can be quite expensive. Many decorator fabrics cost $20 a yard, or much, much more! When you consider you might need 10 yards for a few drapery panels, doing it yourself becomes an expensive pursuit.
If you are considering a home improvement project where you will need a large amount of fabric and don’t have a lot of money to spend, and if your style is casual, a painter’s drop cloth might be the money saving answer you are looking for.
Painter’s drop cloths can be found at paint supply stores or home stores. They come in different sizes and the colors will vary slightly in the off-white, khaki, or grey range. However, for an 8 oz. regular duty cotton canvas drop cloth that is 12 x 15 feet, you will pay around $25.
There are several things to remember when using a drop cloth in your home improvement projects. A drop cloth is heavy and will probably have plenty of imperfections in the weave of the fabric. This can add to the look of comfortable and casual décor, but would not be appropriate for something more formal. Drop cloth will wash well, but it will shrink, and it will fray, so all cut edges should be finished with a sewing machine serger or a simple zig zag stitch using a standard sewing machine. Also, either pre-wash your drop cloth or plan on making your home décor items a little big if they will be washed.
Here are a few of the ways you can use a painter’s drop cloth in your home décor projects.
Chair Slip Covers
A painter’s drop cloth is the perfect fabric for chair slip covers since it’s sturdy and can be washed. Families will especially love these slip covers on the chairs around the dinner table. You can use a pattern from the fabric store, or make your own by measuring your chair or tracing patterns on to newspaper.
If you choose to make your own pattern, your slip cover will be a better fit for your chair. Just cut the pieces a little bigger than you would need, and pin the pieces of fabric together right on the chair. Make pleats and darts as needed. When you are finished pinning, slip the pinned slip cover off the chair and sew, following your pins. Flip it inside out and you should have a perfectly fitting slip cover for your chair.
Kitchen Table Fort
Kids will love turning the kitchen table into their very own fort with this custom table slip cover. Just cut a piece of fabric from your drop cloth the size of the top of your table, plus a half an inch seam allowance. Then cut a long strip that is as wide as the height of your table, plus one inch for the seam allowance on the top and bottom. Sew the long strip to the table top piece and finish off the unfinished edges. Don’t forget to leave an opening for the door. After you have finished the table slip cover, you can add windows, a slot for a mail box, or other fun details.
Kids Art Aprons
What better fabric for a kids art apron than drop cloth? There are plenty of patters for cute aprons. Some have pockets, some have velcro closures. Find a pattern that works for you and use the drop cloth instead of more expensive fabric. These aprons would make great party favors for an art themed birthday party, or even a cooking themed birthday party. Kids can paint their names and other designs on the aprons using fabric paint.
Curtains
If you are desperate for some window coverings, but don’t have a big budget, consider a drop cloth. This will most definitely achieve a very casual and organic look. For something even more creative, try painting designs on the finished curtains. The curtains will act as a canvas for your art.
