How do I fix bumps and waves in an already ironed tablecloth?

Barbara O
by Barbara O
I have an old (30yrs+) linen tablecloth with machine embroidery and cutouts. I steam ironed it. Now it will not lay flat. How can I make it lay flat?
  8 answers
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Feb 18, 2013
    Have you tried re- washing it and hanging it outside to dry? Or have you tried fabric starch? Since it is old back in the day when everything was starched and hung out on the line to dry.
  • Z Z on Feb 18, 2013
    It sounds to me as if you need to block it. If the weave has been stretched on it's bias that can keep it from lying flat.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Feb 19, 2013
    I like Becky's idea better! I forgot about blocking. I remember my Grandmother doing that for everything! Void by earlier statement.... Because she is right, I am wrong... Red faced!
  • Barbara O Barbara O on Feb 19, 2013
    Becky, thanks for the suggestion. It's a large tablecloth so I'm kinda unsure how to block it. Dampen and pin it? Could I pin it to the table pad?
  • Z Z on Feb 19, 2013
    Barbara, it might be best to take it to a cleaners and have them press it. It would be well worth the cost I'm sure, saving you loads of time and frustration. No worries Sherrie. It's possible your idea would help straighten it out, but it would still need to be pressed. I thought of blocking because of the embroidery in the hoops shown at the bottom of the page. When you work using a hoop you have to block the piece once finished to make it lie flat again.
  • Barbara O Barbara O on Feb 20, 2013
    Thanks Becky. I just came to that same decision.
  • Barbara O Barbara O on Feb 24, 2013
    Update. I took my tablecloth to Best/Pavillion dry cleaners in my neighborhood, NW Cobb County GA..Lee assured me that they could get the waves out. Picked it up later and it looked great on the hanger. Took it home, spread it out and it was worse.I took pictures. Long story short-owner got angry. He admitted that the clerk should not have told me they could fix it. He kept yelling 'not my fault,fabric fault'. He was extremely rude and refused to give me my money back. I am informing everyone I know to beware this store. There are too many compentent cleaners out there to patronize one that is not. But,thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
  • Z Z on Feb 25, 2013
    Oh Barbara, I'm so sorry. I don't know what else for you to try. I would recommend making a complaint with the BBB though.