Cloth Napkin Tutorial

My favorite part of every day is dinner time. Our table is the center of so many family conversations, and I love for my family to be gathered around. I like to change the napkins up with the seasons and with this tutorial you can too. This pattern is great for beginners with only straight stitches. 

The napkin was actually invented much later in life than I imagined. The early Romans used a sort of dough to wipe their hands on, and that evolved into the English using thin slices of bread, followed by the formal cloth napkin that we know today. 

You will need 1 yard of fabric for each napkin. I like to make my napkins 20 inches x 20 inches. 

*Cut two pieces of fabric into a square 19 ½ inches by 19 ½ inches.

*Lay your two pieces of fabric pretty sides together. Pin all the way around. 

*Stitch all the way around leaving a 2 inch opening. If it’s helpful you can draw two small lines at your opening before you begin sewing to remind you where to start and stop. Do not leave your opening in a corner.  Leave it in one of the sides. The hole will not close up as nicely in the corner.

*Turn your napkin right side out and push out your corners, so that they are crisp and square.

*Iron your napkin all the way around pressing the edges down 

*Close your opening and then add a top stitch all the way around the napkin. 

I don’t always make my bed, but I always set the table. Many memories are made around the table, but not with my cloth napkins. Those are only for decoration.

Until next time…

Tami

Sew on and Sew Forth