I am not a fancy person by any means, like super, no frills, no one would ever consider me fancy. EVER. With that said, I am always and forever a cloth napkin lady. I have a drawer full of them, in all sizes and color. I use one with every meal (I am a sloppy eater).And napkin use is not just about functionality, it is also about looking pretty. When I go for a clean napkin, I like to pick one that looks good with the meal that I am eating. I think a pretty clean napkin really makes any meal just a tiny bit better. Does that sound weird? I don’t know but this is just a little look into how my mind works.
And recently I have set a few too many of my kitchen textiles on fire (towels, napkins, and potholders) so I am in need of a few new, nice looking napkins.
And let's get this straight. Cloth napkins are not about being fancy, they are about wiping you hands and face with something lovely, that doesn't need to be tossed into the trash after use. Cloth napkins are also a great way to add a nice splash of color tot a table settings or a nice doth barrier between your lap and all the food that ends up landing on it. I have even been known to do a cloth napkin-tuck into the shirt- type situation if I am eating something particularly messy and have on decent, clean shirt (doesn't happen too often). Cloth napkins also double up as a rag when the inevitable spill happens at the table. See, not just for fancy people. Cloth napkins just make sense. And sure, if you are introducing them at the Thanksgiving table that happens to set a bunch of guests, or maybe making a few, wrapping them up with a ribbon and gifting them for Hanukah to Christmas…that would totally be cool and not at all showy and over fancy. You just seem like a leveled headed person that uses and or gifts totally cool and useful things. And whatever if it makes you badass for making them yourself…. cause you probably are badass anyway.
So if you got the desire and a little bit of time (this project is great to do while watching a good holiday movie) you should make yourself (or someone else ) some cool ass cloth napkins.
What you will need, besides a sew machine
- Cotton Fabric that you would like to wipe you face with. I use around a 15-20 inch square piece per napkin but you can make it any size you want.. just as log as it has 90 degree conners So count how many napkins you ant to make and get hat touch in fabric.
- scissors
- sewing pins
- thread that looks good with your fabric
- ruler or tape measurer
- iron (optional)
Step 1.
Start by laying out you fabric flat, and if you want, run an iron over it to remove creases (I would haven but my iron… can't find it anywhere!)
When your ready, fold all the edges in 1 inch and crease with either an iron, or a flat edge (my ruler works great here)
Step 2.
Unfold last fold and the refold each side 1/2 inch and crease.
. You now have 1/2 inch and a 1 inch crease on all sides of your fabric.
Step 2.
Now go back to the 1/2 inch crease and stick few pins in otto hold it in place.
Start with any corner and fold the corner over 1 inch and crease.
Step 3.
Take a fabric marker and mark that crease Repeat with all corners.
Step 4.
Grab a marked corner and fold the napkin in half, right side together,making sure the line you just marked match up, Stick a pin in it so it stays put.
Step 5.
Run a stitch through that line.
Step 6.
Snip off the remaining tip of fabric
Repeat step 3-6 with all corners.
Step 7.
And for the most fgratifing part, fold over … Repeat to all corners
ALmost done!
Step 8.
Lastly, run a nice stitch around the border. I went with a simple stitch, but if you are feeling a little zig zag or some other funky-ness your machine can do.. go for it.
See, fancy(but not), pretty, made by you. napkins.. and they are so easy!
Have fun and if you know me and end up making yourself some, let me know so I don't end up giving you more napkins for the holidays.
Have fun!
-C