Napkin Envy a.k.a. Cloth Napkin Tutorial

Last year my brother and his family moved into a new home.  I wanted to get them something but was unsure what they might need or want.  I noticed that they had a beautiful new farm table built from reclaimed wood.  I am a big lover of rustic farm tables.  They are great for gatherings with friends, family dinners, and games with the kids.  Everything in our house happens at the table.  It’s the heart of the home.  And what goes perfect on a new table?  Cloth napkins.  Do you use cloth napkins?  I love them and have been using them for years. They really dress up a table.  Not only that, they are environmentally friendly.  I made a bunch for my brother and sister-in-law.  I wrapped them up with a pair of handmade salad forks too.  The perfect gift!  I have been thinking about those napkins for a while now and wanting to make some for our table.  I realized that all of mine are store bought and I’ve never made them before.  So I bought 1.5 yards of Penny in Navy by Alison Glass and got to sewing.  I also had 1.5 yards of another fabric (not sure who it’s by, it was bought at a thrift store) and thought they would make great napkins too.   I wrote a tutorial below in case anyone wants to sew their own.

Make sure you wash and iron your fabric first. I have used quilting weight fabric for both sets of napkins. It helps to use the steam setting on your iron for this project.
With 1.5 yards you will be able to make six napkins, 2 yards will make eight.
This tutorial is based on 1.5 yards of fabric.
1. Cut six squares at 17.5 in. x 17.5 in. (You can make these napkins any size, just make sure you cut a square with all sides equal.)
2. With the right side of the fabric facing down, fold all four corners in 1in. and iron them.

(all four corners folded and ironed)

3. Now fold over and iron all sides of your square by 1/4 inch.

4. Next, go back to your four corners and cut 1/4 in. off of corner points.

5. Now go back around and fold all sides 1/2 in. Make sure that your corners match up and pin them. Loosely pin your sides too.

6. Do steps 2 through 5 for all of your squares.
7. Now you are ready to sew them. Sew a straight line down one long side and when you get to the corner, with your needle still down in the fabric, lift your presser foot and turn the fabric so you can sew another straight side. Put your presser foot back down and continue to sew the length of the fabric. At the next corner repeat and again at every corner.

(here I am lifting the presser foot and turning the fabric)

8.  When you get back to the beginning, backstitch, cut your excess thread………

And viola! You have made a napkin.