Cloth Napkin Tutorial {Great for Beginners}

My project list for 2012 is very long!  And, I figure most of it needs to be finished in the next 10 weeks, before I have even less time to myself.  Finding the energy and motivation to accomplish my tasks has been rather difficult lately, so I don't have huge expectations, but it is nice to get something finished.  These cloth napkins have been something I've wanted to do since I made the roman shades for my kitchen, and I finally got around to it.

Most home decorator fabric has very specific instructions on how to care for it; almost all of it requires dry cleaning, or spot cleaning.  So, before tackling this project, I put a small piece of leftover home decor fabric through the wash {using my normal cycles for items of this color} and found that it did shrink a bit, but it wasn't ruined at all.  Perfect!  Coupled with some remnant pieces of drop cloth from my dining room chair slipcovers, I had the right duo for a double-sided cloth napkin.

If you're new at sewing, this is a great project {an relatively inexpensive} to start with, as it only uses sewing straight lines, and turning corners.  And, if you're a pro, then whipping some of these up will take you no time at all!

Cloth Napkin Tutorial:
{I made (6) 12 1/2-inch napkins.  Standard size is 18-inches, I believe, but I was working with leftover fabric, so skimped a bit here, and it's fine, as they are just for everyday use.  If you want larger, standard size napkins, you'll need to purchase more fabric}

-1 yard of fabric for front of napkins
-1 yard of fabric for back of napkins
-coordinating thread
-pins
-iron

Cut out both fabrics into 13-inch square pieces.

I made a 'pattern' out of poster board so that my pieces would be uniform.

Place front fabric and back fabric right sides together, and pin all the way around, matching the edges.

Beginning in the middle of one side, stitch in a 1/4" seam, all the way around, leaving a small opening, enough to turn the napkin right side out.

Turn napkin right side out, and iron opening under, 1/4" to line up with remainder of sewn seams.

Iron flat.

Pin opening together, so the fabric doesn't shift while doing finishing the seams.  Top-stitch with a 1/8" seam all the way around the napkin.  {This will close up the opening}.

Iron again, if needed, and use.  Wash as you did when you pre-washed your fabric.

*Another great fabric option for cloth napkins is to purchase apparel linen. And, this would not need to be lined with another fabric.  It does shrink, so be sure to purchase more than you would actually need for napkins.  Calico fabrics would also be great, as long as they are lined. *


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