Napkins

 

 

Napkin Instructions

This month's project is making napkins.  Why make napkins for yourself?  Because there's vast array of fabrics available to match your decor versus the few varieties of napkins available at most stores.  They are cheaper to make yourself and environmentally friendly too.

I like to use cotton for my napkins.  It washes well and is easy to sew.  I also use decorator fabrics.  Most work well.  I avoid fabrics with a stiff finish on them since they tend to wrinkle excessively when washed and become an ironing nightmare.  Laura Ashley fabrics are an example of decorator fabrics with a stiff finish.  The fabric for this project is from the quilt fabric section at my local Joann's.

How much fabric is needed?  First decide what size finished napkin you want to make, then add one inch.  This will allow a quarter inch hem.  You also need to take into account the pattern of the fabric.  Smaller patterns are easier to work with and have less waste.  You can just place the template on the fabric and cut.  If the fabric has a larger pattern that you want centered on the napkin, you need to take that into consideration when determining how much fabric is needed.  

For plain or small patterned fabric use the chart below to determine how much fabric is needed to make 4 napkins.

 

Finished Napkin Size Template Size Yards of 44" Fabric Yards of 54" Fabric
16 x 16 17 x 17 1 yard 1 yard
18 x 18 19 x 19 1 1/4 yards 1 1/4 yards
20 x 20 21 x 21 1 1/4 yards 1 1/4 yards
22 x 22 23 x 23 2 yards 1 1/2 yards

A Note About Templates:

I make a lot of stuff, so I use templates.  My method is to give my husband the size template I want and he makes it for me out of masonite.  Masonite is easily found at your local Home Depot or Lowes.  I realize that not everyone has the capability to make masonite templates so I've devised a method that will work for those of you that have basic quilting supplies.  Click here to view.

 

Legal Stuff:  The instructions below are free for personal use.  You CAN NOT sell or distribute my instructions or any of the other information on this website.  You may, however, sell items you have made from the free patterns and instructions on this site.  

All pictures are "thumbnails".  Please click for a larger view.

Items Needed:

 

Template
Rotary Cutter
Rotary Mat
Thread
Fabric
2 Quilt Rulers
Marking Pen
 Napkin 1.jpg (231080 bytes)
Wash and press fabric. Napkin 2.jpg (208068 bytes)
Line up template about 1/2 inch from selvedge edge.   Napkin 4.jpg (207419 bytes)
Using rotary cutter, cut around the template Napkin 5.jpg (200866 bytes) Napkin 6.jpg (260643 bytes)
On the wrong side of the fabric, use both quilting rulers to line up one ruler one inch from fabric edge.  Use a quilt marking pen to make a mark  one inch from the edge of the fabric.  See photo, right Napkin 7.jpg (233301 bytes) Napkin 8.jpg (191220 bytes)
Press the edge of the fabric to the one inch mark.  You should have a 1/2 inch hem.  See photo right. Napkin 9.jpg (166557 bytes) Napkin 10.jpg (179180 bytes)
Fold the 1/2 inch hem under to create a 1/4 inch hem.  Press.  See photo, right napkin 11.jpg (185510 bytes) Napkin 13 16.jpg (180028 bytes)
Repeat marking, folding and pressing on the opposite side.
Stitch as close to the edge of the hem as possible making sure to stay on the hem itself. Napkin 14.jpg (157243 bytes)
Repeat the same process of marking, folding, pressing and stitching on the other two sides.  Backstitch to secure stitching at both ends.    Press. Napkin 15.jpg (175806 bytes)
Voila!  A napkin ready to use! Napkin 17.jpg (205135 bytes)
 

 

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Copyright 2007 © Carol Matheson Rev.  01/12/2008