Welcome back, crafty friends! If you didn't join me last month for the lunch tote tutorial (um, Why Not? Check it out here: Tote!), now is really the time to get your machine sewing (or to get that friend with a machine sewing for you, either way). This project is SO SIMPLE and the end results look super professional (plus cloth napkins help create less waste, while dressing up your kitchen!). Now you can wow everyone the next time you have people over for tea time or a fancy dinner party!
Here's a list of supplies you'll need, which can be found at your local fabric shop (if you don't already have them):
1 1/2 yds cotton fabric
Thread
Pins
Fabric scissors
Iron & ironing board (Important!)
Cut your fabric into the following dimensions: 4 pieces at 21" x 21". IF it's too close a call to get 4 pieces out of your fabric at 21" around, your napkins will be fine at 20.5" or even 20"x20", no big deal.
Once you have your four squares, it's time to chop off the corners. What?! Yes! I am about to show you how to get those professional corners on fancy napkins, so we have to go about it a little differently. Cut your corners like this:
Now it's time to head to the ironing board. The iron is your best friend when sewing, so let's hang out with it and begin to iron you corners like this:
After you've ironed down all the sides one time (and made each corner come to a pretty little point) it should look like this:
Now it's time to fold this corner towards the center of your fabric. You should have a nice little triangle folded down like this:
Now it's time to go around our square one more time, folding down our edges.
Hopefully the corners will meet together like this (or even prettier than mine did!):
Pin your progress so it makes it over to your sewing machine while still looking nice.
Once you've pinned around all four sides, it's time to sew. Head over to you machine and, if able, pick the needle setting that allows your needle to be on the far left side of your presser foot (closest to that beautiful folded edge you made). I like to line up the inside (folded) edge with the outside (left side) of my presser foot, to make sure I have a nice straight stitched line all the way around.
Remember to do a few stiches forwards and backwards when you begin and also when you end. If not, these guys will not make it through one load in the laundry. Backstitch!
AND that's it. Once you go all the way around, trim your threads and repeat. See? I told you it'd be easy to wow anyone (even Darcy) at your next dinner function!