How to Make Your Own Cloth Napkins

Sometimes it seems impossible to find just the right set of cloth napkins for the kitchen or dining room. Even after sorting through every department store and home store in your area, finding just the right napkin in the perfect print and color can be difficult. The task can be even more complicated if you are trying to find enough napkins for a large dinner party or family since stores often stock only a few cloth napkins of each variety.

If you are looking for the finishing touch for a special occasion, or if you are just trying to be more eco friendly by switching to cloth napkins, you can easily make your own cloth napkins using your home sewing machine or serger.

The first step to making your own cloth napkins is to choose a fabric. Any washable woven fabric will work. If you want a dressier napkin, you might choose linen fabric. If you are trying to match a color or a pattern, try looking at woven cotton prints in the quilting section of your local fabric store. While these prints will be a lighter weight, they will sew beautifully.

If you plan to serge the napkins, simply cut a 16 or 17 inch square of linen (or a cotton woven fabric if you prefer). Change your machine to a rolled edge stitch according to the manufacturer's directions and serge the edges to create a rolled edge hem. The finish will be nice and trim and will finish your napkin perfectly. Experiment with rounded corners or try a squared corner if you prefer. Remember to seal your seams with a fray preventative or simply pull the tail of the threads back through the finished serging to complete the seam.

If you are using a traditional sewing machine, cut a 16 and a half inch square of your chosen fabric. Turn the edges of your napkin in by a quarter of an inch on each side and press with an iron. To encase all of the raw edges, turn in each side again by a quarter of an inch and press. Sew a top stitch along the two opposite sides first, then machine top stitch the remaining two opposite sides.

If you are feeling especially creative, try embellishing the napkins with a decorative stitch. In the alternative, if you have an embroidery machine you can add your monogram or embroider a pattern on the napkin to match the theme of your kitchen or dining room. If you are making the napkins for a special event, you could even embroider a special message like "Happy Birthday" or "Merry Christmas." Your napkins are sure to become an heirloom that your family will treasure for years to come.