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How to Sew a Simple Napkin

by on Feb 21, 2008

Sewing cloth napkins is a great way to practice your sewing machine skills. Here’s a quick tutorial that will have you dining in style in no time!

What you need:

  • Fabric (I’m using a simple muslin that I had on hand because I’ll be embellishing my napkins later. For fabric calculation, a ‘luncheon’ napkin is usually 12″ square whereas a ‘dinner’ napkin can be anywhere from 18″ to 20″ square.)
  • Coordinating thread
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Iron and ironing board
  • A sewing machine

What you do:

Using your ruler, cut squares of fabric ONE INCH LARGER than what you want your final dimensions to be to accommodate for seam allowances. In my case, I’m cutting 13″ inch squares because I’m making 12″ napkins.

Next, fold over the right and left sides of the fabric 1/4″. Press well.

"Sewing cloth napkins is a great way to practice your sewing machine skills."

Turn these edges in 1/4″ once again and press.

A white material is on a blue, black and white material.

Fold the corners over, forming a small right triangle, like so. You’re going to want to do this to all four corners. Press each well.

"How to Tailor a napkin"

Now, fold over the top and bottom edges of the fabric 1/4″. Press well.

"How to Sew a Simple Napkin"

Turn these edges over 1/4″ once again; press and pin.

Napkin is folded at edges and pinned with round headed pin.

Pin the rest of your edges as necessary and then simply sew your seams with a straight or fancy machine stitch.

A napkin sewn together and held with bobby pins.

Press well, and you’re done! (Stay tuned for the embellishment part!!)

A single piece of cloth napkin was available to learn sewing.

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