Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Napkin Tutorial

So many friends have been asking me how I make my napkins, that I thought I would post a tutorial on how to do it.  My friend Linda was cranking these out as last minute gifts, and I just had to do it too.  The napkins are super easy.  I apologize for the quality of my photos.  It is dark and gloomy here where I live and I just can’t get the proper lighting. 

Here is what you need to make four napkins:

1 yard EACH of two contrasting fabrics–it is fun to pick novelty, food theme, & holiday fabrics for these.

For my example, I used an olive print fabric and a matching solid.

From EACH yard, cut two 21 1/2" squares and two 14 1/2" squares.

Staystitch one half inch along the edges of all the large squares.  This will be your pressing line.

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Fold and press on your stitching line.

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Now you need to make a template for your mitering angle.  Cut a four inch square out of stiff paper or cardboard.  Cut the square diagonally into two triangles.  Use one of the triangles as your template.  Place the template on each of the four corners of the napkin and mark with chalk.  This will be your stitching line to get a perfect mitered corner.

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Then match up your chalk lines perfectly, pin and stitch on the chalk line.

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Trim one quarter inch away from the stitching line, and crop the corner a bit so you get a nice sharp point when you turn it right side out.

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Turn your napkin right side out and press, using Sizing.  This will make the fabric all crisp and nice.

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Carefully place your contrasting smaller square under the mitered edges, lining it up as evenly as you can.  And this is CRITICAL:  make sure the straight of grain of the fabric is going the same direction when you line up both pieces.  Otherwise, when laundered, the napkin will shift and get all wonky.

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Pin, and do two rows of topstitching all around the inside edges.  I did one line right on the edge of the olive fabric where it meets the solid, and another line about one presser foot’s width away.

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You will end up with four napkins, two of which will be the reverse of the other two.

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Now comes the fun part.  Find some baskets or other container to arrange the napkins in, and fill it with items that go with your theme.  Here are two ideas:

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Now, if you have stuck with me this far, I will end with a photo that captures my life.  Every minute that I am sewing, this is what I have on my knee:

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"Are you done yet?  Play with me, play with me, play with me…"

54 responses to “Napkin Tutorial”

  1. Great napkin tutorial Mom!! Ozzie is getting so big!! I can’t wait to give him the special present I made!!!!

  2. Great napkin tutorial Mom!! Ozzie is getting so big!! I can’t wait to give him the special present I made!!!!

  3. OMG, thank you so much for the wonderful step by step tutorial. Perfect.
    I love the fabrics you have chosen, espicially the cherries. Your baskets are awesome.
    Your little dog is the cutest little thing.
    I to have a big dog next to me all day. She espicially loves the sewing room, haa, could be because I’m in there alot.
    thanks again. Can’t wait to get started on some.
    deb

  4. OMG, thank you so much for the wonderful step by step tutorial. Perfect.
    I love the fabrics you have chosen, espicially the cherries. Your baskets are awesome.
    Your little dog is the cutest little thing.
    I to have a big dog next to me all day. She espicially loves the sewing room, haa, could be because I’m in there alot.
    thanks again. Can’t wait to get started on some.
    deb

  9. Oh MAN, I love this tutorial! I wish I had known about it two years ago… I could’ve made lovely napkin baskets as wedding gifts. I had over 10 weddings in 2006 and this would’ve saved me a LOT of money! 🙂

  10. Oh MAN, I love this tutorial! I wish I had known about it two years ago… I could’ve made lovely napkin baskets as wedding gifts. I had over 10 weddings in 2006 and this would’ve saved me a LOT of money! 🙂

  11. You wrote: And this is CRITICAL: make sure the straight of grain of the fabric is going the same direction when you line up both pieces. Otherwise, when laundered, the napkin will shift and get all wonky.
    Ok, I have a stupid question. How do you determine the straight of grain of the fabric?
    Thanks!
    Kathy/IL

  12. You wrote: And this is CRITICAL: make sure the straight of grain of the fabric is going the same direction when you line up both pieces. Otherwise, when laundered, the napkin will shift and get all wonky.
    Ok, I have a stupid question. How do you determine the straight of grain of the fabric?
    Thanks!
    Kathy/IL

  13. Thank you for the tutorial! Love the tip for the mitered corners. Seems a lot easier than the one I saw from Pam D’Amour (the decorating Diva of UpState NY). I almost bought her dvd it was complicated! lol Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday!

  14. Thank you for the tutorial! Love the tip for the mitered corners. Seems a lot easier than the one I saw from Pam D’Amour (the decorating Diva of UpState NY). I almost bought her dvd it was complicated! lol Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday!

  15. Has anyone taken the time to tell you today how cool you are?
    You’re so cool! I dig these. The whole thing is neat. Very nice of you to take the time out of your day to pull this together for us.

  16. Has anyone taken the time to tell you today how cool you are?
    You’re so cool! I dig these. The whole thing is neat. Very nice of you to take the time out of your day to pull this together for us.

  23. Thank you for the wonderful tutorial, Nicole! I think your photos are excellent, especially the one of your 4-legged friend! He is the cutest boy!!

  24. Thank you for the wonderful tutorial, Nicole! I think your photos are excellent, especially the one of your 4-legged friend! He is the cutest boy!!

  25. Great tutorial Nichole. You are just wiping these out aren’t you. Hi Ozzie, you are just too cute. Where is his Santa antlers.

  26. Great tutorial Nichole. You are just wiping these out aren’t you. Hi Ozzie, you are just too cute. Where is his Santa antlers.

  27. Thanks so much for the wonderful step by step tutorial!! Can’t wait to make some napkins. That Ozzie, what a face. He has captured all our hearts, you are lucky to have him! Enjoy the Tortilla Soup!!!!

  28. Thanks so much for the wonderful step by step tutorial!! Can’t wait to make some napkins. That Ozzie, what a face. He has captured all our hearts, you are lucky to have him! Enjoy the Tortilla Soup!!!!

  29. Nicole, how can you treat poor Ozzie so badly! Poor thing! lol Thank you so much for this tutorial. I was going to ask you how you did these, but was going to wait until after Christmas. They are really neat!

  30. Nicole, how can you treat poor Ozzie so badly! Poor thing! lol Thank you so much for this tutorial. I was going to ask you how you did these, but was going to wait until after Christmas. They are really neat!

  31. That picture of Ozzie is soooo cute. You can read in his eyes and facial expression how much he wants your undivided attention. He is a sweetheart 🙂
    Thanks for taking the time during this hectic season and all that wrapping that you have left to do to put together this tutorial. I’m practicing after the holidays on making these and then being on the lookout for fun fabric to make some up.
    Happy Holidays – Hugs – Karen

  32. That picture of Ozzie is soooo cute. You can read in his eyes and facial expression how much he wants your undivided attention. He is a sweetheart 🙂
    Thanks for taking the time during this hectic season and all that wrapping that you have left to do to put together this tutorial. I’m practicing after the holidays on making these and then being on the lookout for fun fabric to make some up.
    Happy Holidays – Hugs – Karen

  35. Oh, thank you so much for the tutorial! What a gift for all of us…and we thank you most sincerely.
    What strikes me most about this whole idea is that it is a gift that is perfect for anyone, anytime, anywhere…you can adapt it for virtually every occasion. How great is that? Love your suggestions. Very inspiring.
    I am thinking, too, that you should do more tutorials! Great job.
    Lastly, how do you get any work done at all with Ozzie’s cute little face looking at you like that? Go play…go play…go play…with OZZIE! Very cute.

  36. Oh, thank you so much for the tutorial! What a gift for all of us…and we thank you most sincerely.
    What strikes me most about this whole idea is that it is a gift that is perfect for anyone, anytime, anywhere…you can adapt it for virtually every occasion. How great is that? Love your suggestions. Very inspiring.
    I am thinking, too, that you should do more tutorials! Great job.
    Lastly, how do you get any work done at all with Ozzie’s cute little face looking at you like that? Go play…go play…go play…with OZZIE! Very cute.

  39. Thanks for a great tutorial. I’ve been looking for a napkin tutorial and as soon as I can unpack my sewing room I’m going to make some napkins.

  40. Thanks for a great tutorial. I’ve been looking for a napkin tutorial and as soon as I can unpack my sewing room I’m going to make some napkins.

  45. I was enjoying your photos on making the napkins. Then I scrolled to the one where your dog is wanting you to play and BAM! I spotted the large Sees Candy bag on the floor. Aha! We love it too and had waaaaaay too much of it at our house during Christmas. In fact, the Lord of the Manor *overbought* and we still have it at home. And at work. How can I start my new eating plan with that stuff staring at me?
    Laura from Amongst The Oaks

  46. I was enjoying your photos on making the napkins. Then I scrolled to the one where your dog is wanting you to play and BAM! I spotted the large Sees Candy bag on the floor. Aha! We love it too and had waaaaaay too much of it at our house during Christmas. In fact, the Lord of the Manor *overbought* and we still have it at home. And at work. How can I start my new eating plan with that stuff staring at me?
    Laura from Amongst The Oaks

  47. Hi!
    I loved your explanation. Can’t wait to start with these napkins!!! Although we are spanish-speakers, I forwarded this tutorial to my patchwork mates. The photographs are so good, no words are needed!!!

  48. Hi!
    I loved your explanation. Can’t wait to start with these napkins!!! Although we are spanish-speakers, I forwarded this tutorial to my patchwork mates. The photographs are so good, no words are needed!!!

  49. I Love this idea…..great job I will be making it for my friends and family special events…..

  50. I Love this idea…..great job I will be making it for my friends and family special events…..

  51. Thank you, thank you….I’ve used your directions to make beautiful linen napkins in cranberry color….for a neighbors birthday….they came out PERFECT! My dog is cute too….she’s a wheaten terrier, and hates to have her picture taken…..must be the flash….her name is Maggie…..

  52. Thank you, thank you….I’ve used your directions to make beautiful linen napkins in cranberry color….for a neighbors birthday….they came out PERFECT! My dog is cute too….she’s a wheaten terrier, and hates to have her picture taken…..must be the flash….her name is Maggie…..

  53. This was so helpful to me and sooooooooo easy. I even took my napkin to our local Sewing Guild and showed them how to get a perfect mitered corner every time. We were all amazed as to how easy it was. Thank you so much. Anita

  54. This was so helpful to me and sooooooooo easy. I even took my napkin to our local Sewing Guild and showed them how to get a perfect mitered corner every time. We were all amazed as to how easy it was. Thank you so much. Anita