Cloth Napkins are a fun touch to any table setting…
and they are easy to make. If your older family member or friend enjoys some hand sewing, this is an easy craft to make for home or to give as gifts.
Materials and Supplies Needed:
Cotton Fabric (About 1 yard for 4 cloth napkins or ½ yard for 2 napkins)
Needle and Thread
Scissors
Ruler or other measuring tool you have
iron and ironing board
Directions for Cloth Napkins:
- Before you begin you may wish to wash your fabric and then iron it.
- Cloth napkins generally come in various sizes: 16″ x 16″, 18″ x 18″, 20″ x 20″, or 21″ x 21″. You can make yours to the size you prefer. When you cut, add an inch to account for hemming. For example, we used the smallest size 16″ x 16″ , but cut it 17″ x 17″.
- After you have cut your fabric for all napkins, iron a double-folded hem into the napkin on all sides. I used a ½ hem and then folded that under another ¼”. So each side will have a total of a ½” hem which is then folded under to a ¼” hem. Pin this in place if you wish.
- Using a needle and thread, sew the hem in place. Let your older family member use whatever sewing stitch she prefers, but a running stitch is quite easy. Running stitches use small stitches and basically run the needle up through the right side of the fabric and down through the wrong side, staying next to the edge of the hem. Hide your knots within the hem.
- You may wish to iron your hem again when you are finished stitching.
- Enjoy your cloth napkins or your loved one can give as a gift to someone they love.
Considerations:
- This can be done on a sewing machine as well, if your loved one still enjoys machine sewing.
- You may want or need to help with as many steps as possible, especially ironing in a hem, or helping to measure.