How to Make a Beautiful Napkin Ring

Make napkin rings with recycled cardboard tubes.

Napkin rings are little accessories that can really add personality and an extra pop of color to a table setting. While napkin rings are readily available in stores, you can make your own using a recycled plastic wrap tube. This will allow you to customize the napkin ring to exactly fit your personal taste and decor. These homemade napkin rings also make great, personalized gifts. In addition to the plastic-wrap tube, this project requires some other materials that can be purchased at a craft or fabric store.

Things You'll Need

• Empty plastic-wrap tube
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Utility knife
• 1/4 yard no-sew interfacing
• Clear tape
• 1/4 yard fabric
• Rotary fabric cutter
• Cutting mat
• Clear acrylic ruler
• Fabric glue or double-sided tape
• 1 yard grosgrain ribbon
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Measure 1-3/8 inches with the measuring tape, starting at one end of the tube, and mark it around the circumference of the tube with a pencil. Continue this procedure along the entire length of the tube. The tube should now be divided into approximately 6 to 8 sections, depending on the length of your tube.

2. Cut each of the sections out of the tube, using the pencil marks as guidelines, with a sharp utility knife. Each of these sections can be used to make a napkin ring.

3. Cut a few strips of interfacing with scissors -- equal to the amount of rings you are making -- 1-3/8 inches wide and 5-3/4 inches tall. These strips will be used to cover up any spots or adhesive marks on the tube.

4. Attach one end of one of the interfacing strips to one of the rings with some clear tape. Roll the rest of the interfacing around the ring and then secure it with another piece of tape. Repeat this step with all the rings.

5. Cut fabric into equal strips that are 3-1/2 inches wide and 5-3/4 inches tall using a rotary fabric cutter on a cutting mat for a clean, non-frayed edge. Use a clear acrylic ruler to make accurate measurements while cutting the fabric.

6. Lay one of the fabric strips on a flat surface, patterned-side down, and place a ring in the center of it. Secure one end of the fabric to the ring with fabric glue or double-sided tape.

7. Roll the fabric tightly around the ring, making sure there are no folds or loose areas in the fabric, and then secure the other end to the ring with some fabric glue.

8. Put some fabric glue around the circumference of one end of the fabric and fold it into the ring. Repeat with the other end. The raw edges of the fabric should now meet inside the ring.

9. Cut one 4-1/2-inch strip of ribbon for each ring. This will be used to conceal the raw fabric edges inside the ring.

10. Spread a layer of fabric glue on one side of the ribbon. Curl it into a loop and then place it inside the ring, making sure it sticks on top of and conceals the raw fabric edges.

11. Let the completed napkin rings dry for at least 24 hours before using.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not substitute the plastic-wrap tube for a toilet-paper or paper-towel tube, as these types of tubes are thin and not durable.

References

• Merriment Design: Recycled Fabric Napkin Rings From Saran Wrap Tubes