Sewing Ideas for Cloth Napkins
Napkins are a must for tidy dining, and if you're a green planet enthusiast, only cloth napkins will do. Not much more than a square of cloth, a handmade napkin can still be pretty as well as functional. Considering how easy they are to make, you can have a drawer full of napkins to suit any occasion, from a family breakfast to a formal dinner party.
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The Simple Approach
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For daily use, you may want cloth napkins that are comfortable and easy to wash. For these purposes, the single-layer basic napkin suits the bill. You can make a dozen square pieces of cloth with simple hems to keep on hand so you only have to wash them once a week. A patterned fabric is a good idea for heavy-use napkins, because minor stains will be less visible. If you have a favorite tablecloth or table setting, you can coordinate your napkin colors to match or have a different color for every day of the week.
Edgy Designs
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Even a simple napkin can be dressed up. Add bias tape to the edges of a single-layer fabric napkin instead of sewing a plain hem. You can create a variety of designs from this idea, such as a pattern on one side, a solid on the other, and bias tape in a color that coordinates both. For everyday napkins, use a heavy-duty bias edging to make it more durable. Two cute combinations are bright fabric with a patterned bias tape or a patterned fabric with a solid bias trim.
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Get Stitchy
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If you want to make napkins to give as gifts or make a personalized set, use a sewing machine that does monograms and add initials in a complementary thread color or a deeper tone of the fabric. A two-layer fabric napkin monogrammed with a coordinating thread to match the recipient's dinnerware would be a lovely housewarming gift. If your sewing machine does fancy stitch work, you can add a border or a small design in the corner of the napkins.
Something Different
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Recycling material is an old-fashioned idea that has gotten popular again. Any type of cotton or cotton blend cloth can make a great napkin, from old jeans to a discarded dress shirt. If you want to make it really interesting, use the area that was the pocket and make a jean pocket napkin. Fleece, silk and rayon aren't practical for napkins, though.
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References
- Photo Credit two silver napkin rings and napkins image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
