Napkin set tutorial

Drumroll please! I proudly (actually a little nervously) present my napkin set tutorial! I hope someone finds it useful. I had it in mind to write this when making the original set, and I’ve been spurred on by the very timely Sew Mama Sew tutorial contest.


Okay, a quick disclaimer here: I am not a seasoned tutorial writer – this is my very first attempt at a tutorial, so please do point out if you see any glaring mistakes or omissions.

Right then - best make a start!

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This tutorial is for a set of 6 napkins with a matching linen pouch to store them in. They would make a lovely wedding, engagement, housewarming or hostess gift. The napkins are double-sided and rectangular in shape and they fit neatly into the soft linen pouch when folded into quarters.

Materials
* 1.5 yards of cotton fabric for the right side of the napkins
* 1.5 yards of co-ordinating cotton fabric for the reverse
* a spool of thread to match the napkin fabrics
* a small remnant of natural linen fabric for the pouch, 22 inches x 8 inches
* a spool of thread to match the linen for the pouch

note - you will have some of the cotton fabrics left over for other small projects
I used 100% cotton quilting fabric (from the Blossom line by Moda) for the napkins and made them double-sided, as this gives them a nice weight and a feeling of quality.


Equipment (none of these are essential, though they will help if you have them to hand)
*rotary cutter and cutting mat
*pinking shears



METHOD

PART 1 - napkins

STEP 1: Cut out the following pieces
6 panels measuring 16 inches by 13 inches from the fabric for the right side of the napkins
6 panels measuring 16 inches by 13 inches from the fabric for the reverse of the napkins


tip: using a rotary cutter and mat is ideal for this project and has increased my cutting accuracy 100%. However, a note of caution - do check and recheck your measurements before making that final cut - these napkins were originally meant to be 15 inches by 16 inches, but I cut the final panel 1 inch too small. Cue shaving 1 inch off each of the 11 panels I'd already cut!

*The following steps should be repeated for each of the 6 napkins*

STEP 2
Take one piece of the right side fabric and one piece of the reverse side fabric and place together, right sides facing and pin.




STEP 3
Using a matching spool of thread, sew a 5/8 inch seam around the edge of the napkin leaving a gap of approximately 4 inches open. Be sure to sew to sew a few stitches backwards at each end so that the seam doesn't unravel.


tip: if you click on the picture above to enlarge it, you'll see two sets of double pins on the bottom edge of the napkins - this is to mark the opening through which you'll turn the napkins right side out after stitching them. I find that often if I don't mark this gap I will often lose concentration and sew all the way round, then have to go back and unpick.



STEP 4:
Remove the pins and trim the seam using pinking shears, if you have them (as the napkins are likely to be washed frequently, this will prevent the fabric from fraying so quickly over time), and clip the corners.




STEP 5
Turn the napkin right side out and press, taking particular care with those few inches where you left the turning gap to press the edges in line with the seam.




STEP 6
Using the matching thread, topstitch the napkin approximately 1/4 inch from the edge (I use the edge of my presser foot as a guide). This will close the turning gap you left open in step 3.


tip: as you stop your machine to turn the first corner, snip away the ends of the thread at the beginning of the line of stitching so that they don't become tangled in your machine when you meet the first stitches after sewing all the way round your napkin.

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Ta da! You have a set of 6 napkins, so now on to the pouch ... (this follows in my next post)