Cloth dinner napkins are a "good" thing for many reasons. They save on the environment by saving trees and room in the landfill, it actually takes less energy to launder cloth napkins than it does to make and throw away a paper napkin, and a cloth napkin can be used for more than one meal unless it is a messy meal. Have a special place to put them from one meal to another.

LET'S MAKE A CLOTH NAPKIN

Hemmed edge
Fringed edge

Cloth napkins can be many sizes so you can use the materials you have on hand to best advantage. In these instructions I will be concentrating on using new cotton broadcloth sold in a 45 inch width. You can purchase this fabric by clicking on this link to see our cotton prints, some are even on clearance so you will save even more.

• Decide the finished size of your napkin
  
  12 inch square:
  1 ½ yard of fabric will give you 12 napkins
  Hemmed edge will be cut 13 inches square
  Fringed edge will be cut 12 inches square
  
  16 inch square:
  3 yards of fabric will give you 12 napkins
  Hemmed edge will be cut 17 inches square
  Fringed edge will be cut 16 inches square
  
  NOTE: If you select a different size napkin add 1 inch to the size of the square for a hemmed edge on the napkin and for a fringed edge cut the finished size.
  
  
• Straighten the cut edge of your fabric so it is on grain and your napkins will fold evenly. Click here for instructions on how to straighten woven fabrics.
  
  
• Cutting the napkins.When using new cloth I trim the selvedge and then measure over the desired amount for the size of my napkins and use a piece of fabric from the length of the fabric. Measure the fabric strip and cut or tear to get a square.

NOTE: On the 16 inch napkins you can get 2 strips of fabric for your napkins and use the leftover strip for a tablerunner.

• Finishing the edge of your napkins
  
  Hemmed Edge: Press a narrow ¼ inch along all edges and then another ¼ inch edge.
  
  CREATING A MITERED CORNER
  
  Fold the corners diagonally along the 2nd pressed edge. Trim with a scissor some of the corner along the first pressed edge on the diagonal. Press the hems in with the diagonal piece inside. The pressed edges should meet and a nice sharp point should be created on the finished edge. Do same to all corners of each square.
  
  
  HAND STITCHED HEM
  
  If you need a "take with you" project you can hand stitch the hems of these napkins. Use a coordinating sewing thread about 18 inches long and a medium hand sewing needle that is comfortable for you. Use a single thread and begin along one edge. Insert your needle into the upper fold leaving a tail of your sewing thread. Backstitch to knot your thread into the fabric. Use a slip stitch to make a mostly invisible hemming stitch. To do this insert the needle into the fold close to where you inserted the thread. Slip the needle along the fold for about ¼ inch and out to pick up a single thread of the main part of the napkin. Then slip the needle and thread back into the fold of the hem. Every 3 stitches take an extra stitch in the fold of the hem to secure your hem.
  
  
  MACHINE HEM
  
  Use a sewing machine needle for Woven Fabrics and a medium size for example a size 14 from Singer. Sewing thread can match the background color of your fabric or be a contrast to create interest. The stitch length should be around a 10. Stitch close to the upper fold of the pressed hem. Remember to backstitch a couple of stitches when you begin and when you end. Clip the threads when finished.
  
  
  FINISHING TOUCHES
  
  Press your napkins with a steam iron set for the fabric type, in this case Cotton.
  
  Practice some special folds for your napkins to give your table some Pizzaz.