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You know what the perfect project is to practice straight-line sewing on the machine? Making some fancy schmancy cloth napkins! You get to practice sewing around the edge with a nice, straight, 1/4 inch seam allowance, and then you get to go around the edge again with a topstitch. So here's a free pattern for you.
For each napkin you'll need:
- Two squares of fabric. I use 12-inch squares but you could go a little larger or smaller if you like. The two fabrics can match, can coordinate, or can be completely random - it's all up to you. I usually use a print and a solid that I think looks good with it.
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pins
If you want to get really fancy you can embroider on one of the squares of fabric before you sew them together. Maybe an initial? Or a flower? Or a small beetle? Draw whatever you like right on the fabric and then choose an outline stitch from the embroidery school and stitch over your drawing.
We have a big stack of colorful napkins in our house and everyone has their own favorites. This is a great way to use up random bits of favorite fabrics.
Best,
Wendi
Thank you so much for posting this. I'm slowly teaching myself to learn how to sew for real. I had dabbled with sewing n the past but had no idea what I was doing, so I'm looking forward to some real beginner sewing lessons! I cannot wait to make these. I've looked over the directions ten times already, and even I think I can handle them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anastacia! I'm so glad the lessons have been helpful to you so far. Please show off what you make! I just set up a Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1600245@N21/ where people can post photos of their projects. I love seeing what people make with my patterns!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendi! I am trying extra hard to convert Hubby to cloth napkins for many reasons!
ReplyDeleteI love them - and my husband does now, too. I think he was a little sceptical at first. He thought the size in this pattern was too small so I made some much bigger and he loves them.
ReplyDeleteWendi, I love your blog. I have been embroidering the wrong way all of these years. Your tutorials are wonderful. I have a blog also and I have been doing tutorials. I'm just getting started and I could use some of your tips. It seems to take me forever to do a tutorial and I just do pictures without using the digital videos. Could you tell me any way to make my tutorials easier?
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (quiltlikecrazy@hotmail.com).