My favorite napkins sewalong * added to downloads

I make napkins only a couple times a year and every time I do I have to reinvent the wheel because I've forgotten all the details of my favorite mitered corner technique. So last night I decided to make a sewalong. I was cracking myself up using the piggy fabric for napkins. :D


I like generously sized napkins, so I start with an 18" square of fabric. Flannel is one of my favorites and I also really like linen. I use my ruler to make a line 1¼" from each side on the right side of the fabric and then mark extra dark at the corner intersections so that mark can also be seen from the wrong side of the fabric.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkina1.jpg

Then I finish the edges by serging, not cutting anything off. This isn't necessary, but I like to use my favorite corner turning technique (thanks to Marcey/lovebugsmom for this). Go one stitch off the edge...
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinb1.jpg

pull the threads to the back and off of the stitch fingers...
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinc1.jpg

turn the fabric 90 degrees and line it up so the first stitch will be right on the edge of the fabric. I like to take up the slack of the threads by pulling them back toward the spools (this trick courtesy of Heather/xheathers).
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkind1.jpg

Press the serged edge under, this pressed edge will come in handy later.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkine1.jpg

Now let's miter the corners. Fold and press each corner so the serging lines up. Can you see the blue dot at the bottom, it should be right on the pressed fold.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinf1.jpg


Now you'll fold at that blue dot, still keeping the serged edges lining up. Mark from the blue dot up to the serged edge, this will be your stitching line.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napking1.jpg


Stitch the corners up to, but not over, the serged edge
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinh1.jpg

and trim the excess.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkini1.jpg

gently push out your corners, press the edges under, the blue line should be right on the edge, then repress the serged edge under.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinj1.jpg

Now take your napkin to the machine and sew all the way around. If you pivot at the corners when your needle is exactly in the mitered seam, you'll be perfectly lined up to start the next side.
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinm1.jpg

Voilà, a finished napkin with perfectly mitered corners!
http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/gallery...6/napkinn1.jpg

subbing. :)

I'll definately want to make these. My napkins are in a sad sad state right now. Ok, officially, they should be reclassified as rags. :p

Those look so nice. I'm so lame I just do round corner serged napkins. I'm with you flannel is my fave napkin fabric.

Excellent! Thank you SO much! I am in desperate need of new napkins for the table!

Awesome sew-a-long!! Can we add this to the downloads?

Thanks Jayme!

Tara

YAY!! just what I needed to motivate me to make a set of napkins.
Thanks!!!

So cute! This technique also looks good with two layers, and you leave the serge finished edges showing on one side as a border. I've done placemats that way, using a decorative thread in the upper looper.

:claphands:
Very useful sewalong! Thank you for taking the time to do this :)

sweet! Thanks for the sewalong and I agree, let's archive this baby.

Thank you Jayme!! I'm going to have to try this (as soon as I sew up the huge pile I cut out last weekend).

You are so great at sewalongs!

Perfect! Thank you! Now, let's see if I make any....

I do need to test out the new serger blade I put on the machine!

Great sewalong!!!!

This is actually my favorite way to make light nursing blankets from flannel. I received one like this with my daughter (now almost nine) and have made several since then for gifts. It works well for a quick gift, and because the edges are "weighted" for lack of a better word, they seem to drape really well for nursing while not being hot.

My hem tends to be about 2.5 inches wide for blankets.

~Christy

Thanks I will have to try those. I have not done any like this.
Oh and I love the pig flannel

Those look great! I've gotta give it a try!

Way easier than the way I do it! Thanks for shairing this!

This is wonderful, my MIL would love a set of those! Score a christmas idea. Thanks

Thank you for sharing! I have just been using my roll hem attachment. Mitered corners seem much more polished!

bump

:) Your napkins are way more pretty than mine. I love how you did them - much more effective than the way I have been doing them.