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I am working on a little project that needs cloth napkins (stay tuned…) and thought making cloth napkins would also be great for Earth Day (April 22)!

Here are two versions, one with  mitered corners and the other with square corners. First pre-wash the fabric. Cut fabric into a square 1″ larger than the desired finished size. I cut 17 inch squares so that I would have 16 inch napkins.

Mitered Corner Napkin Instructions

Iron edge over 1/4 inch.

miternapkin1Moving clockwise, iron next edge 1/4 inch over. Iron all four sides then fold first side over again another 1/4 inch. Do all four sides moving clockwise.

miternapkin3Open up corner.

miternapkin4Cut off top of corner.

miternapkin5Fold top edge down (to corner of second fold line) and iron.

miternapkin6Fold the side edge  to the middle on each side (folding on press lines – fold side down then fold again to make corner). Repeat until all four sides have mitered corners.

miternapkin7

Sew all the way around the edge of napkin.

miternapkin8Finished with a mitered corner napkin!

miternapkin9

Square Corner Napkin Instructions

To make a napkin with square corners, iron edge over 1/4 inch. Moving in clockwise direction iron next side 1/4 inch until all four sides have been pressed 1/4 inch.

napkin10Now fold over edges another 1/4 inch (moving in a clockwise direction).

napkin11When all four sides have been folded over twice, sew all the way around the edge of the napkin. I think most people sew straight off the edge on each side, but my sewing machine doesn’t like sewing through those layers.

napkin12

I also like the way it looks from the front.

napkin13

Finished!

napkin14


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Comments

  1. Found your site through Pinterest and I love it. Thanks for all of the beautifully photographed and detailed tutorials. I’ve made napkins and makeup pouches with your help. I’m addicted!

  2. Wow, I am surprised to see two people who are aso industrious to make 200 napkins each, for weddings! Good luck! I am sure you will both have stories to tell us when you are done! You will each be masters at this. I am concerned to make 4, for a shower gift! Am trying to figure out the nicest way to edge them.
    I personnally would wash the fabric first, so that you don’t come up with any suprises when you go to make the quilt later. I have had fabric that I thought was just fine, and then after washing it, it stretched , or was not what I wanted. You don’t want to put that much energy into a project and then find out it is not the way you wanted it. Hopefully the fabric will look crisp and vibrant for many washings to come. Good luck to all!

  3. Hi, I am also making 200 napkins for my friends wedding! AND, I’m also wondering if I should pre-wash the fabric. If I was just going to use the napkins for the wedding, then I would definitely wash them. However, I plan on using the napkins afterwards to make a quilt for my friend. I’m afraid that the pre-wash and then the afte-dinner wash will take away from the crisp, bright, new fabric that I want the quilt to have! Am I being silly to think that two washes will do that? 😉 Thanks for your help!!!

  4. Thanks for the reminder and illistrations they were excellent.
    I made napkins before and only like the triangle courners the others in my opp. look careless.
    I also crochet hand towel tops / top I put a strong snap on this was the present for my kids they loved the sets so much… Ann

  5. #55 response. I would definitely wash and press your fabric first. Even if you are not going to use them after the wedding, they will be softer and smell better. 🙂 Good luck….sounds like you have a lot to do! Congratulations.

  6. Hi!! So happy I found your cloth napkin DIY tutorial! I am getting ready to make 200 of these for my wedding and I have purchased all of the cotton fabric. Should I cut the fabric into the right size squares first, or pre-wash the fabric first? How should I pre-wash the fabric? On gentle with detergent, or no detergent? Thank you so much!!

  7. To reduce the bulk (for your machine) on the squared corners, simply cut the 90 degree angle off the folds (same area where you cut the ‘triangle’ for mitered corners. Then refold and sew as usual. Hope that makes sense!

  8. Wow, Thank you! I’ve been trying my hand at quilt making this is going to be so helpful, your awesome! Jean

  9. Just found your tutorial for making napkins & L-0-0-0-0-V-E it! I’m a beginner at sewing & couldn’t figure out how to miter the corners – your pictures are super. Thanks so much 🙂

  10. When mitering corners, I don’t mark, I just iron the fold lines in place on all 4 sides. Then I fold the corner in, and trim it as shown. I love that sewing it doesn’t require pinning!

  11. This was so useful and well instructed. I did exactly as you said and my napkins were perfect!

  12. how big do the napkins need to be? i’m trying to make his and her napkins for my hopechest and great tuterial

  13. Thanks for the tutorial!! Used it for the baby shower I’m throwing this weekend!!~

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