Tutorial and Pattern: Cloth Napkins 5 Ways

Remember that cloth napkin project I've had going on all summer? Well, it's finally done, dammit. I mean, dangit. Done. O-V-E-R. 40 napkins complete and folded and stacked neatly in a basket in our kitchen awaiting dirty faces and greasy hands. Bu-bye paper napkins. Fare thee well.

BUT, I thought you might like to start your own personal cloth napkin project--so I whipped up a little tutorial for you that covers the five styles of napkins I made:

1. The basic, no-frills napkin (see original post here and here)
2. The sweet and simple rick rack variety (original post here)
3. The pretty ruffled one (original post here)
4. The bossy "EAT" applique napkin (original post here)
5. The embroidered vintage happy face napkin (see below)

The tutorial includes step-by-step instructions with a few illustrations, and patterns where necessary. You can pick it up right here:
DOWNLOAD NAPKIN TUTORIAL
Also, I was thinking, I am going to do my very best to put up several tutorials between now and the holidays--to do what I can to support all of you in making and giving your own handmade gifts. Handmade is important. It means more--but I don't need to tell you that, do I ? My dear clever readers know exactly where I am coming from--I'm sure of it. Anyway, so the napkin tutorial is the first in several more to come over the impending weeks as the holidays bear down upon us all--because someone on your holiday gift giving list just may be in need of some cloth napkins--whether they know it or not. And a couple more things I want to point out--like the final two napkin varieties I made to finish up my crazed napkin project...yes, these vintage-inspired happy faces that I embroidered onto the corner of some linen napkins. Sweet, non? And also, easy-peasy because I did not finish the edges so all I had to do was sit on my arse with embroidery hoop, needle and napkin and embroider away while the autumn wind rampaged outdoors. And yes, the embroidery pattern for these is in the tutorial, if you care. (and I think these may be my favorites of all the varieties made--these and the "EAT" ones)And finally, remember those yellow ruffled napkins I made earlier? The 70's tux looking ones? Well, here they are revisited with a more sedate and modest ruffle in white on white. And this was EXACTLY what I was aiming for when I decided to do something with a ruffle. Much more demure and lovely, much less like a 1970's prom tux and polyester prom dress cast aside in a pile on the floor of a cheap motel. But hey, if you like that sort of thing--by all means, make those ruffles bigger because I included the ruffle measurements for both of the napkins in the tutorial.
Oh, and if you want to see more photos of the napkins for reference--find them all here.