I am in the holiday making mode. I have my little Santa helper hat on and my tootsies are snuggle warm in my elf shoes. (Okay, I have wide feet, I don’t own elf slippers.)  So here is a quick, easy, and frugal holiday gift idea…linen napkins.

Need:

• 2.5 yrds linen fabric at 45″ wide makes about (8) 20″ square napkins (a lot of linen fabric is blended with rayon for durability and “wearability.” Although these launder and press nicely at home, I prefer 100% linen. It feels nicer to the hand, heavier and has a nice pebbled look. If you like a perfectly pressed crisp napkin, select the synthetic blend fabric.)
• matching thread
• sewing machine
• slide ruler
• straight pins (optional)
• an iron with a steam setting
• fabric scissors

How to:

1. Pre-wash your fabric. Whether you get it from the thrift store or the fabric store, wash it before sewing to get those chemicals off and to pre-shrink the piece. Nothing is worse than seeing your hard work shrink to doll-house size in the dryer.

2.  Cut (8) 21″ squares from your fabric. (You will be able to get two per width.)

3. Make a narrow hem on each of the four edges.

Use your slide ruler measure and fold up a 1/2″ hem (pin if you need to) and press the edges in this order:

Next, tuck under the raw edge 1/4″ and pin and press in place in the same order.

4. Fire up your sewing machine and stitch the hem folds close the edge, starting at any corner, and back stitch at the beginning and the end.

5. Repeat on each of the other napkin squares, invite some friends over to dine, and use your new cloth napkins to save paper and our environment.

My mom likes red, so I used red linen and kept things simple, but here are some other tidbits and ideas for your DIY project.

Be warned you will spend most of your time with your iron working this project, but the reward is the sewing is super quick and easy. A straight edge, a self-healing mat, and a rotary cutter makes cutting napkin squares a cinch. If you’d like to make smaller napkins for little hands, simply decide which square size you’d like and add a 1/2″ seam allowance on all sides. Embellish your napkin with a personalized machine or hand embroidered design or monogram or use a fun print pattern.

Cloth napkins don’t have to be expensive. A vintage table cloth purchased from your local thrift store is only few dollars and affords the yardage to create a new set of lovely napkins. Or repurpose your old table linens, and create something new from something you don’t need anymore. I like using a sturdy fabric that has a hefty feeling. If you’d like something  a bit more “refined” go for a lighter woven cotton fabric. Remember that your napkins can get stained, and that is okay. Simply set the cloth aside for your next project, like a stuffed animal friend, a patch pocket on your next jumper, or a warm snuggly quilt.

I am off to sew some more enviro-friendly napkins for my family who uses, I swear, 10 napkins per meal…one for each person, one for the juice spill, one for the dish of macaroni turned on to the floor, one for the apple sauce in the hair, one for the popsicle smear on the knee….you get the idea…