How to Make Cloth Napkins - 2 Easy Ways for Beginners

Think of how impressed your guests will be when you show them you know how to make cloth napkins yourself! Create an elegant dinner setting with handmade DIY cloth napkins with mitered corners or simple reversible napkins. Best of all, this project is fat quarter friendly, so you will have an amazing choice of fabrics to match your home decor.

How to Make Cloth Napkins Tutorial

This cloth napkin DIY tutorial will show you how to make napkins 2 ways:

1. Reversible - These are the fastest type and the best for beginner sewers. Because they are 2 sided and reversible, they are great for adding a pop of color to your table.
2. Mitered Corners - These traditional unlined napkins have hemmed edges and are usually made from linen.

Supplies for Making Napkins

• FABRIC - Natural absorbent fabric in light to medium weights.
• SEWING BASICS - Sewing machine, thread, pins, scissors or rotary cutter and cutting mat, ruler.
• PRESSING TOOLS - Iron and ironing board.

Best Fabrics for Sewing Napkins

The best fabrics to use for reversible napkins are pure cotton and linens that will absorb any mess. I like to use cotton quilting fabrics on one side and then absorbent fine linen for the other. Suitable fabrics for cloth napkins include:

• Fine Linen - Linen is a natural fabric that is absorbent. Keep in mind that linen creases more easily, so you will likely need to iron your linen napkins after each wash.
• Quilting Cotton - This is great for patterned napkins. Look for fat quarters, which are a great size for smaller napkins. The dense weave of quilting cotton absorbs moisture well and is perfect for making napkins.
• Drill - Drill is a heavier cotton. It is absorbent but prone to wrinkling.
• Polyester Cotton - Cotton blends have the advantage that they are wrinkle-resistant. They are not as absorbent, however.

Cloth napkins don't need to be plain fabric. Celebrate special occasions with a patterned fun fabric. If you are hosting Christmas this year, make some Christmas-themed napkins to impress your guests.

Before you start sewing napkins, prewash your fabric in order to prevent shrinkage later. Natural fabrics such as linen and cotton tend to shrink in the wash. Use a wash temperature the same as you will launder your finished napkins.

Cloth Napkin Size

Fabric napkin sizes can vary enormously in sizes, starting at 9 inches (23cm) and going anywhere up to 26 inches (66cm) for large formal dinner napkins.

I like to cut my squares 14 inches which means I can get 3 napkins across a 44-inch (112cm) wide fabric. You could also make dinner napkins from fat quarters of fabric.

What size should cloth napkins be? There is no right or wrong but generally, the more formal the dinner, the larger the napkins.

Here are some common finished standard napkin sizes:

• Cocktail - 6 to 9 inches square
• Tea Napkins - 12 inches square
• Lunch Napkins - 14 inches square
• Dinner Table Napkins - 18 to 20 inches square
• Formal Napkins - 22 to 26 inches square

FABRIC SAVING TIP: Plan ahead to get the maximum number of napkins from the width of your fabric.

Cloth Napkin Pattern

When making a cloth napkin sewing pattern, you will just cut a square and add seam allowance.

• STYLE 1 (Reversible) - Add ½ inch (12mm) seam allowance all around the size you require and cut 2 equal fabric squares. (add 1 inch to finished size)
• STYLE 2 (Mitered Corners) Add ¾ inch (2cm) seam allowance all around the square and cut 1 piece. (added 1.5 inch to finished size)

How to Make Cloth Napkins Video Tutorial

Here is a YouTube video I made for you on how to make napkins if you would like to watch how it is done. Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly sewing and craft videos.

How to Make Cloth Napkins Reversible Style

You can sew napkins that are reversible in under 5 minutes, and they are fat-quarter-friendly. Here are the step by step instructions.

Step 1 - Sew Napkins Seam

Put your two fabric squares with right sides together and stitch around the outside with a ½ inch (12mm) seam and leaving a 2 inch (5cm) gap on one side.

Step 2 - Clip and Turn

Clip the corners and turn the napkin to the right side through the gap in the side.

Step 3 - Turn and Press

Give the napkin a good press, making sure the corners are well poked out. Press the seam allowance at the gap to the inside.

Step 4 - Topstitch the Edges

Topstitch all the way around close to the edge ⅛ inch (3mm)) from the edge. This will close your gap. Give it a final press with a steam iron, and you are all set to start planning your dinner party. Have fun!

How to Make Napkins With Mitered Corners

I have made a dinner napkin using this technique, but the below steps of mitering a corner can also be used on quilts, clothing, and sewing projects. Learn how to sew cloth napkins with hems.

Step 1 - Press First Edge

Trim a fat quarter of fabric into an 18x18 inch (45.7x45.7cm) square. On the WRONG side of the fabric, press over one edge by ¼ inch (6mm) and ½ inch (12mm) again.

Step 2 - Press Second Edge

Press the next edge over by the same amounts - ¼ inch (6mm) and ½ inch (12mm). It will be a little thick at the corner, so use some steam to get it to sit as flat as possible.

Step 3 - Open the Pressed Edge

Open up the pressed edges and you will see that we have some interesting creases. I have marked the lines to make it easier for you to see.

Step 4 - Cut and Mark

Mark a diagonal line through the corners of the center square as shown.

Cut across your first marked line. Mark a diagonal line through the inner crease point.

Press over on this mark as shown below. Be careful not to press the other creased edges as you will need them in the next step.

Step 5 - Refold and Stitch

Fold up your pressed edges again and pin the corner well. Repeat for the other 3 corners. Give it an extra press if the edges are no longer crisp.

Stitch all the way around the napkin along the hem folded edge. At the corners, stop with the needle down, lift the foot and pivot, and then lower the foot for the next edge.

Decorating Cloth Napkins

There are many ways you can decorate your DIY cloth napkins.

• Embroidery - Embroidery flowers or hand-stitched leaves can elevate your napkins to something unique. Embroidery letters mean you can further personalize your napkins.
• Lace - Sewing lace trim is an age-old decoration for napkins.
• Tassels - Add a small DIY tassel to each corner to elevate your home decor.

How to Make Cloth Napkins FAQs

Do DIY cloth napkins have to be square?

No! While they are often square, you can make whatever you would like. Their purpose is to mop up spills and save your clothing from marks so you can make a square, rectangle, or even circular. The technique is the same regardless of the shape you sew.

Can you hand sew napkins?

Yes, you can! For the hems or seams, use a backstitch. This hand stitch is really strong when done in a short stitch length. The mitered corner method could also be done with hemming tape, so you have no sewing at all.

Is it cheaper to make your own cloth napkins?

While it does depend on the fabric that you choose, for the most part making your own cloth napkins is generally cheaper. Depending on the size you make, you can get 4 napkins from a yard.

How to Make Cloth Napkins - In Conclusion

All finished learning how to make cloth napkins and ready for dinner! Now, what shall I cook? Share your suggestions below.

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