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Make Your Own Linen Napkins

April 30, 2014 By A Spoonful of Sugar - 24 Comments

Make your own linen napkinsBeautiful cloth or linen napkins add a touch of luxury to your table. It is the little things in life and sweet little touches that can make an occasion feel special. Linen napkins are very easy to sew and are a great beginner sewing project. All you need to be able to do is sew a straight seam.  This is a great project to use some fat quarters from your stash and think of the environmental benefits of not having to use disposable paper napkins.

Make your own cloth napkins

We made our linen napkins from a soft, cotton/linen blend fabric that was available in sweet polka dots that just happened to match the vintage tea set that belonged to my Nan.

Make your own cloth napkins

We added some crocheted trim along one edge and a linen label to finish them off.

Materials for cloth napkins

If you would like to make your own linen napkins, you will need (per napkin):

  • 1 fat quarter of quilting cotton, linen, or other fabric. (We used polka dot linen blend)
  • 1/2 yard of crochet trim. (We used cotton lace)
  • (optional) Linen labels (We used vintage tag ribbon)

Make your own cloth napkins

 Method:

1. Cut the napkin so that it measures 18 x 18 inches.

2. On each side, fold over 1/4 inch and press. Fold over another 1/4 inch and press. Unfold the corners as shown in the photo below. Cut off the four corners, as indicated by the dotted line. Use the fold lines as a guide.

Make your own cloth napkins

3. Fold the cut edge from the corner over by 1/4 inch and press. Refold the first fold along each side and press as shown in the photo below. Repeat for all four corners.

Make your own cloth napkins

4. Refold the second fold along each side and press. The corners will be mitred as shown in the photo below. Pin the corners in place. Stitch around all four sides of the napkin, to secure the folded edges and mitred corners. Press.

Make your own cloth napkin

5. Pin the lace trim along the bottom edge of the napkin so that it just covers the previous stitching line and so that both ends are folded under approx 3/8 inch. Pin in place and then stitch to secure.

Make your own cloth napkin

6. Optional – stitch a small printed label to the bottom right corner so that it is positioned approx 1 inch in from the side and the lace edging.

Make your own cloth napkins

You can easily run up a batch of linen napkins in an afternoon – just in time for dinner!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Yozo Craft for providing the materials used in this project. 

Filed Under: Sewing Tutorials, Uncategorized Tagged With: linen

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Comments

  1. Abi Hirst says

    May 1, 2014 at 2:29 am

    This is such a lovely napkin and you make the instructions so easy to follow! xxx

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      May 1, 2014 at 6:36 am

      Thanks Abi – pretty and practical is our favourite type of project.

      Reply
  2. Christine Keys says

    May 1, 2014 at 8:09 am

    These are so beautiful! I cannot wait to try and make my own. 😀

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      May 1, 2014 at 4:39 pm

      Happy sewing! They are a fun little project.

      Reply
  3. Annabellouise says

    May 2, 2014 at 5:38 pm

    I love these and the tutorial on mitred corners is so clear. I spend the year planning for Thanksgiving in November (the biggest event in our social calendar) and I’m thinking of cloth napkins next time. I will try these.

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      May 2, 2014 at 5:45 pm

      Linen napkins would be perfect for Thanksgiving 🙂 You sound like me and Christmas – I always get started months ahead.

      Reply
  4. wendy says

    May 5, 2014 at 12:08 am

    they are beautiful, I dont’ think I’d want to wipe a face full of tomato sauce on them!

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      May 5, 2014 at 7:12 am

      Thanks Wendy. You could make some less fancy ones for when you have burgers:)

      Reply
  5. Samantha says

    May 20, 2014 at 9:48 am

    Your napkins look very pretty.
    Where can I get the tags to sew on napkins.

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      May 20, 2014 at 6:27 pm

      Thanks Samantha. I got the tags from Yozo Craft – sold by the yard.
      http://www.yozocraft.com/product/2117

      Reply
  6. Cindy says

    June 25, 2014 at 10:43 pm

    Lovely napkins! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      June 26, 2014 at 5:07 pm

      Thanks Cindy 🙂

      Reply
  7. Anna Hamersley (Omyn) says

    June 7, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    Hello 🙂

    Lovely project! I am wondering where the wee scissors came from? they are gorgeous!

    Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      June 8, 2015 at 6:14 am

      Thanks Anna! I bought the scissors a few years ago – I like to collect cute sewing accessories 🙂 They came from Yozo Craft (online store).

      Reply
  8. Lori says

    December 31, 2015 at 2:50 am

    I am SO excited to make these gorgeous napkins! I really like the vintage linen tags, too, but it appears that Yozo no longer sells them. Any ideas as to other sites who sell them? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      December 31, 2015 at 6:32 am

      Hi Lori – If you search on Etsy for Linen Labels – there a variety of labels available, including these ones: https://www.etsy.com/listing/261713878/1-metre-3-metres-linen-cotton-retro?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=linen%20fabric%20labels&ref=sr_gallery_11
      Happy sewing! Lisa

      Reply
  9. Mary Koteras says

    January 17, 2017 at 4:25 am

    You have such beautiful items to make. I would not of thought of sewing lace on the bottom of the napkins. You have such great ideas. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      January 17, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      Thanks Mary – have a lovely week.

      Reply
  10. Melanie says

    October 9, 2023 at 2:19 am

    I’m looking forward to trying out this mitered corner technique! Thank you.

    Reply
    • A Spoonful of Sugar says

      October 9, 2023 at 7:09 am

      Happy sewing Melanie – they are easy to sew.

      Reply
  11. hopflower says

    February 2, 2025 at 9:31 pm

    A great little project for yourelf and family, or for gifts. Thanks for the tutorial.

    Reply

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