Simple, frugal, eco-friendly.

My mom quilts.

My mom has enough fabric to piece a quilt top that would cover the county she lives in.

My mom shares.

When my mom sends us a package, she uses fabric like other people use packing peanuts.

That means I have all this pretty, fun fabric at my fingertips for any sort of sewing I might want to do.

The thing is, I don't have major sewing skills. I have minor ones. I can't set a sleeve or a zipper (at least I don't think I can, since it's been something like 22 years since I made that dress in college), but I can do simple things.

I can sew napkins.

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I made a bunch a couple summers ago, but a few were getting ratty, so we just added these three. I love cloth napkins, and I love using fabric from my mom for every day things like this.

Little Bit's meal-related job is to put napkins (and flatware) on the table. After a meal, it's her job to put the napkins into the laundry. She also helps me fold them after they've been washed and dried. She knows that the fabric is from Grandma, and she watched/helped (Honey, move your head - I can't see to sew!) me sew them. Right now, she's making some drawings that we'll embroider onto the next ones we make.

We keep them right next to the table, in this basket. Right after we do laundry, the basket is plenty full, but sometimes we run low - that's why that roosterful of paper napkins is sitting there too.

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If I can get a few more cloth napkins sewn, perhaps we can retire him, hee hee.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Gee, I want your mom to send me something!! I'd love to get fabric in my mail!
Your napkins are so cute! I need to make some too. I need to find some kind of neat fabric first. I love your cookie jar.
That's a great idea. I have some extra material. hmmmmmmm
Angie Holden said…
Yep I need a mom like yours too!! I really need to do this. It is on the list -- I promise.
mentalutopia said…
My mother has that same rooster napkin holder.
ginger B said…
I can sew clothing, I have yet to sew a napkin. I so want to, how about a tutorial:)
Laura said…
Thank you, one and all! When we do the embroidered ones I will take some photos. I've also got a couple of vintage table cloths that are too stained to use, so I'm going to repurpose parts of those into napkins (and the rest into dusting cloths).

Happy sewing!
Anonymous said…
Are those double-sided? You are just sewing all the way around like a pillow, turning, then topstitching all around? They are so pretty! I made a couple dozen single-sided napkins several years ago, and now can only find a few. They must be hanging out with the socks somewhere.
Laura said…
Yes, they are double sided - that's exactly what I do! When I turn them out I press them, then stitch the border to catch the opening and hold the edges inside -I figure with all the use and washing, that might keep them from fraying even longer. :)

All the ones that went ratty on me were single thickness - woven ones that I stitched on the edges and then fringed. I think these hold up much better.
Jensamom23 said…
What a great idea and such a special treat to know they originated from your Mom!
Forgive my sewing ignorance, but I 'sew' need to learn this!

When you do your double-sided napkins, do you completely cut two pieces of material apart and then place them back side together and stitch as you have described?

Or do you cur more of an oblong piece of material, fold it in half back to back and then stitch?

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