Easy DIY Cloth Napkins
Did you know? About 90 percent of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward heating the water. According to the Sierra Club, each household that switches to cold-water washing could eliminate about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
Materials for One Napkin
Yardage and cutting instruction are for 42" of usable fabric width.
- 18×21" piece (fat quarter) green print
- Water- or air-soluble marking pen
Finished size: 17" square
Cut Fabric
From green print, cut:
- 1—18" square
VIDEO: How to Sew Cloth Napkins
Assemble Napkin
1. Lay green print 18" square right side down. Referring to Diagram 1, at each corner measure in 1"; use a water- or air-soluble marking pen to mark a dot. From each edge, measure in 1/2" and mark lines.
2. Referring to Diagram 2, fold in one corner of square to dot, press, unfold, and trim 1/4" away from crease. Repeat in remaining corners.
3. Referring to Diagram 3, fold in each corner and edge of square 1/4" so raw edges just touch marked lines; press.
4. Referring to Diagram 4, fold each edge in another 1/4" so corners are mitered. If necessary, use your fingers to manipulate folds until they abut in a miter. Pin folded edges in place.
5. Stitch square 1/8" from inside edges to hem and complete napkin (Diagram 5).
Two years ago I made 30 cloth napkins for our family of three. We keep them easily accessible in a basket in our dining room. I estimate that by using them exclusively, we've saved more than 2,000 paper napkins so far! Plus, using pretty fabric napkins makes each meal special.