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cloth napkins

As part of my move to more eco-conservation, my next step is cloth napkins. I've made a couple of double-sided patchwork napkins and learned that a four-square produces four corners meeting and that makes for lumps. My next napkins will not have matching seams.

I want to use up my scraps, so will probably be making some "crazy" napkins, but with no embroidery nor embellishments, of course.

Any ideas on batting? Seems like that would be too thick.

I think I'll make a bunch of 12" napkins as well as a bunch of 4" ones and keep them in a pile for easy pickup and use. I'll have a dirty bucket, too, for easy tossing. I know I have enough fabric to make lots of these...

-- Anita --

Reply to
Irrational Number
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I think if I were making them I would just back them with a whole piece of fabric., and maybe just stitch a little to keep the back and front together. Great idea!

Reply to
Estelle Gallagher

I wouldn't bother with batting, not unless you want to quilt them. Just back with a piece of whole cloth. But if you're doing any more 4-patches or something else with straight seams, you could easily make flat-felled seams and keep them to a single layer. They would have a wrong side, but so do a lot of store-bought napkins. Roberta in D

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Reply to
Roberta Zollner

I've made many a napkin, but have never used batting or a 2nd layer.

I've just always used one layer of fabric, and I've either turned over the edge making a small hem all the way around, or serged the edges with a narow rolled edge.

Last year I made a set of napkins for my brother and his wife for Christmas, in a beautiful Christmas-red linen, and embroidered monograms on them.

-Irene

Reply to
IMS

Anita: Batting would be a bit of overkill. Napkins should be light and should drape and fold smoothly. Single fabric layer is best .... dries quicker. If you use a clothes dryer, that would reduce energy usage. If you go with two layers, maybe you should stitch an X through the center to keep it all together. You can use scraps for some small corner applique.

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Even more eco-friendly is to keep an eye out for nice old linen tablecloths at thrift stores and yard sales. I have taken some with wear and cut the good parts out and serged the edges. They make great dish towels or napkins. Use the fabric scraps for placemats maybe?

Taria

Pat > Anita:

Reply to
Taria

I would make the napkins out of a whole piece of fabric, hemmed under. Then I would use my patchwork, batting, and quilting to make matching placemats.

Trixie

Reply to
Trixie

Thanks for all the ideas. I agree, batting would be overkill, so nix the batting. I have made double sided turned napkins, and those are great and absorbent. Plus, that way, I can have patchwork napkins.

-- Anita --

Reply to
Irrational Number

There is a charming restaurant in Tumwater, Washington that uses hemmed squares of cotton fabric. They work great and are so easy to use. No need for batting or backing.

Happy sewing,

Lenore

Reply to
Lenore L

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