Kids Napkin Set Tutorial

Welcome to my first tutorial!  Please send your feedback, as I would love these to be useable and easy to understand. (Was it too detailed?  Were pictures helpful?)

To make a set of two kids napkins with a napkin "pocket" you will need:
Scissors
A sewing machine

An iron

2 cotton or linen fabric scraps measuring 14.5" x 14.5"
2 coordinating fabric scraps (same material as above) measuring 14.5" x 14.5"
2 fabric scraps (can be one of each of above or both from the same fabric) measuring 14.5" x 10"

matching or contrasting thread (your choice!)

Okay, it's go time!

Step One:

Prep!  Be sure your fabric is pre-washed.  That is a must.  You can iron it too, that always makes things easier but I admit that sometimes I don't!

Step Two:
Measure out your 14.5" squares.  I use a tape measure and a sharpie to mark dots, then connect them with a straight edge.  You can layer if you want to save time.

 Step Three:

Cut out your four 14.5"squares.  If you want to save time and do it in layers, then be sure to pin them together before you cut to avoid shifting.

Step Four:

Place contrasting fabrics right sides together and pin.



Step Five:

Sew around all four edges using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Be sure to leave a gap in the middle of one side. (You need to be able to turn it right side out!)  When I do this, I simply stop sewing and move the fabric a couple inches, then resume sewing.  You can clip threads later.  Some people use double pins to remind them to leave the gap, as you see in the photo below.  I try to do this because I hate wasting time with the seam ripper! (Although mine gets plenty of use!)

Step Six:

Clip your corners so it looks nice and neat when you turn it right side out.

Step Seven:

Repeat with other napkin.  Then turn them right side out (pay attention to your corners!) and set aside.

Step Eight:

Cut out your 14.5" x 10" pieces for your napkin pockets, then fold in half lengthwise. (you can skip the next few steps if you do NOT want an applique or embroidery.)

Step Nine:

Fold them in half again to see where you want to place your embroidery or applique.

Step Ten:
Cut out an applique from your contrasting fabric, place, and pin. (OR use a purchased applique, a tiny doilie, a monogram...)  If embroidering, mark out where you want it, get out that hoop and go to town!



Step Eleven:

Use a blanket stitch, zigzag stitch, or other stitch that encloses edge of fabric and set it as narrow as you think looks best.  (I used a 2.5mm blanket stitch)

Step Twelve:

With fabric folded in half lengthwise, and right sides together, sew each edge forming a tube.  Sew the folded edge too so they look the same when turned inside out.

Step Thirteen:
Turn the tube right side out and repeat with other napkin pocket.

Step Fourteen:
Gather up all your pieces and head to the ironing board.

Step Fifteen:

Iron all the edges of the napkins.  Pay close attention to the gap where they are not sewn and iron carefully.

Step Sixteen:

Iron the napkin pocket tubes then fold in half and iron again.



Step Seventeen:

Fold the tops of the napkin pocket inside the tube (so there is no raw edge) and iron.  Be sure that they are all even.  Oh, and pardon my "manicure" in the photo.  It is courtesy of my 1.5 year old.

Step Eighteen:

Topstitch your napkins.  You will need to make a seam that is smaller than 1/4" to be sure to catch the opening left from when we turned the napkin right side out.  I do this by lining it up barely on the inside of the presser foot.

Sew slowly on the corners to make it pretty.

Step Nineteen:

Stitch the tops of your napkin pockets closed.  Use a decorative stitch if you wish.

Step Twenty:

Stich the sides of your napkin pockets.  Use a tiny seam allowance, again lining it up evenly using your presser foot.  Be sure to backstich at the bottom and top.  At the top I backstitched a couple of times to give it more durability.

Step Twenty-One:
Fold up your napkins the following way to fit inside: In half lengthwise, then accordian folded.  Then place them inside the pockets and have a tea party with topless Barbie and Pooh.

For a nice gift, you can place in some matching kids flatwear.  Hmm, this would be great for some of LJ's little toddler buddies for my Christmas Challenge!  This would make a cute party favor too, especially if you use themed fabric.