How to Make No-Sew Table Napkins!

You're the hostess with the most-est! Make coordinating no-sew dinner napkins for every dinner party you throw :-).

You will need:

• Cutting mat
• Ruler
• Rotary cutter with Pinking blade
• 1/2 yard of fabric for 2 napkins (17" x 17"), further details below

Keep these details in mind while choosing fabric for napkins:

1. Find a woven fabric, not a knit. Knits are more 'drapey' and won't make good napkins
2. Look for either a dyed fabric or a subtle print on a white/cream background. This way, the napkin will look (mostly) the same from both the front and the back. 

• The black and white, below, wouldn't be the best choice for this project. The subtle dot print would be much more suitable.

1. If possible, find a polyester/cotton blend. The poly content will make them a bit more stain-resistant.
2. Fabric can vary wildly in thickness. Pick a thicker fabric, not a fabric that seems sheer. Rub a few different fabrics between your fingers and you'll see what I'm talking about :-).

I chose a batik-dyed fabric. See how the dye makes the fabric look the same from both the front and back? Wash, dry and iron the fabric.

Get out your cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter with a Pinking blade. It's a wavy blade that simulates a pinking shears. This is what will keep the edges from fraying!

Fold the fabric in half, matching the selvage edges together. The selvage edges are already bound and will not fray. It's up to you whether you'd like to cut the selvage edge to match the waviness of the other cut edges or leave it be.

Place the folded fabric on the cutting mat. Place the ruler about 1/4 inch away from the cut edge. Cut along the edge with the pinking blade.

Place the ruler 17 inches away from the edge you just cut. Cut along the ruler with the pinking blade.

Turn the fabric. Place the edge of the ruler 17 inches away from the selvage edge. Cut with the pinking blade. Yay! You've just created two no-sew fabric napkins!

Assemble napkin square into your favorite napkin fold:

The wavy blade will keep the napkins from fraying for a few washings. If they do start fraying, simply trim down the fraying edge with the pinking blade!

Shared this idea at these fabulous parties!