Now that our family has grown to five, we started going through napkins left and right. It seemed like I was constantly buying paper napkins. This prompted me to make some of my own napkins. This is sooo easy, even to a beginning sewer like me!!
Yes, you can buy your own cloth napkins for cheap at a second hand store or garage sale. The thing I like best about making my own is that I get to pick the material and fabric pattern. We have linen cloth napkins that, frankly, aren’t that absorbent. The best material, most absorbent material I have used has been my husband’s worn out flannel pajamas.
Pictured below here is my daughter’s converted old knit dress that we got as a hand-me-down with a thick black mark on it. My Ellie girl wore it as a play dress, and then I finally decided she shouldn’t wear the stained dress anymore. I liked the design so much, though, that I wanted to make it into napkins. My knit napkins are my second most absorbent napkins. Knit might be a bit tricky to sew (but not too bad) because it’s stretchy. Just don’t stretch it out as you sew.
Upcycled and Repurposed Napkins Tutorial Instructions
What you’ll need:
- fabric old or new: whatever size rectangle you want. I use about a 6”x12” for my little kid napkins, and 15″x15″ for my adult napkins.
- fabric scissors
- sewing machine
- matching thread
- iron
The Instructions:
- Cut fabric into 4 long rectangles (or however many napkins you want).
- Fold all four sides in twice 1/4”, and iron down so no raw edges are visible. Hint, if you use the hem of the clothes, that’s one less side you have to sew!!
- Optional: you can cut the corners you when you sew around, the corners aren’t bunchy.
- Sew all the way around each napkin, and you are done!
Do you have any clothes or other material that you might be able to turn into napkins?
**Pictures updated 11/13.
Have you tried…?
Hi Sonja, I also wrote a blog a couple years ago about the same thing! I used some old sheets and my Mom and I had a great time making them. It has been years since I bought paper napkins….I just love using them!
This is great! I’ve been meaning to cut down on our paper consumption, and been meaning to do cloth napkins but never occur to me to use old clothes I already have!
This is perfect, Sonja! Thanks so much for linking this up at Tiny Tip Tuesday 🙂
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p>This is fantastic! I really want to get rid of all the paper products in our house. This would be a great start.
What a great idea! I have a ton of old shirts I could use. I am thinking they could also be cleaning rags like swiffers, too!
Awesome idea! Thanks for stopping by!