Lunch Box Napkins

A few of you asked for more information about how I make my napkins, so I decided now was as good a time as any to whip up a few for the boys’ lunch boxes and photograph the process.

This tutorial makes three small napkins, which when folded in half, are approximately the size of a regular paper napkin.

Supplies

• 1/4 yard of fabric (not a fat quarter – a long skinny cut)
• ruler
• scissors
• iron
• thread
• sewing machine
• computer (optional)
• printer (optional)
• t-shirt transfer paper (optional)

Directions

1. Cut the fabric into thirds.  You should have three pieces, roughly 9″x14″.
2. You want to have a nice folded edge all the way around each napkin, and you want the rough edges to be completely hidden.  Start by folding over one side about 1/2-inch and ironing it down.
3. Fold that same side over again, another 1/2-inch and press.  This nicely-folded edge is what you will want to see on every side.
4. Turn the fabric clockwise, and repeat the folding process on the next side.  Do the same for the remaining two sides, until the entire napkin has folded and pressed edges.
5. You will be sewing around the entire perimeter of the napkin in order to hold down those folded edges.  The easiest way to do this, so that your sewing machine foot doesn’t get caught on the folds at the corners is to start sewing on the left corner of the last side you folded.  Sew this side until you are about 1/4-inch from the end.
6. With the needle still inside the fabric, lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric 90 degrees so that the foot is now positioned to sew down the next side.  Lower the foot, sew to 1/4-inch from the end, and repeat the pivoting process until you have sewn the whole napkin.
7. Trim the threads, and the sewing is complete.
8. If you or your kids will be taking this napkin on the road, you can add a personalized touch and save it from getting lost.  Simply make up a label in your word processing software and print it onto t-shirt transfer paper.
9. Follow the paper manufacturer’s instructions and apply the transfer to an inconspicuous spot on the back of the napkin.

Notes

• I used two quarter-yards to make six napkins here, one set for each boy.
• These napkins are smaller than those I usually make for my family’s use at home.  When making a dinner napkin, I start with a fat quarter, cut it down to 18″x13″ and proceed through the same steps as above.  The leftover pieces from doing it that way make nice components for patchwork table mats.  Or, divide a full yard into six sections and avoid any leftovers at all.