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Here’s an easy way to personalize your holiday table–and learn to miter a perfect corner.

How to Make Cocktail and Dinner Napkins - Threads Threads Logo Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content How-to Projects & Patterns Tools & Supplies More InspirationFittingVideosPodcastInsiderForumProject GuidesCoursesMagazineGallery Search Subscribe Open Search Close Search Subscribe Main Menu Threads Log In Log In Instagram Pinterest YouTube TikTok Facebook Twitter How-to Projects & Patterns Tools & Supplies Inspiration Fitting Videos Podcast More InsiderForumProject GuidesCoursesMagazineGallery Search Open Search Close Search How-to How to Make Cocktail and Dinner Napkins Here’s an easy way to personalize your holiday table–and learn to miter a perfect corner. By Mary Ray Facebook Pinterest Twitter Email Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles. Add to List Add to List Beautifully hemmed cloth napkins make any table special, whether the style is formal or casual. It’s easy to make them part of your holiday décor. Add a hand-painted motif, some decorative stitching, or let the beautiful hem provide all the detail. Sew up some generous dinner napkins, or scale them down to cocktail size. Learn how to master the miter, and see some ideas for embellishing table linens for any occasion. Give your linens a personal touch with painted designs using fabric paint like Lumiere by Jacquard. Choose the perfect fabric I suggest using linen (perfect for a more formal table), cotton, or a blend of the two. Synthetic fibers, like polyester, make ironing easier, but it’s very hard to remove stains from poly and poly blends—and napkins will definitely get stains. For more casual napkins, check out your local quilt shop for some great cotton holiday prints. You can skip the embellishment with a print, but a mitered hem is a great finishing touch on solid and printed fabric. Cut accurately 1. Determine the size of the finished napkins. Measure some you have that seem just right, or use the dimensions I used for my cocktail and dinner napkins: The cocktail napkins are 9 inches x 9 inches finished and the generous dinner napkins are 21 inches x 21 inches finished. 2. Find the exact grain on the fabric. Do this by pulling a thread across the width at one end or square up a line from the selvage. Tearing across the width of cotton fabric will also give the straight grain. 3. Cut a square for each napkin, using the established grainline as a guide. That is 1 inch larger on each edge than the finished napkin size. (For a 9-inch cocktail napkin, cut an 11-inch square). To form the hem, turn in and press 1 inch all around. Then press under 1/4 inch on each edge. Miter the corners 1. Mark the point where the inner folded edges intersect with two pins. 2. Open the hem, keeping the 1/4-inch fold in place. Then turn right sides together, matching pin marks. 3. Mark a line from the outside corner of the hem to the pins (the inside corner) Then pin the two layers together. Draw a line from the outside corner to the inside corner (the point where the hem edges intersect). 4. Stitch diagonally along the marked line. 5. Turn the corner to the right side to check that the miter fits. Always check to be sure the miter is just right before trimming away the excess fabric. 6. Turn inside out again, then trim away the excess fabric, making a 1/4-inch seam allowance. 7. Press this seam open. Press the seam open. Turn right side out and press. 8. Sew the hem in place along the inner fold to complete the miter. Embellish •  Hand-paint an image at the corner of each napkin using fabric paint. Do this freehand or cut a stencil to use as a guide to paint the shape, then add detail with a small brush. For uniform hand-painted designs, cut a stencil from posterboard or mylar to use as a guide. •  Use a decorative machine stitch, like the blanket stitch, to sew the hem in place. Variegated thread expands the design. A simple blanket stitch, sewn with variegated thread, is all you need to create an heirloom detail that’s pretty on both sides of the napkin. •  If you like to embroider by hand or by machine, add an embroidered design to your napkins. Go to “How to Machine-Embroider Lace Napkin Rings” for a tutorial on holders for your napkins and “Quick-Sew Table Runner” to learn how to create a complementary table topper. This article by Mary Ray was originally published on CraftStylish.com. Get the latest including tips, techniques and special offers straight to your inbox. Newsletter Signup Article Sign Up Signing you up... This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. See all newsletters X X New Feature Threads Forums Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work Discuss View 1 comment Share Facebook Pinterest Twitter Email Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles. Add to List Add to List Discuss joyceaward | Nov 23, 2021 04:03pm | #1 Where are the images? Log in or create an account to post a comment. Sign up Log in Threads Insider Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more. Start Your Free Trial Already an Insider? 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