Cloth napkins

[scheelimama]

What kind of materials do you prefer for cloth napkins? What techniques do you all use to make them? Serged, or turned w/ decorative topstitching? Thanks,

[AdronsCatherine]

I'm actually in the process of making napkins for my mom, and I'm making them out of cotton sateen (I think), and I love it! It is lightweight, but wonderfully soft, and comes in beautiful colors. I am turning and topstitching the hems, but only because I am puting an embroidered monogram on them. My mom always serges hers, and just uses whatever kind of 100% cotton she finds on sale at the fabric store.

[scheelimama]

Thanks, can you usually get cotton sateen at your local fabric store?

[fraya]

real linen makes great napkins, and the turned hem is a nice finish. But for very casual use, the overedge finish or rolled hem would suffice.

[AdronsCatherine]

I found mine in the quilting section of Hancock Fabrics. As for linen, I LOVE it, but it is so expensive!

Fraya - do you have a good source for relatively affordable linen?

[fraya]

I had one in Minnesota, but they don't really ship. I still have stocks of it left over. Otherwise, wait for sales or coupons, maybe?

[scheelimama]

Thanks for the good ideas! I will be making a bunch of these soon. Some to give away as gifts, some for us for everyday use, so I will be using all of your ideas. Thanks!