Simple Napkins with Applique

How to make some fun, easy napkins!

Instead of buying napkins, this year I will be making some using different appliques and embroidery.

I cut & sewed a bunch so they are ready to be embellished. This one has an English Paper Pieced Heart, I will do some other appliqué too, can also use embroidery for a fun touch!

To make the napkins I used Essex linen. Cut to 12 inch square. You can make them any size you want. 

I forgot to prewash before sewing, but it is a good idea if you want a nice polished look after. 

Cut your squares or rectangle or whatever shape / size. Remember to factor in 1/2 inch for hem on all sides

On your ironing board, fold over and iron 1/4 inch. Press well 

Fold over 1/4 inch again and press well. Pin if you like.

Sew on the good facing side, using a 3.5mm straight stitch. You can also get creative and use a fancy stitch on your machine. 

And your done!

Embellish as desired. 

 

 Hidden Cottage Quilt

Ive named this after the material line I used for the quilt. Its quite simple and would be a great quilt to use up scraps

I used per block:

4 inch block for the centre

(4) 2x4x inch strips for the sides

(4) 2 inch squares for the corners

Finished block is 7 inches

I made up 30 blocks 

Matching up sets:

Ready to sew!

To make a kids quilt, sew 5 blocks in a row. 

Optional: I put a row of sashing in between each row

Then sew the rows together & quilt as desired.
 

 My Favourite Crochet Edge

I love using this simple edging stitch on my pillows, runners and pot holders. 

In a chain space: sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, ch 1 

Continue all the way around doing 2 in the corners. 

This long skinny runner was for the window ledges where I put plants to make them look cute and protect from the plant pots

 

Applique Block - 13 inch

Simple Framed Block

 

This is a 13 inch block, not a traditional size, but I had leftover strips from a project, the spare fabric was 10 inch so I made them into blocks, the 10 inch squares bring the centre. You can make these blocks into pillows, runners, quilts etc. 

If desired make an appliqué and sew onto the 10 inch square, you can also embroider or just use a print you like, be creative. 

I used:

10 inch square for the centre, (4) 2.5 inch squares for the corners, (2) 2 x 10 inch side strips, (2) 10 x 13 for top & bottom strips.

To make the corners on the 10 inch square: Use 2.5 inch squares to make the corners. draw a line diagonally on the back of the 2.5 inch square, place in the corner of the 10 inch square and sew on the line. 

Trim 1/4 inch away from the newline and flip the triangle back to make the new corner, iron.  

Do this to all 4 corners. 

Not to waste fabric you can sew the cut off triangle 1/4 or 1/8 seam and make a mini half square triangle. See the bottom of the post to see what I do with them. 

Sew a 2 inch by 10 inch strip the sides of the centre square, iron

Sew a 2 inch by 13 inch strip the top and bottom, iron

Block complete. 

You can make the corners larger by using larger squares, add more strips to the sides and bottoms.. have fun. 

 To use up the mini half square triangles, lay them out in any design you wish. I like to make mini star blocks. Sew two hst together to make a flying geese. Put these around a 3.5 inch centre square, add 1.5 inch squares to the corners. I stock pile these and make pillows or use for other smaller projects. 

Happy Sewing!