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Sunday
Mar072010

Molly's Sketchbook: Spring Napkins

I can't wait for Spring to arrive. I am so sick of slushy snow, grey days, and cold temperatures! Besides the warmer weather one of the things I'm looking forward to most is sitting down with family and friends at all the celebrations that  happen every spring. I made these napkins in anticipation of all these events and think they'll add color and life to any Springtime table! --Molly

Materials

To make twelve double sided napkins (To make more or fewer napkins keep in mind that you'll need two fat quarters and 2-yards of rick rack per napkin):

Cutting

Pick out two fat quarters that you like together. I paired greens with greens and yellows with yellows but you can mix and match if you like!

Press and cut each fat quarter into a 16 1/2-inch X 16 1/2-inch square.

Cut 2 yards from one of the rick racks.

Pinning

Lay the first square down and smooth it flat.

Starting in the middle of one of the sides place the rick rack along the edge of the fabric with the outer points of the zig zag lined up exactly to the edge.

Place the second square neatly on top of the first square and pin the three layers together, making sure the rick rack remains lined up with the edge of the fabric. Leave a 3-inch un-pinned tail of rick rack at the start.

Continue pinning the two squares together with the rick rack along the edge. When you come to a corner neatly bend the rick rack into a 90-degree angle as shown above and continue pinning.

Pin the three layers together in this manner until you get back to the beginning. Leave a 3-inch opening un-pinned and a 3-inch tail of rick rack at the end.

Sewing

Sew the three layers together along all four sides with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Make sure to leave the 3-inch opening un-sewn. Back stitch at the beginning and end of each seam.

Turn the napkin right side out through the opening.

Press the napkin flat paying special attention to poking out the corners.

Iron the raw edges of the opening 1/4-in towards the wrong side.

Place the tails of the rick rack in-between the sides of the ironed opening until they meet and then tuck their raw ends inside the napkin. Pin them neatly in-between the two fabric layers as shown above.

Slip stitch the opening closed by hand.

Press your napkin and you're all done!

Repeat all steps for each napkin and then go set the table!