Laura's Loop: Nautical Flag Napkins

Every summer of my childhood was spent up in Maine at my grandfather's house, once his parents' house. My grandfather was a Navy man, as his father was, which is evident upon walking into their small country home. The walls are covered with pictures of men in uniforms and the ships they sailed. There are model boats built in glass bottles; there are books about tying knots and paperweights shaped like anchors. It was in this home that I first discovered nautical flags, the shapes and bright colors delighting me as a way of communication. I had long wanted to work them into a crafting project, and this idea for transforming them into a set of napkins came to me as our ever-expanding family gathered for yet another annual Maine trip.

As our family grows, so does the number of dishes and napkins we repeatedly wash. But now, everyone proudly remembers which nautical napkin is 'theirs', happily re-using it at each meal. So while the dishes still pile up, the loads of laundry do not. Currently we're a group of about 15, but I look forward to the day when we are using all twenty-six.

On top of making a cheery summer table setting, guessing which napkin represents which letter is like having built-in dinner party game. (A game I love because, having made all the napkins, I tend to win!)

I hope you enjoy making these as much as I did! I am already thinking of how to apply all the piecing techniques and nautical alphabet symbols to another project! If you would like to make your own Nautical Flag Napkins, please visit my project journal right here!  --Laura

Comments

[Jenn]

What a great idea! The white china really sets them off, too. So fun and perfect for summer! Have you tried playing napkin scrabble or some other games with them during meals?

[Daisy]

They are sooooooo cute! I can't wait to make some like it!

[Carina]

Such a great idea! Love it!

[Ferby]

Such a creative idea! Love your colour combinations. This set is so joyful for summer.

[Landis Carey]

I absolutely love these, thanks for sharing! My husband loves sailing and all things nautical, so I'll definitely try my hand sewing these. This might sound silly and/or may completely show my lack of knowledge about signals, but what are your thoughts on reinterpreting the patterns with new colors and patterned-fabrics?

[Caroline]

Gorgeous. Would also make wonderful throw pillows or a wall hanging.

[Josie]

Love these and also love the idea of playing word games with them.

[Donna]

I love this project. May try to make these for a charitable auction. Thanks so much for posting this for all to see.

[MB@YarnUiPhoneAppv1.5]

The nautical napkins, not naughty, I'll say. Just right for the 4th of July, which is already next Monday!!! I cannot believe it. Anyhow, I would just love to wear a nautical outfit to eat dinner using my nautical napkin!

[Sarah @http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/2011/03/]

These are so colorful and awesome!

- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

[Chantelle]

These are amazing!

[Brooke]

They turned out so cute! And we're always looking for ways to mark our napkins so each person knows whose is whose.. this is maybe my favorite project of the year!

[Isabel Marques]

So pretty! they'd make a great contrast with a simple white table cloth!

[Laurel Moffatt]

These are fantastic. I'm all for personalization--and this takes it to a whole new level! Love it to bits!

[Caroline Polgar]

I love the napkins! My boyfriend is really into sailing and our new apartment has a bit of a nautical theme going on. For his birthday last year I made a queen size quilts with our initials in nautical flags.

Blow is the link to my blog post about the quilt:
http://playinginthewoods.blogspot.com/2010/07/chriss-birthday-quilt.html