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Today’s National Sewing Month Project is brought to you by Carole from From My Carolina Home.
How many times have you made place mats or a table runner, and then thought it would be so lovely to have matching napkins. Truly, fabric napkins on the serger are very fast. You can make a whole set in under an hour. There is a trick to getting perfect serged corners, and I’ll show you how.
Start by cutting your squares for the napkins. The ideal size is 16 inches, but I have made them at 12 inches for luncheon size, or up to 20 inches for a formal dinner size. This fabric goes with the Three Maple Leaves Table Runner and the panel place mats.
Set your serger for a three-thread rolled edge. Be sure to move your cutting blade down. If you have a differential feed, set it on 1-to-1. Serge the first side, stopping about 1 or 2 stitch lengths before you get to the edge. This is a bit tough to see at first, but you’ll soon figure out where to stop. Raise the needle up.
Lift the presser foot, and gently pull the fabric toward the back of the machine ever so slightly (just a millimeter or two) to release it from the flange, then turn it 90 degrees, pivoting around at the corner.. Try to minimize the amount of thread you pull. Place it back under the presser foot lining up the top edge with the needle position. Lower the needle and put the fabric next to it. Lower your presser foot.
Serge the next side, and repeat until all four sides are done.
By limiting the amount of thread at the corner, you end up with perfect corners, no knots, no extra bunching up.
Here’s the back side.
On the last corner, serge off the end, then tie off or bury your threads. I did four napkins in about 30 minutes!
Practice on some scraps first. It will take a few tries to get the pivot point just right, but once you do, it is easy from there!
If you don’t have a serger, you can make the napkins quickly on your sewing machine by using a rolled edge foot to hide the raw edge. A serger makes this project super fast. You can have beautiful matching napkins for all your table top creations! Just get an extra yard of fabric, and you’ll have enough for six large dinner napkins. A beautiful table is only a few stitches away.
Today’s prize is a giftbag filled with a bag of Poly-Fil and a bundle of cute fabrics!
To enter the daily giveaway, leave a comment below telling us:
What holiday do you tend to sew for most?
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Enter daily for your chance to win the National Sewing Month 2015 Grand Prize Giveaway.
AllFreeSewing
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Halloween and Thanksgiving………..mostly fall items.
I usually sew a lot more for Christmas. I have already started for this years holiday.
I sew a lot for Valentine’s Day…it’s my favorite, so there are many projects I have that are on my list to do yet. Plus, friends know they’ll get gifts too!
It’s close: probably Christmas, but Halloween and Easter are close!
I usually sew the most for Christmas, then Thanksgiving. But then birthdays come in there to Then just for fun or guild projects. The list just keeps going.
I guess Christmas but I really like sewing for Spring. Bright cheery colors.
I sew more for Christmas. I make many presents
Christmas.
I sew more for Halloween and Thanksgiving as making costumes, and machine embroidering on linens, T’s, and sweatshirts are a large part of my sewing.
I mostly sew for Xmas time, I love making ornaments x
I’d say Christmas, for sure. I sew most for Christmas, but the sewing ends up going on year round, a little on each project here and there as I acquire the bits I need.
Halloween…
I usually sew for Christmas.
I sew the most for Christmas.I sew random gifts throughout the year for people,too.
Christmas and mostly fall items. Birthdays–even though it isn’t a holiday.
I love sewing for all holidays but I tend to sew a lot of requests for Christmas. Halloween is my favorite holiday so I may have to make some of these for it! 🙂
I don’t do any sewing for the holidays.
Isew. w mostly for Christmas but some for Thanksgiving.
I definitely sew the most for Christmas!
I love to sew for Halloween because I just love those high contrast, rich looking colors like the orange and purple
I sew the most for Birthdays and Fall items for those holidays
I don’t sew for holidays. I made Halloween costumes for my daughter when she was younger, but that’s the extent of my holiday sewing.
I sew more for birthdays for friends and family.
I sew many things for Christmas gifts.
I don’t usually sew for holidays, but I sew for my kids birthdays. Have a great day!
Christmas! I make gifts for most of my family and friends – usually in multiples.The napkins are a great idea to go with placemats or table runners. Will look up how I to do a three-thread rolled edge on my serger, but when I get it figured out – watch out! LOL
For sure Christmas! LOTS of kiddos in our family!
I sew for b-days.
Christmas
I haven’t bought a sewing machine yet, but I plan to hand sew gifts for my baby and friends for Christmas.
I definitely sew the most around Christmas time. It’s the only holiday I actually decorate for and it definitely is the most gifting I do all year!
I usually sew more gifts for Christmas, but also like to make granddaughters’ Easter dresses.
Mostly Christmas & grand children’s birthdays.
I sew most for the Christmas holiday. Gifts and decorations.
I’m just starting to sew, have a new machine, so I guess it will be Thanksgiving & Christmas but I certainly hope by next year I’ll be saying all the holidays!
Definitely Christmas. This year I need to start with Christmas stockings.
Diane in Wyoming
Christmas, thats why im practicing now 🙂
I sew my kids costumes and mine for Halloween .
I also make Christmas presents.
Christmas. Not necessarily Christmas themes but I give a lot of handsewn gifts. Thanks,
Christmas is the holiday for which I sew the most.
As most Dewitt I tend to sew mostly for Christmas , but all other holiday sewing is just as fun and important and my family loves to get things I see ” just because “
I sew most for Christmas
I tend to sew a lot more for Christmas than other holidays.
Mostly Christmas, lots of doll clothes.
HOlloween for sure! Even before I got my first machine I was hand sewing all my Halloween decor.
My favorite time to decorate is Fall & Christmas. I love to go All Out for both!!!
Christmas, most definitely!
I love to make Christmas things for decoration and for gifts.Things like placemats, napkins, tablerunners, ornaments, aprons and more.
Halloween. Always making costumes!
I love sewing for Christmas and do it all year long.
Christmas sewing helps bring the spirit of the holidays into my home.
Christmas is the holiday I sew the most. See I start to sew for Christmas around june. I try to make most of my presents. I bake, can, craft and sew. I make all my gift tags for my presents. Make table runners, wall hangings and quilts. I love Christmas and I feel homemade gifts are the ultimate presents. Thank You for the giveaway.
I start with Fall then jump to Christmas. I probably do equal crafts.
Mostly sewing for Christmas, but have also sewn for other holidays also when my children were younger.
This may sound strange but I love making things for The Fourth of July! Red,white and blue are so pretty together. Of course it doesn’t hurt that my granddaughter’s birthday is the third and mine is the fifth!!!
I sew most around Christmas time 🙂
Thanks for hosting such a lovely giveaway for your readers/supporters!
xoxo
I sew for Christmas the most. I love Christmas fabrics! Thanks!
I love to see for Christmas!
Definitely Christmas! Decor and gifts for sure!
Christmas and birthdays
I sew for Christmas and my grandkids. They all have quilts from Christmas presents plus I usually take one for each of them when I visit.
mostly Christmas, but love to craft all holidays
Christmas mostly, then babies and weddings. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
I sew mostly for Christmas, but do some for all the holidays & gifts – birthday, baby, wedding.
I sew more gifts for Christmas than any other holidays. I’m actually working on pillows this year. It would be awesome to win some filler and the fabric bundle. Thanks for the giveaway!
I sew items most often for Christmas.
christmas
Probably for Christmas, either making decorations or gifts.
I sew many gifts for Christmas. For example, this summer I am sewing a princess dress for my granddaughter. I also like to embroider dish towels with a fancy machine stitch on the edges.
Christmas is my number one.
I love fall and Christmas but I sew mostly in the winter months and sew different projects depending on what I’m in the mood for
I sew mostly for fall/Thanksgiving and Christmas. Love the colors of fall and who doesn’t love Christmas and spreading the Good News and cheer?
I sew for Christmas and birthdays…
I think it would be Christmas, though I like sewing on little projects for everyday use, during the year.
Even though I sew all the time, Christmas is my busiest holiday sewing time.
I love to sew for Christmas the best. Homemade gifts are special to loved ones.
I love to sew Xmas gifts for family and friends.
I love to sew for Christmas the best. Homemade gifts are special to loved ones. I have no idea what this is? What is the moderation of my comment mean?
christmas. thank you!
Christmas!!!
Family birthdays and Christmas gifts.
Thanks for the tips, great gift idea.
Definitely Christmas. I make items to sell at craft shows, the largest one being the weekend before Thanksgiving and people are mostly shopping for Christmas gifts.
No special time for me when I get a idea I go with it!
I sew the most for Christmas, although I love this gorgeous table project and it’s inspiring me to sew for Thanksgiving! Thanks for the fun!
I like to sew for Halloween and Thanksgiving. You can use pumpkins and colorful leaves for both holidays.
I sew most for our annual conventions. It’s nice to have a fresh, new outfit each day.
Halloween and Christmas
Definitely Christmas, although I sew more gifts, and not really decorative things very much.
Excellent tutorial! I tend to sew the most at Christmas time as gifts. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day! brend_ack@yahoo.com
I tend to sew for Christmas the most, although I make animal purses all year long as we ladies like to use a different purse for each outfit.
I sew most at the Thanksgiving thru Christmas and New Years holidays. I love to sew and any occasion is a good reason to sew! Even a rainy day!!
I sew for Christmas the most. Stockings, tree skirts, decorations and gifts.
Definitely Christmas! Birthdays come in second place.
Mostly Christmas and spring time.
I sew mainly for Christmas. Presents and display items, etc.
I sew more for Christmas gifts 🙂 Thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way! 🙂
I’m so excited to get your link and quite by accident. I am going to make these placemats and napkins for my daughters for Christmas. They will love them! I have book marked you, because I need more of your ideas. Thank you and God bless you and your family.
Love,
Marti
I tend to sew the most for Christmas… I love to make gifts for family and friends and this is the season for giving!!
Mainly Christmas for me. Presents and decorations.
Thanks for the details on making napkins. I think I might make them for Christmas this year. I sew all year long, but most is done at Christmas time.
My Favorite sewing Holiday is Christmas. I love your projects and easy to under stand directions and accompanying pictures. it all helps.
I like to sew for Christmas I don’t have a lot of money but I like to make things for my grandkids. I also like to give them something for there birthdays which are in September 2,3, 7,17.and one born in January. He broke my record. Thank you.
Halloween!
Dmac5958ataoldotcom
I definitely sew most for Christmas, simply because I have more free time as we approach this festive season!
Thanksgiving can be festive with additional accessories to complete your table. Matching centerpieces to complement the beautiful placemats and napkins you make. Also add desert napkins to match is a nice touch and saving paper and money by reusing fabric accessories.
Christmas
I usually sew more for Christmas. but i do try to sew for all occasions
It has been awhile since I have done any sewing, but this year I already plan on making (sewing) most of my Christmas present. I have found very cute quilting patterns to try.
For holidays it would be Christmas, but I mostly sew for gifts such as birthdays.
Until this year I would have said Christmas. I made my grandsons cute trick or treat bags and now every one seems to want them. Looks like I will be busy with
pre Halloween sewing next year.
I like o sew to use and rey cle
I see mostly for birthdays. But I do some for Christmas also.
Mainly Christmas because I love the seasonal fabrics and have collected them for years …and still do.
Christmas and Thanksgiving. Love all the seasonal fabrics.
I just recently started to sew and will most likely sew more for spring