Christmas Tree Napkin Tutorial and Pattern
SUPPLIES & TOOLS
- fabric – 2 pieces of fabric suitable for napkins
- matching thread
- scissors (or rotary cutter and a cutting mat)
- ruler or measuring tape
- iron and ironing board
- sewing clips or pins
- sewing machine
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Prepare the pattern
Download and print the pattern (don’t scale it in any way, print at 100% US letter paper).
STEP 2: Cut the fabric
Take two of your fabrics, place them on each other and align the bottom edges. Place the paper pattern on top and cut according to the pattern. You need 2 semi-circles in different colors for one napkin.
If you don’t have a printer, follow the instructions below how to make your own pattern.
Take a fabric pencil, pin and a piece of thread. Knot the end of the thread the pin it to the center of the bottom edge of the fabrics. Wrap the thread around the pencil several times until it is 8.5 inches (21.5cm). Draw a semi-circle around the pin and cut it out.
If you are making a bunch of napkins, make a paper pattern or use one of the cut fabrics as a pattern to cut the next set of fabric sheets.
TIP: Don’t forget to wash and iron the fabric well before you start doing anything with it.
STEP 3: Pin fabrics together
Take one fabric semicircle and place it right side up. Take a semicircle from the second main fabric and place it over the first one, with its right side down. Align the edges and pin everything.
Sew all around the semicircle. Leave a 4 inch (10cm) opening unstitched on the straight edge so that you can turn the whole thing around.
STEP 4: Clip and snip
Clip the curve of the napkin and snip the bottom corners to allow it to lay flat. You can skip this step, but I highly recommend it, as it really gives the napkins a professional look.
STEP 5: Turn inside out
Turn the fabric right side out and push out the edges. Then use your iron to press everything flat.
Fold both layers of the edge where the unstitched section is inwards about quarter of an inch. Press it flat and pin in place.
STEP 6: Mark the folding / stitching line
Using your paper pattern as a guide match the beginning of the dashed line with the bottom corner of the napkin. Mark the start of the fold line. Remove the pattern and using a ruler draw a line perpendicular to the straight bottom edge.
If not using the pattern, measure 5 inches (13cm) from the bottom corner and then draw the perpendicular line.
STEP 7: Topstitch
Topstitch all around the napkin using a scant 1/8 inch (3mm) seam allowance. Start on the straight edge, just before the fold line you marked, stitch all around the napkin. Stop at the fold line, put your needle down, raise the presser foot and pivot. Stitch along the fold line. Reinforce the beginning and the end of this seam with backstitching.
STEP 8: How to fold a Christmas tree napkin
It a bit tricky, but the fold line we stitched earlier will definitely make the folding part much easier.
Fold the napkin again over the stitch you made earlier. Press with the iron.
8.1. You will need to fold this flap into thirds, similar to a fan. Grab the corner of the flap and while you’re pressing the corner on the straight edge of the napkin with your finger, pull the flap backward to fold it towards the other side.
Keep pulling until the curve becomes parallel to the long straight edge of the napkin. Then stop and fold it towards the back, just like a fan, until you align the edge with the previous fold. Make sure that the folds are aligned with each other. Press everything flat.
8.2. Flip the napkin over and grab the bottom corner. Fold it until its crease aligns with the back fold you made in the previous step.
Then do just one more fan fold so that the last edge is aligned with the previous fold.
Press everything well with your iron and you’re done!