Hand-Stitched Linen Napkins

We don’t have many paper products in our home. We brew our coffee in a French Press, bypassing the need for filters. Our cleaning rags are old t-shirts and socks that have exhausted their time as presentable clothing. Green B.E.A.N. Delivery service drops off a bin of food for us each week, and even though the veggies are packaged in brown bags, we fold those up and send them back for reuse. If they are too crumpled and wet we compost them instead. We use cloth napkins.

Sadly, our napkin situation is kind of embarrassing. Often we don’t have enough clean napkins to go around. When we have people over I hand out mismatched napkins and throw some kitchen tea towels into the mix just to get by. I know I could go buy some nice new table napkins, but I’m never too enthusiastic about making purchases that aren’t edible. And so with visions of summer parties and backyard picnics dancing in my head, last week I finally got around to making a few new napkins.


Using a linen tablecloth I purchased from Goodwill last year, I cut large squares from it and over the course of a few work week evenings, I stitched free hand designs. As I stitched away, it became apparent that spring can’t come soon enough. I’m willing it to come and stay.This is such a simple, mindless project that I’m planning on spending some more evenings just sitting, stitching and relaxing. Then I’ll throw a big party and everyone can have something nice upon which to wipe their hands.

Comments

4 responses to “Hand-Stitched Linen Napkins”

  1. Amber Avatar

    Love those and the colors!

    1. Claire Avatar
      Claire

      Thanks, Amber. I’m so very into Easter/Mardi Gras colors these days. Must be what happens when coming out of the dark of winter?

  2. maryannk Avatar
    maryannk

    Ohh, I love the rain cloud one especially! We could use some of those around here, ha ha! Way to go! I used to embroider tea towels, but it fell by the way side… must get the ol’ wooden hoop and thread out again. Thanks for the inspiration, yet again. 🙂

    1. Claire Avatar
      Claire

      Maryann, Your hand-stitched goods are the best! I still cherish our tea towel you made us for our wedding!

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