I hope you enjoy this sweet tutorial for sewing napkins (or tea towels) with tidy, mitered corners. My Mom & I have gone a bit play kitchen mad and we sewed mini tea towels and mini quilted pot holders for the play kitchen I made. Although the finished products are wee, you can use the same sewing tutorial to create larger tea towels or make pretty cloth napkins.
How to sew cloth napkins and tea towels with mitered corners:
Start by ironing and cutting out your fabric. Then fold, iron and measure your edges once, and then turn them over once again and iron, for a tidy edge:
Do this all the way around your fabric. Then gently unfold your ironed edges and take a look at where the folding has created a square. Fold the corner in toward the fabric at that point and iron it in place:
Next, test out your mitered corner before making any cuts. To make the miter, trim the edge of the corner:
Then re-fold the edges iron back into place, like this:
Pin into place:
Finally, sew along the edge. When you have sewn all the way around, tie off the thread. You can also do a second row of decorative stitching.
And ta da! Depending on the size, you’ve created a pretty cloth napkin . . .
or mini kitchen accessories for a play kitchen . . .
You can use this tutorial to create a mitered edge on almost any sewing project, from tea towels to table cloths – anything that is square or rectangular!
Don’t forget to check out the finished DIY play kitchen, the quilted mini pot holder tutorial, and my DIY project gallery for more great sewing tutorials!
adorable! i love that fabric- so fun! 🙂 and great tutorial!
Thanks Cassie! The ice cream cone fabric is from a quilting shop in Thunder Bay (my hometown)! It is quickly becoming our go-to source for sweet fabric. It's just a shame I live so far now – but my mom hooks me up! Even my sofa cushion fabrics are all from there. The quality is unbeatable.
What a great post. Love the ice cream fabric.I've been hoping to make a load of napkins to use instead of paper towel but I'm sewing challenged. You have made me feel like I can give it a go! Thank you!!!
Definitely doable! I recommend a busy pattern, too. Helps hide stitches and also is more durable for that application.
This is a great tutorial and I love that fabric!! So summer-y 🙂
I'm dying to see this play kitchen!!
I am the biggest blog tease ever, I know. Soon. Ish.
Charming, Tanya!! What lucky girls.
Pretty fabric!
These are adorable. I love the polka-dot tablecloth too. What lucky little ones!
Gorgeous! Not sure I could sew in a straight line, but I sure like to look at your handy work!Jen from The Social Home
If you pick a busy enough pattern, no one will be the wiser!
I can't wait to see the finished play kitchen. It's going to be a masterpiece!
What a great idea! Especially since I've just started a secret love affair with buying pretty patterned napkins (Superstore is the worst, they have SO many pretty ones!). Emiliewww.liveeatsmile.blogspot.com
So cute! Can't wait to see how you did the pot holders!I want some ice cream now…
Love that fabric! So sweet! I can't wait to see this kitchen- I know it's going to be amazing!
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I hope its good – I sure am taking my sweet time 🙂
So lovely! Please come share at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/04/sasss-sunday-salvation-show-18.html
Such a great idea…lovely! I'm so glad I found your blog via the DIY party and I am now following so we can stay connected. I would love if you stopped by and follow too. Lori
I absolutely did! Your projects are amazing and you have a fabulous blog!
Tanya,This was an easy-to-follow DIY project. Your mitered corners are PERFECT.Thank you for sharing,Marie