Your Sewing Machine's Hidden Gem: Decorative Stitch Napkins Made Easy

Michael Johnson · 2026-09-10

September is National Sewing Month, and it's the perfect time to show some love to the machine that brings our creative ideas to life. This year, we're exploring the often-overlooked world of decorative stitches and giving plain napkins a stunning, heirloom-quality upgrade. ### Why Decorative Stitches? Most of us stick to straight or zigzag stitches, but our machines are packed with beautiful decorative stitches that can transform simple projects. These stitches add texture, color, and a personal touch that makes everyday items feel special. Plus, they're surprisingly easy to use once you get the hang of them. ### What You'll Need Before we dive in, gather your supplies. For this project, we used a Summer Solstice Wovens fat quarter bundle from Moda Fabrics, but you can use any woven fabric you love. Here's the full list: - Woven fabric (fat quarters work great) - Contrasting thread (we used 50wt Aurifil in Yellow and Midnight) - Totally Stable Iron-on Tear-Away Stabilizer by Sulky - A pen or pencil - Fabric scissors (we like Sweet Snips 6-inch) ### Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric First, decide on the size of your napkins. We wanted ours to look like little handkerchiefs, so we cut our fabric to roughly 12" x 12", which gives a finished size of 11" x 11". You can make yours any size—just remember to cut the fabric about 1" larger than your desired finished size to allow for trimming. Next, cut four 1.5" strips of stabilizer that are roughly the same length as your fabric. With the textured side touching the fabric, iron the stabilizer onto the perimeter of your fabric. Then, using a pen or pencil and a ruler, mark the desired finished size of your napkin onto the stabilizer. ### Step 2: Play with Your Decorative Stitches Take one of your prepared fabric pieces and use it as a tester. Every decorative stitch is different, and by adjusting the width and length settings on your machine, you can control the scale and density of each stitch. As you experiment, write the stitch number and settings next to it on the stabilizer so you can replicate your favorites later. > "The best way to learn your machine's decorative stitches is to play. Don't be afraid to try unexpected combinations—you might discover a new favorite." ### Step 3: Stitch and Cut Your Napkins Now it's time to work on the real napkins. If you haven't already, load a bobbin with your colored thread so both sides of the stitch match. Stitch along the marked lines using your chosen decorative stitches. We found it easiest to tear away the outer stabilizer first, then cut away the excess fabric. Leave the inner stabilizer for stability. Put on a good podcast or a movie, grab your sharp fabric scissors, and trim away the excess. It's oddly satisfying! ### Show Off Your Work We'd love to see the decorative stitch napkins you create! Share them on Facebook or Instagram and tag @fatquartershop so we can admire your handiwork. Happy sewing!