Transform Plain Napkins with 3 Easy Decorative Stitches

Oliver Davies · 2026-09-10

## Turn Simple Napkins into Heirloom Treasures Ever glanced at your sewing machine's decorative stitch menu and thought, "When would I ever use those?" You're not alone. Most of us stick to straight stitches and zigzags, leaving a whole world of creative potential untouched. But here's the thing: those fancy stitches aren't just for show. They can elevate everyday items into something truly special. During National Sewing Month, we're doing just that. We're taking plain fabric and turning it into stunning decorative stitch napkins that look like they came from a boutique. And the best part? You can do it too with our free tutorial. ### Why Decorative Stitches Deserve a Second Look Decorative stitches often get overlooked because they seem intimidating or unnecessary. But they're actually incredibly forgiving and fun to play with. By adjusting the width and length settings, you can control the scale and density of each stitch, creating anything from delicate borders to bold geometric patterns. For our napkins, we used a woven fabric from the Summer Solstice collection by Pieces to Treasure for Moda Fabrics. The woven texture gives the napkins a light, airy feel that perfectly balances the sturdy decorative stitches we added along the edges. It's a match made in sewing heaven. ### What You'll Need to Get Started Before you dive in, gather these supplies: - Woven fabric (we used a fat quarter bundle, but any woven cotton works) - Contrasting thread (we used 50wt Aurifil in Yellow and Midnight) - Totally Stable Iron-on Tear-Away Stabilizer by Sulky - A pen or pencil - Sharp fabric scissors (we love Sweet Snips 6" scissors) That's it. No fancy equipment, no complicated notions. Just basic tools you probably already have. ### Step-by-Step: How to Make Decorative Stitch Napkins #### Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric First, decide on the size of your napkins. We wanted ours to look like little hankies, so we cut our fabric to roughly 12" x 12" for a finished size of 11" x 11". You can make yours any size you like. Just remember to cut your fabric about 1" larger than your desired finished size so you have room to trim. 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. This will be your stitching guide. #### Step 2: Dive into Your Decorative Stitches Now comes the fun part. Grab one of your prepared fabric pieces to use as a tester. Every decorative stitch is different, so take your time experimenting with the width and length settings on your machine. As you find combinations you like, write the stitch number and settings directly on the stabilizer next to the stitch. Trust us, you'll thank yourself later. #### Step 3: Stitch and Cut Your Napkins Once you've chosen your favorite stitches and settings, it's time to work on the real napkins. Load a bobbin with your contrasting thread so both sides of the stitch match. Sew along the marked lines, using the stabilizer as your guide. After stitching, tear away the outer stabilizer and leave the inner stabilizer intact. Then, carefully cut away the excess fabric using sharp scissors. This part is oddly satisfying—especially with a good podcast or movie playing in the background. ### Share Your Creations We'd love to see what you make! Share your decorative stitch napkins on Facebook and Instagram and tag @fatquartershop. We can't wait to see how you transform simple fabric into something beautiful. Happy sewing! *Stay connected with Fat Quarter Shop for more inspiration and tutorials.*