Transform Plain Napkins with Decorative Stitches: Free Tutorial

William Jones · 2026-09-10

### Why Your Sewing Machine's Decorative Stitches Deserve a Second Look Most of us have a treasure trove of decorative stitches built right into our sewing machines, yet we rarely use them. During National Sewing Month, we're changing that. We're giving some plain napkins an heirloom-worthy finish using those overlooked stitches. Trust me, once you see how easy it is, you'll wonder why you ever ignored them. ### What You'll Need to Get Started Before we dive in, let's gather our supplies. You don't need much, and you probably already have most of it. - Woven fabric – we used a Summer Solstice Woven Fat Quarter Bundle, but any woven fabric works. - Contrasting thread – 50wt Aurifil in Yellow and Midnight gives a nice pop. - Totally Stable Iron-on Tear-Away Stabilizer by Sulky – this keeps your fabric from puckering. - A pen or pencil for marking. - Sharp fabric scissors – we love Sweet Snips 6" Fabric Scissors. That's it. No fancy gadgets, just the basics. ### 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", which gives a finished size of about 11" x 11". But you can make them 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. This will support your decorative stitches and prevent stretching. Then, using a pen or pencil and a ruler, mark the desired finished size of your napkin onto the stabilizer. This is your stitching guideline. ### Step 2: Play with 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, and by adjusting the width and length settings on your machine, you can control the scale and density of each stitch. Don't be afraid to experiment. As you test different stitches, write the stitch number and settings next to each one on the stabilizer. This way, you'll remember exactly which settings you used for the final napkins. It's a game-changer. ### 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. If you haven't already, load a bobbin with your colored thread so that both sides of the stitch match. This gives a clean, professional look. Stitch along your marked line, using the decorative stitch you selected. Take your time and enjoy the process. After stitching, tear away the outer stabilizer, leaving the inner stabilizer intact. Then, carefully cut away the excess fabric using sharp scissors. We found it easiest to do this while watching a movie or listening to a podcast. The time flies by. ### Share Your Creations We can't wait to see the beautiful napkins you create! When you finish, share them on Facebook and Instagram and tag @fatquartershop. We love seeing your work and sharing it with our community. Happy sewing!