Unlock Your Sewing Machine's Hidden Decorative Stitches for Heirloom Napkins

Jessica Wilson · 2026-09-10

National Sewing Month is the perfect time to show your machine some love. This year, I'm diving into the often-overlooked library of decorative stitches and giving plain napkins an heirloom-worthy finish. Trust me, your machine can do more than straight seams. ### What You'll Need - Woven fabric (I used a fat quarter bundle in summer-inspired prints) - Contrasting thread (50wt cotton in yellow and midnight) - Iron-on tear-away stabilizer - A pen or pencil - 6-inch fabric scissors ### Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric First, decide on the finished size. I wanted a dainty hankie look, so I cut my fabric to roughly 12 x 12 inches, aiming for a finished 11 x 11 inches. You can go bigger or smaller, just cut your fabric about 1 inch larger than your desired finished size. Next, cut four 1.5-inch strips of stabilizer, roughly the same length as your fabric. With the textured side down, iron the stabilizer to the perimeter of your fabric. Then, use a pen and ruler to mark your desired finished size right onto the stabilizer. That's your stitching guide. ### Step 2: Test Your Decorative Stitches Grab one prepared fabric piece to use as a tester. Every decorative stitch is different, and by tweaking the width and length settings, you can control the scale and density. Play around! As you test, jot down the stitch number and settings right on the stabilizer so you remember what you loved. ### Step 3: Stitch and Trim Now for the real deal. Load a bobbin with your contrasting thread so both sides look neat. Stitch along your marked line using your chosen decorative stitch. I found it easiest to tear away the outer stabilizer first, leaving the inner stabilizer intact, then trim away the excess fabric with sharp scissors. A good podcast or movie helps pass the time. ### Share Your Creations I'd love to see what your machine can do! Share your decorative stitch napkins on social media and tag me so I can admire your work. Happy sewing! > "The best way to predict the future is to create it." – Abraham Lincoln