Unlock Your Sewing Machine's Hidden Stitches: Free Napkin Tutorial

Dr. Kenji Tanaka · 2026-09-10

### Why Decorative Stitches Deserve a Second Look During National Sewing Month, we're giving some extra love to the machine that brings our creative ideas to life. This year, we're diving into the often-overlooked library of decorative stitches on your sewing machine and using them to give napkins an heirloom-worthy finish. If you've ever ignored those fancy stitches, you're not alone. But once you see how easy it is to create stunning borders, you'll wonder why you waited so long. And the best part? We're sharing a free tutorial to guide you every step of the way. ### What You'll Need Before we start stitching, let's gather our supplies. Here's what you'll need to make your own set of decorative stitch napkins: - Woven fabric (we used a Summer Solstice Woven 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 - Sweet Snips 6" Fabric Scissors ### 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 cut your 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. This will be your stitching guide. #### Step 2: Dive into 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 each sample on the stabilizer so you remember what you used. This little step will save you time later. > "The best way to learn your machine's decorative stitches is to play. Don't be afraid to try new combinations—you might discover a new favorite!" #### Step 3: Stitch and Cut Your Napkins Now that you've chosen your stitches and know the perfect settings, 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 on each napkin. We found it easiest to tear away the outer stabilizer first, then trim the excess fabric. Leave the inner stabilizer for stability while stitching, then tear it away gently. A good podcast or a weekend movie night and a pair of sharp fabric scissors will make quick work of trimming. Before you know it, you'll have a set of beautiful napkins. ### Share Your Creations We can't wait to see the wonderful stitches your machine can do! If you make your own decorative stitch napkins, share them with us on Facebook and Instagram and tag @fatquartershop so we can see and share your work. Happy Sewing! Stay connected to Fat Quarter Shop for more tips and tutorials.