Thursday, July 28, 2016

Christmas in July Blog Hop: Day 4

Christmas in July continues with a week of holiday-themed tutorials! Stop by each day this week to see the featured tutorial and find out how you can enter to win the fabric line being used!

Today Cynthia from Quilting is more fun than Housework (and yes, it is!) is sharing the perfect quick and easy gift idea for the holidays. She's made double-sided napkins using the Holiday Cheer collection by Maria Kalinowski for Kanvas. These novelty prints are sew much fun!


Here's Cynthia:
Welcome to my stop on the Benartex Christmas in July Blog Hop.  Benartex has so many fun collections coming out for the holidays it was hard to choose a favorite.  But when I saw the Holiday Cheer collection, I immediately had the perfect project in mind.





Bright colored candies and cocktail treats....This collection was screaming to be made into party napkins!  They are pretty easy to make so I thought I would include a tutorial in case you want to get started on your holiday sewing.


The first step is to get the fabric pre-washed (to remove shrinkage) and then pressed.  I use either starch or a starch alternative like Best Press to get it really nice and flat.



 You will want to remove the selvages and square up the pressed fabric to the size you desire.  
 
When cutting your fabric to size, you will need to compensate for the 2.5" you will lose in the finished edging. For my 14" napkins, I cut a 16.5" square.





 At your ironing board, fold down 1/4" and press to the wrong side around all 4 sides of the cloth..  I use a small ruler to help with this.  
You can also mark your fabric with a light pencil line on the wrong side if that is easiest to follow.  
(Using Best Press on this step will help to ensure the fold doesn't open up in handling.)







  Next, with the 1/4" still pressed down, you will fold in and press an additional 1" on all 4 sides of the cloth.  Once again, the use of starch or Best Press will keep the folds from opening up.


On a flat surface, open up the 1" fold but keep the 1/4" fold, down.  In the corners, draw a line at 45 degrees through where the fold marks intersect.  I use the 45 degree mark on my ruler to line up with either the edge of the cloth or the fold mark.  Remember to mark all four corners.




Now fold the corners right side together (keeping the 1/4" folded down).  The outer edge of the cloth should be lined up and come to a point. Sew on the pencil line, remembering to back stitch at the beginning and end of the stitch line.  Sew all four corners.
 
Trim the corner about 1/4" from the stitched line.  I may also trim away some of the bulk at the corner where the fold is to help keep the points sharp.
 Now just fold in and you will get a nice mitered corner with a sharp point.  I use one of my cutting rulers to slide into the point to push them all the way out.  Give all the edges another press.


At this point, you can choose not to line your napkins and just top stitch around the mitered edge (see below) - or you can get even more festive and line your napkins with a coordinating fabric.








I cut a 13" square and tucked it under the mitered edge.  I then pinned all the layers around the edge to make top stitching a little easier.
 
In a nice contrasting or complimentary thread (your choice), stitch along the inside fold about 1/16" from the edge.  Remember to backstitch when you start out.  To turn the corners, put the needle down right in the miter, lift the presser foot and turn. I also backstitch at the end.
And there you have it - fun holiday napkins!



Perfect little gifts for that favorite hostess...






 Or put them away for use at your own holiday party.  
Aren't the prints adorable in this Holiday Cheer collection!

Thanks, Cynthia! Head over to Cynthia's blog to enter for a chance to win a FQ bundle of Holiday Cheer fabric! 

Don't miss our Christmas in July tutorials all this week!
Wednesday: Alison from Little Bunny Quilts, featuring Sparkle
Friday: Benartex blog design team featuring Joyful


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17 comments:

  1. very very nice ...The tutorial was well did...Cool fabric.... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  2. Great tutorial and I absolutely love this fabric. Total #CreativeGoodness.

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

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  3. Great tutorial! I would like to make some placemats to go along with them

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  4. Beautiful, fun holiday napkins!
    Great tutorial - I love that you pre washed and then starched the fabrics befor cutting.

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  5. Great idea! Thanks for sharing this!

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  6. Love that squiggly print fabric. Would be great for bindings and sashing. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  7. This fabric is so holiday! Would love to make something special. scott_3508@netins.net

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  8. Meant to add a question - do you use more starch as you fold the edges, in addition to starching the fabric to begin with?

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    Replies
    1. I usually play it by ear. Sometime the original starching is enough to keep those edges down.

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  9. Wow, the tutorial covered everything including the clipped corners. My daughter has stopped using paper napkins and paper towels, this would be a great gift. Thank you so much.

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  10. I really like your tutorial. It's easier to understand than the instructions that came with a pattern I have. Great looking napkins!

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  11. Great tutorial. Who can't use some fun new napkins!? This is a super fun fabric collection for the holidays.

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  12. Delicious and fun fabrics and your tutorial is great.

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  13. Great tutorial and such FUN fabrics, especially the streamers and straws! In fact, I like the streamers in other collections also! Definitely have to find these at one of my local shops! Thanks!

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