Make Easy No-Sew Napkins

The weather is warm, the grass is green and growing, school is out and we are eating outside every chance we get. A bohemian at heart, I like the free-form nature of summertime, right down to our meals. You will find us eating on the patio, at the park down the street and especially at the beach because my children think that is what the beach is for – eating with some water play on the side. Haha!

Before Pipsqueak was born, I picked up a number of batik fabric cuts because I LOVE them. Their bright, colorful designs make me feel happy. For those who don’t know, batik refers to the design, produced by using wax as a dye repellent. I’ve been using it to make skirts for Love Bug since she was 3 and thought my stack of cuts would make the perfect bright and summery cloth napkins. Because I want to use these as everyday napkins, napkins for our outdoor excursions, I didn’t want to spend time with hems and mitering, so I went with the no-sew option. A couple of cuts and they are ready to use.

What I love about these large napkins is we can use them as lap plates as well. I usually try to pack in such a way that after the food is consumed, there isn’t much left to lug around. I try to avoid bringing plates and silverware, if I can help it, so these napkins help in providing a place to hold our foods.

There is one extra thing I make sure to drop in our basket – Boogie Wipes. We are still battling runny noses here, even in this warm season, and the dripping and running really gets going when we are outside, moving around. With the Boogie Wipes, I get to stay on the good side of my naughty-nosed babes. Tissues, and even fabric, make them grimace. Sweet J really dislikes it. But they are much more agreeable when I use the BWs. The wipes are soft and gentle and the saline solution breaks down the stubborn crust. They work like a charm. And with the amount of time we are spending together, I want to keep everyone feeling good all the time.

Let’s make some napkins!

Supplies:

-fabric, washed, dried and ironed*
-straight edge
-rotary blade & cutting mat or scissors

*Woven fabrics are best. Also, look for a dyed fabric, not a printed one, so the fabric will be the same on both sides. Pre-washing with prevent shrinking after the napkins have been cut. Ironing the fabric will help ensure the cuts are straight and even.

Cut down the fabric to your desired size. My napkins are 14″ x 14″.

To finish them, you can hand fray the edges or send them through the washer and dryer again. The machines will loosen the threads, fraying the edges. When you remove them from the dryer, pull the threads free. I love the softened edges.

Want to avoid ironing them each time? Here’s the secret: remove them from the dryer before they are fully dry and hand press them flat.

So eat outside. Pretend you are a free-range anything. A free-range being with a cloth napkin and class. :)

One thing I’m curious about: I’m an old school picnic-basket-packer. Fruits, veggies, cheese sticks and PB & J sandwiches. Finger foods, simple food. And something salty too, like corn chips or pretzels. Nothing too fancy.

I’m always looking for other ideas. What do you pack for picnics?

This post is a part of the Happy Homes Campaign with KSW Media. Thanks to Boogie Wipes for sponsoring this project and today’s conversation. All content and opinions are my own. Thanks for being supportive of our sponsors.

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