Fabric cocktail napkins that are effortless and elegant.
I love the crisp square look of paper cocktail napkins for parties, but cloth versions are harder to find. So I made my own set in my current favorite color combination and added small finishing touches—fringed edges and simple embroidery—to make them feel special.
Follow the steps below to see how a single piece of linen becomes a set of reusable, washable cocktail napkins you can use for entertaining or everyday drinks.
Materials
- Less than a yard of linen fabric
- Embroidery floss and needle (optional)
- Sewing machine
How to Make Fabric Cocktail Napkins
1. Measure, cut, and pin
Mark squares measuring 5 inches on the linen and cut them out. Each napkin uses two squares. Place two matching squares together and pin around the edges so they stay perfectly aligned.
2. Sew
With your sewing machine, stitch a square 1/2 inch in from the edges on all four sides. Backstitch at the beginning and end to secure the seams.
3. Fringe the edges
Trim any loose threads. To create fringe, carefully pull individual threads from the fabric weave along the edges so the cloth has a soft, frayed border on both sides (see photos).
4. Add final touches
If you like, hand embroider a small motif or word on each napkin for a personal touch. Once finished, the napkins are ready to use—and they’re easy to wash and reuse.
Sewing: Emma Spear // Photography: Brittni Mehlhoff
Do you like reusable napkins like these? What do you think of the fringe—love it or not for you?