Making your own linen napkins is easier than you think! These napkins are also the perfect size for placemats so they do double duty.
You don’t need to be a seamstress to make these. I can only sew straight lines so it’s a very easy sewing project. And the linen fabric I’ve used makes the napkins only better after several washes.
How To Make Your Own Linen Napkins (that double as placemats!)
Here are a few past examples where I’ve used my DIY linen napkins/placements. They are so useful and match any decor.
Christmas 2013 – French Christmas Tablescape
Christmas 2016 – Snowy Centrepiece
Christmas 2017 – French Christmas Dining Room
Supplies:
- Oatmeal linen fabric
- Measuring tape
- Sewing scissors (or the following 3 items for easy cutting)
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter
- Ruler
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine
Directions:
- Wash and dry linen fabric at least once to prevent future shrinking.
- Cut fabric 17 x 22 inches with scissors or on a cutting mat with ruler and rotary cutter.
3. Fold one edge over about 3/4 inch then iron down.
4. Fold over that same side a good inch then iron down.
5. Repeat the same for the opposite side.
6. Sew the fold down along the dotted line like in the image below. Repeat for the opposite ironed side.
7. Now repeat for the last two sides.
And that’s it! Super easy, right? I love the way they look when they’ve been washed a few times.
The corners turn out great when you sew them this way. I love the wrinkly look of linen.
Linen fabric looks great with rustic decor as well as fine china.
The best part about these napkins is that this size makes it perfect to double as a placemat!
I’ve made many of these so that I have enough for each person to have a placement and a napkin.
What do you think? Will you try making your own linen napkins that double as placemats?
Rhonda says
February 18, 2014 at 6:23 amWhere do you purchase your linen and what weight is it?
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 10:00 pmI’m updating my post now to show the fabric source!
Pat Champagne says
February 18, 2014 at 6:39 amThanks Jamie. I love how easy your tutorial seems. I am ordering linen fabric right now. Pat.
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 9:57 pmThanks so much, Pat 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
Jenna says
February 18, 2014 at 7:10 amShut up! Had no clue these were this easy to make! I LOVE linen napkins too!
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 9:57 pmThanks girl!
Hugs,
Jamie
Laurie @ Vin'yet Etc. says
February 18, 2014 at 9:46 amVery easy, I love the colour of your napkins! Thanks for sharing.
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 10:00 pmThanks so much, Laurie 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
Wendi Wachtel says
February 18, 2014 at 10:19 amI’m going to make these this week! Seriously, they have been on the “to do” list for so darn long! I’m a huge linen fan too 🙂
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 9:57 pmSo glad I inspired you Wendi!!
Hugs,
Jamie
Lo (a LO and behold life) says
February 18, 2014 at 2:22 pmGreat tutorial! A sewing machine is on my birthday wish list. I might try making these for my first sewing project. I love the color of the linen – where did u get the fabric?
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 10:01 pmHi Lo,
I’m updating my post now to show my fabric source!
Hugs,
Jamie
Dawn says
February 18, 2014 at 5:17 pmI have been wanting to make these for awhile but was worried they would be hard. Your tutorial took the fear out of the process! Cutting linen tonight so I can sew away tomorrow! Thank you!
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 7:18 pmThanks so much, Dawn. Did you sew them yet? Would love to hear how they turned out!
Hugs,
Jamie
P. J. Miller says
February 19, 2014 at 1:55 amI am a mom but until now I still don’t know how to do Linen Napkins, thanks for this tutorials, I will try to follow this steps..
Jamie says
February 21, 2014 at 9:55 pmSo glad I could help 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Jamie
Good Time Charlie says
February 25, 2014 at 8:42 amLove this! Definitely pinning.
Jamie says
March 6, 2014 at 10:18 pmThanks so much, Karen!
Hugs,
Jamie
Heather Smith {Woods of Bell Trees} says
March 2, 2014 at 11:21 amI love linen and these look awesome! I love items that can do double duty! Great job!
Jamie says
March 6, 2014 at 10:19 pmSo easy to make and I honestly love them! The linen fabric is what makes them 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
Shannon [Our Home Notebook] says
March 7, 2014 at 4:48 amThese are beautiful! I so want to make some now.
Jamie says
March 9, 2014 at 11:30 pmThanks Shannon!
Hugs,
Jamie
Mary Miller says
December 4, 2014 at 5:52 pmHave old old linen table cloth will b e cutting tonight and sewing tomorrow. Love the napkins.
Kim Gaynor says
February 2, 2015 at 9:04 amJamie, I love this tutorial and have linked to it on my blog. Speaking of which, you might want to enter my giveaway!
Emily Wynsma says
November 4, 2015 at 2:11 pmLove these! I LOVE linen napkins and want to start making my own. Is the linen you used pretty soft?
Jamie says
November 18, 2015 at 3:12 pmThanks Emily! I love that linen fabric but I had to wash it twice before it became soft. It doesn’t feel that soft when you first touch it but washing and drying it softens it right up.
Hugs,
Jamie
Dilys Williams says
June 30, 2016 at 12:42 pmI love them. I am about to start to learn to sew.
Just to clarify you fold it 3/4 inch, then fold same side again an inch and then sew down?
How much fabric did you buy to make then and what was the width of it?
Sorry for these naive questions.
Dilys
Holly says
August 6, 2016 at 9:38 amHow much fabric did you purchase and how many linen napkins did it make?
Love the tutorial! 🙂
Holly
Jessica Brunelle says
October 17, 2016 at 6:13 pmHello I would like to know more about the type of linen is it 100% linen what exact linen did you buy at fabric.com ?
Ron says
March 30, 2018 at 12:32 amHi Jamie. Are the measurements the same for the napkins as for the placemats or are the p’mats a little larger?
thanks
Rona
Jamie says
April 9, 2018 at 1:51 pmHi Rona,
They are the exact same measurements 😉
Hugs, Jamie
Sharon Goble says
April 25, 2018 at 5:59 pmTwo questions.
Did it matter if you started with width (17) vs. length to stitch down? No mitering?
Did you use an darker thread on the reverse side? Or was that for the tutorial? I realize I can use different thread colors. Just curious.
thanks.
Jamie says
April 25, 2018 at 8:41 pmHi Sharon,
No it doesn’t matter what side you start from, just be sure to do the opposite same side (like the graphic above). By doing it that way, you don’t need to mitre the corners. And coloured thread would be so beautiful! I’ve recently made some tea towels with different coloured thread.
Hugs, Jamie
Rose says
August 8, 2018 at 1:58 pmThese are so beautiful! Thank you for the tutorial!
How much fabric did you purchase and how many napkins did you make?