12 Free Cloth Napkin Sewing Patterns and Tutorials

A Little Thing That Makes Dinner Feel Special

I will let you in on one of my favorite small luxuries. There is nothing fancy about a cloth napkin, and yet the moment you set one beside a plate the whole table feels cared for. We swapped to cloth in our house years ago, partly to stop buying paper and partly because I had a drawer full of pretty cotton scraps that were too good to throw away and too small for anything else.

Here is the happy secret: cloth napkins are about the easiest thing you will ever sew. Most are just a square of fabric with a tidy hem, which makes them the perfect way to practice straight stitching, mitered corners, or that satisfying double sided finish. You can make a whole set in an afternoon, and a stack of handmade napkins is one of the nicest gifts you can give.

If you would rather warm up on something even simpler first, our quick coaster patterns use the very same straight seams and turning technique, so they make a lovely starter project before you cut into your good napkin fabric.

Free Coaster Tutorials & Patterns for All Occasions

Free Cloth Napkin Sewing Patterns Roundup

Click any image to open the free pattern in a new tab. Do not forget to pin your favourites for later.

A Few Tips Before You Start

Quilting cotton, linen, and cotton blends all press beautifully and wear well through countless washes. A fat quarter makes one generous napkin, so a single bundle of coordinating cotton fat quarters can give you a whole mismatched set. Cut your squares a little larger than you think: an 18 inch finished napkin is right for everyday, while 20 inches feels generous for holidays.

For more table and home sewing, browse our free pattern roundups and our free sewing patterns hub. You might also enjoy our coaster tutorials and these waterproof coasters to round out a coordinated set for the table.

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