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DIY Linen Napkins and Nautical Cable Napkin Rings

The #12MonthsofDIY challenge is back with #FebruaryFabric! For this fun and creative challenge, each of 12 Canadian bloggers use the same material each month to create an inspiring DIY or craft project. In case you missed it, you can check out all of last month’s projects using mason jars including our DIY African violet planter. Also, join us on Instagram and tag your own fabric post this week with #februaryfabric for a chance to be featured on all 12 of our Instagram accounts.

DIY Irish linen napkins with a frayed hem finish and nautical-inspired sailor-cable napkin rings. A step-by-step tutorial is included as well as a video for making the napkin rings. These would be perfect for any coastal or nautical themed event such as a dinner party, wedding reception or shower. Click through for all the details as well as links to 11 other crafts you can make with 1 yard of fabric.

“Some of the materials used in this post were provided to us free of charge from OnlineFabricStore. All opinions expressed in this post are our own: we wouldn’t be collaborating with this company if we didn’t feel that they provide value to our readers. Also, this post contains affiliate links. While there is no additional cost to you, should you purchase any of the products by clicking through the links, you will be helping us to continue creating new posts for the blog.”

We’re so pleased to have OnlineFabricStore as the sponsor for this month’s challenge. We were able to pick two items from their extensive selection of all kinds of fabrics (everything from burlap, canvas, cotton to silk) including numerous designer brands such as Ralph Lauren, Robert Allen, Sunbrella and even craft supplies such a twine including the Ivory Jute Twine we selected.

We decided to try working with linen for the challenge: there were 114 different types of linen including Belgian, Irish, Chambray, European and burlap linen in a huge selection of colours including printed designs! It was a hard choice to make but we selected one yard of the Bluestone Irish Linen which looked beautiful and beachy to us. The website was easy to use, fast and well organized and when we looked at one product they listed all the other colours available as well as suggestions for other options and materials. The prices were reasonable with discounts for multi-orders and free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Linen is made from the natural fibers of the flax plant. In addition to desirable properties such as excellent moisture absorbency and strength, linen has such a fascinating history and appears to be one of the oldest textiles in the world. Linen was thought to be used as currency in ancient Egypt as well as wrapping for mummies. Today this expensive fabric is used in high-end household linens (bed, bath and kitchen), home and commercial furnishings, apparel and industrial products such as luggage, canvases and thread.

How to make the Linen Napkins:

1. Wash the linen before using as it will shrink a bit. Iron out while it’s still damp. Trim the frayed edges.

 

For a frayed edge finish: sew one line using a sewing machine along each edge (about ¼ inch in) using a thread colour of your choice. We opted for white which provided a nice contrast on the napkin and coordinated with our nautical-inspired napkin rings (see below) and dinnerware. Once sewn, re-wash the napkins. The threads will have come off the edges. Gently pull them as far as they’ll go and then trim off the loose threads. You may need to repeat this after the next time you wash the napkins.

For a hemmed edge finish: fold the cut fabric edge over ¼” and stitch as close to fold line as possible (approx. ⅛”). Trim away the excess fabric as close to the stitch line as you can. Fold the stitched edge again (3/16”) and single stitch in place. Repeat for all 4 sides of the napkin ring.

Iron your napkins and you’re good to go!

DIY Irish linen napkins with a frayed hem finish and nautical-inspired sailor-cable napkin rings. A step-by-step tutorial is included as well as a video for making the napkin rings. These would be perfect for any coastal or nautical themed event such as a dinner party, wedding reception or shower. Click through for all the details as well as links to 11 other crafts you can make with 1 yard of fabric.

There you have it, your very own set of linen napkins. You can purchase high-quality 19”x19” linen napkins on Amazon.com* for over $20USD a piece. For just under $18USD/yard at OnlineFabricStore, some thread and time, we were able to make a whole set of 6 for just about the same price. We are still arguing over who gets to keep them (although it’s true, Jane’s dishes have never looked so good) but either way we know and appreciate that these handmade, high quality napkins using sustainable and durable linen will last a lifetime.

DIY Irish linen napkins with a frayed hem finish and nautical-inspired sailor-cable napkin rings. A step-by-step tutorial is included as well as a video for making the napkin rings. These would be perfect for any coastal or nautical themed event such as a dinner party, wedding reception or shower. Click through for all the details as well as links to 11 other crafts you can make with 1 yard of fabric.

How to make the Nautical Cable Napkin Rings:

The beautiful blue colour and airiness of the napkins really inspire a coastal or nautical feel, so we decided that some simple DIY nautical-inspired napkin rings would be ideal for our table-settings. So we took to YouTube, searching for nautical knots and eventually came up this video by the Paracordist (yes, it’s a whole thing according to hubby) on how to make a sailor knot bracelet, but using paracord. The braided pattern looked so beautiful so we gave it a shot with cotton twine that we received from OnlineFabricStore.net. To make each ring which measures about 3 inches in diameter you will need 4 strands of twine (about 48 inches each).

YouTube video

DIY Irish linen napkins with a frayed hem finish and nautical-inspired sailor-cable napkin rings. A step-by-step tutorial is included as well as a video for making the napkin rings. These would be perfect for any coastal or nautical themed event such as a dinner party, wedding reception or shower. Click through for all the details as well as links to 11 other crafts you can make with 1 yard of fabric.

If you are interested in additional easy sewing ideas be sure to check out our posts on how to sew an infinity scarf, how to sew curtains and how to sew a large pencil case tutorials. 

Now it’s time to see what our other Canadian blogging friends created with their yard of fabric from OnlineFabricStore. From cushions, banners, bibs, chair refinishing, chenille blankets, Easter bunny treat bags and more, these creative and inspiring DIY projects will have you dusting off your sewing machine in no time.

DIY Irish linen napkins with a frayed hem finish and nautical-inspired sailor-cable napkin rings. A step-by-step tutorial is included as well as a video for making the napkin rings. These would be perfect for any coastal or nautical themed event such as a dinner party, wedding reception or shower. Click through for all the details as well as links to 11 other crafts you can make with 1 yard of fabric.

From the top left, they are:

Fabric Pillow from Bette Creek
Fabric Banner from Brooklyn Berry Designs
Reupholstered Bedroom Chair from Woman in Real Life
DIY Linen Napkins and Nautical Napkin Rings from Sustain My Craft Habit
DIY Baby Bandana Bib from Mommyzoid
Bunny Treat Bag from Life Is A Party
Fabric Covered Bulletin Board from The DIY Mommy
DIY Chenille Blanket with Pom-Poms from Vin’yet Etc.
Alligator Vinyl Pouf from PMQ For Two
Upcycled Commode Chair from New House New Home
DIY Infinity Scarf from Fresh Crush
Coffee Table Runner Easy Sewing Tutorial from Time with Thea

“*This post contains affiliate links which means if you buy any of the products – at no additional cost to you – we make a small commission. *”

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Fabric Heart

Tuesday 2nd of May 2017

great ideas. I am sure The Fabric Exchange has so many choices of fabric for this kind of project.

Dannyelle @ www.lifeisaparty.ca

Saturday 27th of February 2016

Your napkins look great, love the colour and the fabric choice. I'm so in love with linen these days too.

Jane and Sonja

Monday 28th of March 2016

We think more linen projects are definitely in the works for us! We couldn't believe the selection of colours and prints available at OnlineFabricStore.net . So inspiring. Thank you for stopping by Dannyelle.

Laurie Dickson

Thursday 25th of February 2016

These are beautiful perfectly made and thanks so much for the linen lesson, I had no idea about the rich history! xo

Jane and Sonja

Monday 28th of March 2016

It's funny how much we've been learning in our blogging journey. We didn't know half of these linen facts. Knowing more about linen and it's rich history makes us want to work with it even more!

Jennifer Eckert

Thursday 25th of February 2016

These are beautiful! And, you chose the PER-FECT fabric for your table settings!

Jane and Sonja

Monday 28th of March 2016

Thank you so much Jennifer! To be honest, we originally had a different project in mind for the linen (a DIY canvas art project). But when we received the fabric, it just "felt" too nice to put up on the wall. We're so happy the napkin idea came to mind - now I get to use and feel the smooth texture regularly.

Thank you for stopping by!

Joann MacDonald (Woman in Real Life)

Thursday 25th of February 2016

The combo of the linen napkin and the cotton twine is so pretty! Great work.

Jane and Sonja

Monday 28th of March 2016

We love the contrast in the colours and textures, and that they're both made from natural fibers. Thank you so much for your kind comment Joann!

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