Cheerful Cloth Napkins

I enjoy different kinds of blogs. I like cowgirl stuff, quilting and crafty stuff, food stuff, and I like homemaking things in general. Here awhile back, I saw a great idea from Crystal on "Homemaking on the Homestead." She has lots of great frugal ideas with food, cooking, gardening, etc. But in this particular post ...


http://homesteadinghomemaker.blogspot.com/2010/08/canning-green-beans-and-cloth-napkins.html


... she included another great idea - cloth napkins for everyday use. She had them in a basket, and I LOVED IT! The idea was to keep them handy in the kitchen to help cut down on buying/using paper napkins. Considering how fast we go through our "bucket o' paper napkins" on our kitchen table, this seemed to be a good "green" thing to do. So.... I finally got down to business, since the sewing bug has bitten me big time lately.


I had some heavy cotton on hand that I had for a LONG time, and had no idea what I wanted to do with it. It's yellow, with a sort of blue-stripe "plaid" in it. Sort of different. Meanwhile, I also had some dark green and white plaid heavier cotton, that I thought I'd use in big squares with some solid green to make a comforter, but never did and have a hunch I never will. So I used these two fabrics, plus some inexpensive heavier cotton gingham in blue and red from nearby wallyworld, and MADE THESE NAPKINS, putting them in a basket that I found at the thrift store:






I'm sure they'll be a fun way to cheer up my kitchen and be useful. But there was something interesting about making these napkins ...


Usually, when I sew, especially quilting, I'm definitely "OCD-perfectionist." I mean I'm so capable of being nit-picky and technically detailed. But with sewing these napkins, this was my process:


Generally measure, decide on a general size that was good.
Whack material into huge squares.
Don't pin the edges, just fold "double" as I sew.
Throw neatness to the wind.
Let the sewing machine whir, and just enjoy sewing fast ... uh ... "rustic" seams.
Fold and place casually in the basket.


This was VERY FREEING FOR ME, and I think I needed a project like this in my life right now --- easy, something useful, something colorful, and NO EXPECTATIONS FOR PERFECTION. In fact, I like the rustic seams on these napkins, and I won't be afraid to actually use them. :) So, many thanks to Crystal for this great idea!