I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
We sure did at here at Sweetwater!
Lots of family, food, fun.....and of course "Way too much of everything"!
Once the holiday passes....
I begin thinking of new stuff to do...
And old stuff that still needs doing!
That got me to thinking....
I decided to start a series of posts with the theme-
"What I Used Up This Week!"
The object will be to challenge myself to make something out of something that I already have at least once every week....ALL YEAR
Come along for the first installment....
Dinner napkins from the old drapes! (really it is not as odd as it might sound)
Some people (Mr. S for sure) think I have too much stuff!
I prefer to think of it as having a lot of RESOURCES!
BUT....even I have to admit that the shelves, closets and cupboards are a bit crowded right now!
Maybe I have been gathering a little too much!
Even so....sometimes I don't have something that I need!
That happened yesterday when I went to set the Christmas Brunch table and realized that I didn't have a full set of unstained white dinner napkins that matched.
(I made do with mismatched green, red and white and it looked fine)
I suppose I could have gone to Williams Sonoma to buy these ....$42 a dozen
Or to Home Goods to buy some.....less expensive....a dozen for 15 dollars or so
But why?
I knew I had 2 big chunks of white duck fabric that used to be the curtains on the lower level walk-out door....
It was just waiting to be turned into napkins.
This isn't really a tutorial....but I do have a couple of hints to make the job easier!
Supplies:
White Duck Fabric (reused from curtains)
Carpenter Square
Scissors
Iron
Sewing Machine
Step 1: measure 22 x 22 squares of fabric
Step 2: fold narrow double hem and press flat
Step 3: stitch around all four sides
Step 4: Press again
Repeat 12 times (which means that I will probably do this over the course of a week or so)
If you don't have this handy dandy tool....go get one!
Well worth the $10....
Great anytime you need to cut something perfectly straight!
My sewing machine has a couple of nice decorative stitches that make great looking hems....
I decided to use one to make the napkins a little "fancier" than store bought!
2 Down....10 to go....
And...I have lots of time because after all the entertaining we have done in the last weeks....
I am NOT inviting any one over for a while :)
Could you still make these you don't have all the "stuff" that I have sitting around?
Could you do this project on a budget?
ABSOLUTELY!
- If you browse the remnant table at any fabric store you will find lots of inexpensive things that would make great napkins!
The sewing skills needed for this are soooo basic that it makes a great project for a beginner!
- The linen/fabric aisle at Goodwill always has old tablecloths that might have a small stain....buy them and cut around the stain.
Hmmmmm......$42 dollars for napkins...
OR
Free....and more room on the shelf too!
That is Sweetwater Style for sure!
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Linky Parties
Skip to My Lou
Really Awesome Free Things
A Round Tuit
Sew Can Do
Crafts Keep Me Sane
Between Naps on the Porch
Be Motivated Monday
Coastal Charm
Terrific Under Ten
Sugar Bee Crafts
Hope Studios
Not Just A Housewife
SweetPeas and Bumblebees
Sew Woodsy
Katherine's Corner
Romantic Home
Chic on a Shoestring
Fingerprints on the Fridge
Kurtz Corner
Fun To Craft
Friday Favorites
The Answer Is Chocolate
Find Your Craft Friday
Type A Decorating
A Vision To Remember
Funky Junk Interiors
Six Sister's Stuff
Nifty Thrifty Things
Lady Bird Lane
Weekend Bloggy Reading
Everything Under the Moon
It's So Very Cheri
Thrifty Decor Chick
Ta Da Tuesday
The Inspiration Board
Bluebird Eat Sew Grow
23 comments:
Stopping by from Skip to My Lou. I also make my own napkins - instead of the carpenter's square I just use a Priority Mail Envelope (talk about repurpose ....
Your decorative stitch at hem is a nice touch.
I should make myself so the same challenge - have so many UFO's.
GREAT idea, Mary! That decorative stitching makes all the difference in the world! :)
xoxo laurie
Hi, I'm visiting from the Terrific Under Ten linky party. My New Year's Resolution is to declutter and organize my house so your ideas are such an inspiration! Thanks for sharing :)
How clever is this. Love it. So frugal yet so nice. I'm visiting from BNOTP - Monday and saw your photo and it beckoned me here. So glad I came. You have a great blog!
Nann
Love the napkins and the decorative stitch! So glad I stopped by. I'm right there with you in the "de cluttering" goal! Can't wait to check back and see what you do next to de-clutter.
Awesome idea - love your napkins and their fancy stitches. :)
Your napkins turned out beautiful--love the stitching. Great way to save money--and they look very expensive!
I love the idea of challenging yourself to use what you have. I think this is a great challenge for the new year and I will be tuned in to see your posts.
Love the 'make your own napkins' idea. Using the T-square is another great tip. I know we have one somewhere so that's on my list of stuff to find. My husband may have it at the office; my job is to convince him I need it at home! LOL!
Happy New Year!
Great work on those napkins! I'm going to do some of the same using what I've got in 2012! I want to try to use some of my stash instead of just adding to it! Good luck with your challenge and keep on linking up what you make!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Best wishes for a fabulous New Year 2012!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
I love upcycling things. This is a perfect and beautiful example of re- purposing. We use cloth napkins ( paper napkins are rarely seen at our house). I love the added touch too. Wish my sewing machine had fancy stitch. :-)Thank you for linking up at Thursday Favorite things at Katherines Corner xo
Fabulous idea! upcycling is the best ever!!!! a wonderful way to be eco-friendly! thanks for sharing : ) wishing you and yours a blessed New Year! so glad i found you through Katherines Corner : ) if you have a chance -- come over to visit at thecottagemarket.com
I like your new series of using what you have. I read the newer post first about the porch furniture - looked great, by the way. I'm a new follower so I can keep up with all you get done.
That's my kinda gal. If something's still got great usable fabric - use it!
I just love the decorative stitching on the hem. They look so much better than the pack of napkins you could have purchased!
I love everything about this post! I found your link on Sweet Peas & Bumblebees and added you to my Bloglovin' feed so I can keep up with your next projects.
Great idea! I just cringe when I'm in WS and see the price of those napkins! Happy New Year to you :)
I came over from Sew Woodsy. I had to click your link because the caption was "napkins from drapes" and I get all nostalgic thinking about the Sound of Music whenever drapes are repurposed. Great idea, thanks for sharing.
This is AMAZING! I love what you did! So creative!
I'm stopping over from Nifty Thrifty Things linky party. I just became your newest follower and would love to have you come check out my blog and follow me too!
-Sarah @Adventures of Our Fami-Ly
What a great idea for a series. Can't wait to see all the repurposing ideas. Thanks for sharing this on Motivated Monday at BeColorful
Pam
Following you from thrifty decor chick-stop over for a visit!
What a difference the stitch makes! Thanks for linking up to "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We would love to have you come back next Saturday with more of your great ideas. -The Sisters
Thanks for linking up with Eat, Grow, Sew again! I love this idea! Both the napkins and using what you have instead of buying. I am challenging myself to the same thing this year...only buying to replace or buying used - nothing new. And I'm reinstating my no more fabric ban after I indulged in some Christmas purchases! Good luck!
Fancy stitches are so fun! Thanks for sharing!
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