It's been ages since I've gone into the fabric store and bought brand new fabric for a project I had in my head.
Last week though, as I prepared for a visit from a life-long friend (a visit that coincided with her birthday), I decided it was time.
As she prepares to move into a new home and a new neighborhood I didn't want to give her more stuff to lug along. I wanted to make her something useful and beautiful.
With the emphasis on useful.
So I picked up two fat quarters and a skinny remnant and paired it with two fabrics from my stash. (And oh, what a luxurious treat to buy new fabric! Even if it wasn't for me.)
Before I had any semblance of a plan I was cutting freshly washed fabrics into different width strips and hoping for the best. I worried briefly as I had no idea where I was going with this that I might be giving her some soap instead (still! an! awesome! gift!), but before long I was sewing away and it was all coming together.
In the end I pieced together six napkins. All different, all wonky, all designed-on-the-fly and backed in a dark and luscious linen of a delicious color that I can't even describe. (Eggplant crossed with composted manure? Something like that. Maybe not the best description for napkins, but if you are a gardener you know how lovely and rich this color must be.)
Being napkins they'll even pack up easily for her move across town. Something I can't say about the jars of tinctures, dried herbs, and bone broth I loaded her down with before she left. But hey. Those are useful too, right? Especially with the stress of moving.
I think so anyway.
And I suppose that's how I nurture the people I love – I make them things, and fill their arms with herbs and broth before they head for home.
Eh, there are worse problems to have.
Love,
Rachel
The napkins are lovely, and I’d be very happy to leave someone’s house with tinctures, dried herbs and bone broth!
Do you use a specific pattern or type of cloth that works best as a napkin? I’ve been thinking about using less paper products in kitchen and want to start sewing up a batch of cloth napkins.
You just want to steer clear of synthetics – high quality quilting cotton works great, and backing with linen or flannel works beautifully too!
Just lovely finish! The colors are stunning.
Rachel, these are so lovely. I still have the two little people napkins you made for my little people (when there were two) and we use them all the time. But, my other napkins are looking pretty dreadful! Inspiring. Thanks!
Soap would not be bad at all. We took our soap bar on a camping trip since we use it for brushing teeth and our tent smelled awesome. Of course we had to put everything in the car at night….