Christmas in July - Holiday Cheer

Welcome to my stop on the Benartex Christmas in July Blog Hop.  Benartex has so many fun collections coming out for the holidays it was hard to choose a favorite.  But when I saw the Holiday Cheer collection, I immediately had the perfect project in mind.

Bright colored candies and cocktail treats....This collection was screaming to be made into party napkins!  They are pretty easy to make so I thought I would include a tutorial in case you want to get started on your holiday sewing.

The first step is to get the fabric pre-washed (to remove shrinkage) and then pressed.  I use either starch or a starch alternative like Best Press to get it really nice and flat.

 You will want to remove the selvages and square up the pressed fabric to the size you desire.  

 

When cutting your fabric to size, you will need to compensate for the 2.5" you will lose in the finished edging. For my 14" napkins, I cut a 16.5" square.

 At your ironing board, fold down 1/4" and press to the wrong side around all 4 sides of the cloth..  I use a small ruler to help with this.  

You can also mark your fabric with a light pencil line on the wrong side if that is easiest to follow.  

(Using Best Press on this step will help to ensure the fold doesn't open up in handling.)

  Next, with the 1/4" still pressed down, you will fold in and press an additional 1" on all 4 sides of the cloth.  Once again, the use of starch or Best Press will keep the folds from opening up.

On a flat surface, open up the 1" fold but keep the 1/4" fold, down.  In the corners, draw a line at 45 degrees through where the fold marks intersect.  I use the 45 degree mark on my ruler to line up with either the edge of the cloth or the fold mark.  Remember to mark all four corners.

Now fold the corners right side together (keeping the 1/4" folded down).  The outer edge of the cloth should be lined up and come to a point. Sew on the pencil line, remembering to back stitch at the beginning and end of the stitch line.  Sew all four corners.

 

Trim the corner about 1/4" from the stitched line.  I may also trim away some of the bulk at the corner where the fold is to help keep the points sharp.

 Now just fold in and you will get a nice mitered corner with a sharp point.  I use one of my cutting rulers to slide into the point to push them all the way out.  Give all the edges another press.

At this point, you can choose not to line your napkins and just top stitch around the mitered edge (see below) - or you can get even more festive and line your napkins with a coordinating fabric.

I cut a 13" square and tucked it under the mitered edge.  I then pinned all the layers around the edge to make top stitching a little easier.

 

In a nice contrasting or complimentary thread (your choice), stitch along the inside fold about 1/16" from the edge.  Remember to backstitch when you start out.  To turn the corners, put the needle down right in the miter, lift the presser foot and turn. I also backstitch at the end.

And there you have it - fun holiday napkins!

Perfect little gifts for that favorite hostess...

 Or put them away for use at your own holiday party.  

Aren't the prints adorable in this Holiday Cheer collection!

So, I am not the only one featuring some great ideas for the new holiday collections by Benartex.  Check out what some of these other bloggers have come up with earlier this week.  You might even find a few giveaways there!

     Chris from made by ChrissieD, featuring Jolly Penguin and Friends

     Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts, featuring My Little Chickadee

     Alison from Little Bunny Quilts, featuring Sparkle

And if you haven't already visited Benartex's Sew in Love {with Fabric} blog, be sure and head over for more information.

So did your ears perk up at the word giveaway?  Well, I am holding one too!  If you would like your own little fat quarter bundle of the Holiday Cheer collection I used in my napkins, you have two ways to enter.

1.  Just leave a comment below telling me what item you would make with this fabric.

2.  For a second entry, follow my blog through email or a blog reader like Bloglovin.  Just leave me a comment letting me know how you are following along. 

***This giveaway is closed. Good luck to all that entered!***

This giveaway is only open to US residents (sorry) and closes Monday August 1st 2016 at 12 noon (PST).  A winner will be chosen from the comments by random number generator and contacted through email.  So make sure I can contact you.  If you are not sure if you are set up as no-reply, please leave your email.  Giveaway bundles will be mailed directly from Benartex to the winner.

Good luck!

Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

TGIFF (Thank Goodness it is Friday Finish)

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Crazy Mom Quilts (Finish it up Friday)
A Quilted Passion