DIY Napkin Rings using Cork or Faux Leather | FREE PATTERN

Today's tutorial is for a simple, 10-minute project using only one fabric and a bit of purse hardware! Step-by-step you're going to learn how to make a set of napkin rings!

This project is a simple way to dress up napkins for parties and holiday gatherings. Choose seasonal printed fabrics, or neutral solids to coordinate with your home decor and use time and time again. The edges of these napkin rings are left raw, so you’ll need to use a fabric that doesn’t fray such as faux leather, cork fabric, kraft tex, or leather. Shop our selection of Cork Fabric here, or browse our Luxe Faux Leather for a chic alternative look.

This is great first project for beginners, or for more experienced sewists who want to continue to build their sewing skills. This project teaches cutting and sewing simple curves, practice with topstitching, and installing simple hardware. So, let’s begin!

Here are the pattern details before we get started:

Finished Size: 1-1/2" wide by 6" long
Recommended Fabrics: cork, faux leather, or fabric that doesn’t fray
Yardage: 25" wide by 1/8 yard (for six napkin rings)
Hardware: short stud buttons
Helpful Notions: 40 wt. polyester thread, ruler, scissors, basting spray, tape, or glue, removable pen or chalk, Rotary Punch, screw driver, Teflon foot

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Main Fabric: Cut (2) 1-1/2” wide by 6” long pieces per napkin ring

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by taking half of the pieces and set the other half aside. Position a spool of thread in a corner of one piece against the wrong side. Use some chalk or pen to trace the curved edge of the spool at the corner. Then position the spool in the adjacent corner and trace along that curved edge of the spool.

2. Use a pair of fabric scissors to cut along the marked lines to round each corner. Then, repeat the same steps to round the corners at one end of the remaining pieces.

3. Next, with wrong sides together, position one rounded piece against each straight piece of fabric, aligning the straight edges. Use basting spray, basting tape, or glue to hold the layers together. Sewing clips also help for temporarily holding the layers together.

With cork fabric and faux leather, you cannot use pins through the fabric, so that’s when adhesives such as basting spray or basting tape will come in handy!

4. Starting at the short, straight edge, use an 1/8" seam allowance to sew around all edges of each rounded piece, making sure to backstitch.

5. After sewing each piece, use a scissors to trim the excess fabric even with the curved edges on each napkin ring.

6. Measure 1/2" in from each short end of each napkin ring and mark in the center. Set your rotary punch to the smallest hole size and punch a hole at the mark which is nearest to the straight short edge.

7. Remove the screw from the Stud button, then push the threaded end through the hole, and screw the stud button back together.

8. Next, set your rotary punch to the smallest hole size and punch a hole at the remaining mark. Take your scissors and cut a 1/4” long slit towards the stud. Then, you’ll repeat the same steps to finish up your set of napkin rings!

Let us know if you liked this tutorial in the comments! It’s so much fun to design easy projects that use luxury fabrics like faux leather and cork!

We’d love to see your completed project and how you're styling your new napkin rings! Share photos using #sallietomato, #diynapkinrings, and #30daysewingchallenge.

I look forward to sewing with you another day, but until then, happy sewing!

Jess from Sallie Tomato