It's the Details. Always the Details.

So, I've this thing for cloth napkins. 

In all honesty, we started using them for practical reasons alone, and implemented them as part of our increased household sustainability long before I was addicted to how fabulous they could be. Before I would become obsessively preoccupied with wanting a drawer full of waiting choices, to be partnered with all of our various and changing meals and moods.

Our first set was a wedding present. They are hugely rectangular and solid white with a rolled hem. I have no idea what fabric they are–sturdy, and only made soft by frequent laundering. In fact, I just down-graded them to rags this week, making space for this newest set in the stuffed-full drawer. It's remarkable to me that the original eight lasted more than a decade–just now tattered and all threaded out. 

Our second set came to us as a gift from Madagascar. They showcase sweetly embroidered scenes in the corners of rightly-sized square napkins. And the embroidery is so awesome that deciphering the front from the back is a nearly impossible chore. That's something completely amazing to me. One doesn't want to see the chains of knots and brambles of thread on the reverse side of my stitching–I always conceal that behind another layer of fabric. In defense, I do really enjoy the indulgence of double-layered napkins. Now that I'm addicted to sewing them. And the myriad of possibilities out there; I pretty much envision there's a set for every occasion and whim, and the yards of fabric and miles of threads available seem to provoke me forward on that front!

Inspiring these napkins, I recently saw this fabulous pin [via Abbey Hendrickson] that I quickly repinned onto my MAKE ME board, and then pined for an opportunity to sit and sew up a set. 

With yards of leftover creamy Kona cotton fabric from the Mitch Bear napkins I recently whipped out, and taking color inspiration from their backing fabric, I sewed up a solid set in three different thread colorways. I think the red, turquoise and olivey green are lovely against the cream, even if some of my sewing wants for a little more accuracy. 

I was reminded at how hard it is to actually sew straight lines and perpendicular intersections [as the stitches are all showcased here] especially given the tight seam allowance I wanted with the row of stitches so close to the outer edge. All-in-all, I am completely pleased with the odd little stack of nine. They are soft and lovely detailed, and make our every day dinners more delightful.

Next up, definitely these seriously silly embroidered vintage faces [via chezbeeperbabe]. I cannot stop loving the look of them, and the razzle-tazzle frayed edges of the linen totally do me in partnered with those cheeky expressions.