Top-stitching a simple line of ribbon around a ready-made napkin adds a touch of elegance, and can personalize any napkin to the color scheme of your table decor. Once you've mastered this easy technique, you can apply it to any purchased linen. Try a tablecloth, placemat or even hand towel next time. Because there will be a next time.

There are so many different styles of ribbon available, you may find it difficult to choose. Here are a couple hints to help you narrow your selection. First, avoid super sheer ribbon – like taffeta, organza or chiffon; these ravel easily and are difficult to sew. Next, avoid wired ribbon; it wants to hold its shape and won't lay well on the fabric, and the wire is killer to sew over.

Grosgrain is a great choice. This kind of ribbon is supple yet durable and comes in a variety of colors and patterns, like cool stripes and dots. You could choose velvet for a sophistated appearance, but it won't wash as well as other types of ribbon. Jacquard ribbon may offer colorful embroidery to set off the colors in the napkin.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome DC 2010)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• Purchased solid color napkins
• Appropriate yardage of apx. 5/8" ribbon (see Getting Started below for how to measure)
  You can go thinner than 5/8", but it will be harder to top stitch. Go thicker if you want a bold look, but don't go unusally wide because you're likely to get a bubble of fabric between your lines of top stitching.
• All purpose sewing thread in colors to match ribbon

Getting Started

1. Measure the sides of your napkin. Most napkins are square, so you can just measure one side and do the math: two trains are leaving the station, each traveling 14 mph .... opps, that's different math problem.
2. Measure one side and multiple times 4.  For example: If you have an 18" napkin (fairly standard) that's 18" x 4 or 72". Then add ½" per side for the little hem you need each end: ½" x 4 is 2". So, for one 18" napkin you need 74" of ribbon, which is just over 2 yds. Go for 2¼ yds. to be safe. Repeat for however many napkins you'll be doing.
3. Cut four equal lengths of ribbon for each napkin you want to edge. In our model, that's 18½" per length of ribbon.

At Your Sewing Machine

1. Fold under the ends ¼" and stitch to create a hem.
   Note: If your ribbon has a front and back, be sure to fold your ribbon to the back side (wrong sides together).
   
2. Pin lengths of ribbon to two opposite sides of the napkin.
   
3. Top stitch along the outside of the ribbon, placing your stitches just inside the edge of the ribbon.
   
4. Top stitch along the inside of the ribbon, again placing your stitch just inside the edge.
   
5. Repeat for the opposite side.
   
6. Pin lengths of ribbon to the remaining sides, and sew ribbon in place as indicated above. Keep your stitching lines as straight as you can so your corners match up. Your ribbons will overlap in the corners.
   

Hints and Tips

You may choose to have the ribbon edges meet on a diagonal at the corner of the napkin, giving a mitered effect. To do this:

1. Cut your ribbon EXACTLY to the size of the side of your napkin (in our model that would be exactly 18").
2. Fold your ribbon ends at a 45 degree angle and stitch the hem in place on the diagonal.
   
3. Trim away the excess fabric.
   
4. Follow steps 2-6 above, butting the diagonal edges against each other at the corners rather than overlapping. Make sure your lines of stitching meet at each corner. Sew right to the diagonal so your stitching appears to be a continuous line. 
   

Other machines suitable for this project include the Pfaff Select 4.0 and the White D'Lite.

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