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NapS1-1

If you think you don’t have time to stitch a last minute gift, think again! Let me show you how to stitch six napkins in no time.

Mark the location of the corner monogram on each of the six napkins. I use the Napkin On-Point template from the Perfect Placement Kit – no math, no measuring. Just place the template on the napkin aligning the guides with the stitched hem and then insert a target sticker into the hole with the arrow pointing towards the body of the napkin. Repeat for all six napkins – you’ll finish this task in under two minutes. Naps2-1

Select the largest hoop available and hoop tear-away stabilizer. Since I was limited to a 5” x 7” hoop for this project, I selected a small design so I could fit three napkins in one hooping. Use one of three options for holding the napkin on the stabilizer: spray the hooped stabilizer with temporary adhesive, hoop adhesive tear-away stabilizer or use painter’s tape.

To get the most of a 5” x 7” sewing field for this technique, consider placing the first design (napkin) at the far left back of the hoop, the second design in the middle on the right and the third design at the bottom of the hoop on the left. You could audition the positions in software or on the editing screen of your machine. Here’s an example. Naps7-1

Position the first napkin at the back of the hoop. Center the needle over the target sticker, remove the sticker and embroider the design. If your machine has a baste feature, use it! Naps3-1

Lift the corner of the napkin back over the body of the napkin and tape it out of harm’s way. Naps4-1

Position the second napkin below the first napkin, making sure the first napkin is not caught under the second napkin. Smooth in place. Naps5-1

Position the needle over the target sticker. If your machine has a trace feature, use it to verify the needle will not stitch on the first napkin. Once you’re confident the first napkin is out of the sewing field, remove the sticker and embroider the design. Naps6-1

Lift the corner, tape it down to keep it out of the sewing field. Naps8-1

Position the third napkin and repeat the process. Naps9-1

Bam -three napkins done in no time! Now repeat for a second hooping of three more napkins and your set of six is complete.

Here’s your assignment this week:

What is your favorite go-to gift? One comment will be chosen to receive a $25 gift certificate to spend on the DIME website. Thanks for reading and good luck!

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The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Tell us what your favorite children’s theme is for the Summertime goodies you are crafting. FOUR lucky comments will be chosen to receive $25 to spend at the Applique for Kids website. Thanks and good luck!

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And the winners are..Donna N. Clarice, Barb & Berenice

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109 COMMENTS

  • Darlene Gerber

    Kitchen Towels!!

  • Bonnijean Marley

    Ready-made fleece blankets with embroidered name and design in one corner.

  • Jacque

    Beach theme!

  • Jean

    Towels – either kitchen towels with a “tab top” stitched under an embroidery design for hanging, or flour sack towels with a “linework” design. For baby showers I give burp cloths made from cloth diapers with an applique design and a matching flannel receiving blanket.

  • TJ

    Kitchen towels

  • Melanie Leigh

    Towels, either kitchen or bath. Great personal gifts and one of a kind.

  • Anne Rita Bakken

    My go-to gift for kids is personalized towels. For girl friends, it is in-the-hoop purses.

    Thanks!

  • Karen Hansen

    The Raggedy Edge Coasters from the book Machine Embroidered Quilting and Applique. I buy the linen in various colors from the remnant section at my local fabric store so it’s ready to go when needed! The appliqué pieces are small enough that I save scraps of cotton and batik from various other projects. Everyone I’ve given them to has loved them – and everyone can use coasters!

  • Melissa Robson

    Kitchen towels. To me, they just add a little unique touch to any kitchen.

  • Adrian Deanhardt

    I do more gifts for babies and children. Imake a lot of hooded towels and personalize them.

    • Ellen Dowdy

      I, too, make lots of hooded baby towels w/matching washcloths.
      I’ve always made them from cotton terry velour, but am having a
      lot of difficulty finding this fabric these days. What do you make yours from
      and where do you purchase it? Thank you.

  • Cathy

    I always have kitchen towels and napkins washed and ready to stitch. I keep a variety of colors so ready for any color and/or theme. For kids I keep bath/beach towels washed and ready.

  • Janette Walker

    For kids a fun pillow case with their name on it. For adults a zipper pouch about 5×7 personalized.

  • Diane W

    Kitchen towel.

  • Jacque

    Kitchen Towels and Monogrammed Bath Towels

  • Yvonne Carrington-Buss

    By the sea, by the sea it’s such a great place to be!

  • Karin Callander

    Nice big fluffy bath towel, hand towel & washcloth sets – always in style, and so easy to personalize to the recipient!

  • Belinda Germain

    I have three! A checkbook cover, kitchen towels and sunglass case. Quick, easy, and people love something personalized!

  • Debbie

    Kitchen towels… Fleece blankets …or pot holders all of these things are quick and easy to embroider

  • linda staiger

    towels

  • Donna

    I love the in the hoop wallets for gifts. Just a few pieces to cut and everything done in the hoop.

  • Katrice Faulkner

    Kitchen towels!

  • Becky

    Embroidered Burp cloths for baby gifts.

  • Kathy Stoessner

    napkins featuring the persons initial. Love how quickly they work up.

  • Maryhelen Bronson

    In the summer, I keep Target or Marshall beach towels
    on hand. It is quick and easy to monogram them for a
    last minute gift! The rest of the year, I keep kitchen towels, hot pads
    and fleece blankets on hand! Also quick and easy gifts.

  • Frances Powell

    Kitchen towels are always appreciated by the friends I give them to.

  • beth daniels

    I monogram bath towels or hand towels. Everyone always appreciates monogramed towels.

  • Susan Novak

    My go-to gift is also kitchen towels. Either the dish drying kind or I also make a towel topper that I attach to half a hand drying towel with ties to hang on a drawer handle or oven handle.

  • Sandy Lyons

    My go-to gift is aprons or kitchen towels. I keep a few extra on hand “just in case”.

  • Diane Schnurr

    A monogrammed tea towel used to wrap up a great bottle of wine. Everyone would love to receive this!

  • Beth R

    A FSL suncatcher or doily.

  • Lilia O.

    Definitely kitchen towels!

  • Diane W

    Kitchen towels, beach towels, burp cloths, baby blsnkets

  • Cathy

    I love to do a quick beach towel. I buy them in bright pretty colors when I find them on sale so I always have a supply!

  • Phyllis Pope

    I like to embroider kitchen towels if it is for an adult because who can’t always use more kitchen towels? If for babies I like to make burp cloths because there are so many ways to decorate them so there are no two that are alike.

  • Pam

    Hand towels

  • Jacqueline Curtis

    I like to make the matching dishtowels and potholders. I have a lot made already and I am getting many more ready. They go fast and look great.

  • Brenda Howard

    My go to gift is tea towels to match the recipient colors or decor.

  • Shirley Clark

    My go-to gift is usually kitchen towels. I try to keep some on hand. I usually do a simple design and add some ribbon to dress them up. I love napkins, but it’s been a while since I’ve done any, but I have done more than one at a time.

  • Mary S

    I don’t have one. Each time I would like to take something when visiting, either at an assisted living or via mail, my mind is usually blank. (No pun intended on the blank napkins)Thanks for the great idea.

  • Shirl R

    Kitchen Towels in varying themes and styles to suit the recipient, then napkins – they are so much fun to do!

  • Anne

    Go to gift is personalized towels, grad gifts with the college name on it is a real hit!

  • Sheila Wagner

    My go to gift is an embroidered scrubbie made out of a washcloth
    These are so cute and good for anytime of the year or holiday.

  • Mary Haggenmaker

    I do a lot of kitchen towels usually with designs that puts a smile on the recipients face.

  • deb bremer

    Towels and Towel Holders the sky is the limit with them!

  • Sandy

    With 14 grandchildren, my go to gifts are personalized beach towels. They all have there favorite themes, so it’s easy to make a gift unique to them.

  • Nathalie Culotta

    I keep a stash of matching tee shirts and shorts. Can be purchased for under $8.00. With all the school birthday parties, kids love to get a set monogrammed with either initials, summer fun things, (like thongs sandals) or one of the current kids favorite characters. Works for boys and girls.

  • Jean

    I do guest towels. I always keep some linen on hand to do a quick to go. A simple guest embroidery or monogram. I do have a selection of flowers that work really nicely .

  • Dee Dee

    Aprons with embroidered pockets.

  • Barb

    My go to gift is bath towels with children’s names or monograms for adults. My new go to gift for the grandkids are in-the-hoop little shaped zippered purses. The favorite of the girls are flip flops.

  • Lori E

    Lately they’ve been one of the wraps in Joanne Banko’s Wrapped In Embroidery collection.

    • Joanne Banko

      Hi Lori, So glad to hear you are embroidering something from the book! I think wraps, scarves, and shawls make great useful gifts any time of the year.

      My favorite summer dress is a sleeveless black sheath. To perk things up for summer I am embellishing a black pashmina with a color block theme using designs and techniques from the book. Each block is a different bright color, giving this basic black outfit a pop of color for summer. Admittedly this is a gift for me :-). However, I am working on a few pashminas for friends too. I am using a tone on tone scheme for each of those so it will go with a lot of items in their wardrobe. The great thing about a pashmina is it works as a shawl for summer and a scarf for cooler months. Such a classic style too!

  • Barbara McKenzie

    Towel sets, placemats, coasters…

  • Joaniez

    My go to gift is kitchen towels, napkins, or burp cloths.

  • Ellen Perry

    Always tea towels or bath towels
    My new graduation gift for girls is monogram cosmetic bags
    Ellen

  • Robin

    I keep a variety of stuff on hand. Shirts , tote bags, bath towels , kitchen towels, napkins cloth diapers for burp cloths, bibs, warm tater batting for potato bags, rice for hot packs, Fsl angels, all depends on how much I like the person. Lol

  • Maga

    Tea towels are my go to gift. If the receiver don’t like my choice they can at least use them to clean windows or in the car and they will wear out so not wasted.
    My biggest problem is to remember who I have given what, when! Scarves, aprons, table mats and tray clothes are other gifts I make from time to time but I don’t have a stash of ready-made stuff because I like to try to make the gift as personal as possible. I ought to keep a diary of the gifts I have given so I don’t turn up with the same gift twice within a year. Only tea towels in fairly neutral colours will be made when my machine is otherwise idle (doesn’t often happen!) and stashed.

  • Tricia Casey

    My go to gift is an apron that I personalize.

  • Kristal

    Tote bags. These make great gifts for all the kids’ birthday parties.

  • Marilyn

    I have one more to go on a batch of personalized towels for a group of high school graduates.

  • Betsy

    Tote bags, purses and cosmetic bags

  • Orvalee Roe

    I make mug rugs. Add a cute mug and a few teabags and you have a perfect gift.

  • Donna G.

    Kitchen and bath towels are the go-to gift I use most often but I like the idea of personalized napkins!

  • Odette

    Potholders and bookmarks, most of the time with holiday themes … Loved reading all the ideas here!

  • melinda

    towels, pillowcase dresses for little girls (embroidered near the hem)

  • Ellen N

    I love to make bibs or t-shirts for the birthday child, depending on the age I
    choose a coordinating design for the theme of the party and personalize it
    with name and number of years old celebrating. Always a hit!

  • Ann Wright

    Tea Towels with seasons designs embroidery on them, monogrammed quickly,

  • Paule-Marie

    It depends on what I need it for. quick tablerunners if I stay at my friends house or potholders are always good. (I made something like 40 for a family reunion.)

  • Joan M

    Pillow cases with either monogram or a beautiful border design. For kids..young and old.. I love to do T shirts with a humorous saying around the design.

  • Valerie Brown

    I definitely stitch up some kitchen towels, but I love the napkin design. I’m always ready to save stabilizer and get as many “stitchings” on one hooping as possible.

  • Diane

    I lovemaking special aprons. There are so Many theme related fabrics out there! Cupcakes animals etc. Then a pot holder or 2 and maybe a bar mop towel and it’s good to go!

  • Bonnie Gray

    Depends on to whom I am giving the gift. New babies – birth record fleece blanket, wedding – set of napkins using motiv used on couple’s wedding invitation with 2 place settings of their dishes, kitchen towels as hostess gifts.

  • Diane Miller

    Baby Burp Cloths!

  • LindaW

    Monogrammed napkins or towels.

  • Clarice

    This method is going to work so well with micro fiber cleaning cloths. And eliminate waste too. I love it ! Clarice

  • Mary Connelly

    Kitchen towels/ tea towels. I put a recipe or red work on them. Have some to share at the drop of a hat.

  • Donna Fecteau

    An apron that I’ve made with wooden spoons and recipe cards in the pocket. I like this one much better!

  • Dale Fedor

    Aprons, towels & pillows.

  • Linda Harrigan

    Kitchen towels. I use a split alphabet with their last name in colors to match their kitchen, or in seasonal colors for a quick Christmas gift.

  • Betty McGovern

    My go to gifts are personalized potholders, pillow cases and embroidered kitchen towels.

  • Valerie Gwara

    Towels, mostly kitchen.

  • Cy

    For weddings it’s a Bath towel set with “Mr/Mrs on them instead of His/Hers. I always have a good supply of Kitchen towels on hand, as well as diapers, to make burp clothes and bib sets.

  • Cy

    I also keep a “stash” of FSL angels made up that I can put in a card for a quick note of encouragement, and I carry a few in my car to give out if the need arises.

  • mad14kt

    Towels – Handkerchief

  • Jennifer P

    I like to make a small zippered coin purse with a small tab on the side, with a split ring attached with some kind of bauble. Then stick a gift card in the small purse. You can customize the fabric, bauble and the card to the recipient.

  • Aprille Sweatt

    I embroider aprons for a quick and appreciated gift for men, women, or children.

  • Karen

    Monogrammed towels or embroidered towel hangers and hooded towels.

  • Nancy

    my go-to gifts have been towels, coasters and gadget bags but thanks everyone for sharing your lists. It gives me some new ideas.

  • Christina

    Monogrammed towel sets for weddings. I have a niced embossed alphabet that turns out nice.

  • Mitzi

    I like to make personalized minkee baby blankets for new arrivals. Each one has an appliqued cuddly critter, topped with the child’s first name.

  • Vicki B.

    Kitchen Towels. Everybody uses them.

  • Becky3580

    I like to give pillowcases, either plain, fancy or embroidered. They are so useful and also a travel size pillowcase or a king size or body pillowcase makes a nice but really quick gift using my serger. Others that are nice are towels of all types, door or garden flags and napkins are quick and easy also.

  • SJ

    Embroidered kitchen or hand towels. For babies fingertip towel bibs with embroidered design and their name. Fleece pillows and pillowcases embroidered with their name.

  • Becky

    Monogrammed bath towels for adults. Personalized burp cloths for babies.

  • Deanna

    Towels or denim shirts for my horsey friends

  • Doreen

    I like to use in the hoop kitchen towels.

  • mad14kt

    Towels and Denim 🙂

  • Dee

    Embroidered flour sack cup towels and pillowcases. Even adults ask for the personalized pillowcases–fabric to match their personality or interests, and their name!

  • Dianne

    I always keep a stash of embroidered kitchen towels on hand for hostess gifts. For the babies I keep embroidered bibs and burp clothes on hand.

  • Debi

    My favorite is embroidered toilet paper… i always have it on hand, can personalize it easily for each person, and it doesn’t cost an arm & a leg to have ‘on hand’… I’ve used this for my best friend with a cute saying that ‘fit’ her, and for another on his 60th with his monogram & coast guard sayings. You can be sure no one else will come up with this gift!

  • Kim H

    I always give embroidered kitchen towels. They are quick and the are appreciated!

  • Marge Geraci

    My favorite gift to give is: embroidered Dish Towel, Hot Pad, and Cover for dish detergent Bottle all themed.

  • Laurene Shewan

    I love monogramming “high end” pillowcases! Many folks have multiple bed pillows on their bed….so it’s nice to have an extra set of pillowcases. I use thread that compliments their bedroom color scheme and coordinates with their linens. Even non-traditionalists appreciate monogramming.

  • Reba M.

    I received a gift from a friend which was emb. potholder and place-mats and I loved them. I now make place-mats and potholders for all my friends and family. They are so useful. Reba

  • Sharon

    For newborns I do embroidered wipe cases with their name, for toddlers I do blankets with their name and a cute picture. For the older ones I do blankets with their name and a design that goes with something they like to do, such as cheerleading or karate.

  • Mary Anderson

    It was zipper bags, with their names of course, now,since I’ve made one, it may be clutch bags. I can’t seem to stay with one thing for long….the napkins look good! Maybe soon.

  • Linda Davidson

    My go-to gift would be monogrammed napkins IF I had an embroidery machine. I hope to buy one within the next few months.

  • Alice Cornelson

    I like monograms on towels. My go to, in a hurry, gift is a one letter monogram on a kitchen towel with a pretty embellishment.

  • Wedding Gift Bags

    Just like choosing a right husband, selecting a perfect wedding gown is
    a big. Everyone is expectig the traditional bride and grdoom holding hands.
    For ladies who prefer cocktails to wine, we also hold
    several cocktail glasses as well as our wine glasses gifts.

    The most common are black, white and various shades of beige.