How to make cloth napkins...

I looked around the net and found plenty of tutorials for cloth napkins.  I still couldn't resist adding another.  This also shows my work-flow, which is just how I do things.

First, pick out two coordinating fabrics.  For my napkins, I just went through my stash and started pulling fabrics out, then, I pulled out some coordinating fabrics.  Not everyone has a big stash, so if you want to make a nice coordinated stack of six to twelve napkins, you'll need two yards of fabric (one of your focus and one of your coordinating fabric).  I say six to twelve, because you'll get more napkins out if you cut them smaller.  I'll put some math at the bottom of the post so you can decide how to use that fabric.

Press and lay out your fabric with the selvages lined up.  The first two cuts are made width-of-fabric (WOF).  Trim the first edge.  

These are cut at 13" x 13", which yields a 12.5" x 12.5" napkin.  Cut the width-of-fabric to the size desired.

Turn your fabric and trim off the selvage edges.  Make sure you take off the selvage and do not cut on the fold, if you're cutting larger napkins, you need that bit where the fold is to be whole to get another napkin.  Lay the folded piece flat and cut it to size as well.  Place your two squares of fabric, right-sides together.  Make sure you keep the fabrics going the same direction when you do this.  You'll be much happier with the results.  Woven cotton will stretch along its width (WOF) and has very little stretch the length of the fabric. 

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew around the napkin.  Start with a back-stitch in the middle of one side, preferably the side without stretch, and turn at the corners with the needle down.  When you are within three inches of the start position, back-stitch and remove for the next napkin.

Trim the corners of the napkin diagonally.  This will cut down on the amount of fabric in that corner after turning.  Don't cut too close to the stitching, or you'll end up with a corner that will fall apart.  I usually cut about 1/8" from the corner of the stitching.  This still removes the bulk without letting you poke through the corner when turning.

Once you have all of the napkins stitched, reach in that opening and pull the napkin right-side out.  

It will need some help to become flat enough for stitching.  

Grab a nice, somewhat pointy object.  I use a chopstick for pushing out points.  Carefully put your pointy object in there and push out the corner points.  Don't get too carried away, you don't want to push through the layers or break the stitching.

Press the napkins, making sure the opening is pressed as neatly as possible.  This is where starting on the not-so-stretchy side of the fabric comes in handy.  If you make your opening on the stretchy side it will be harder to press neatly since you will stretch it a little during the turning process. 

The top-stitching should be close enough to the edge of the napkin to catch the seam allowance inside.  This will help keep the thing together through washing and use.  I stitch 1/8" from the folded edge.  Stitch all the way around, overlapping at the end by about one inch.  Feel free to use a back-stitch if you want to, but I think overlapping the stitches is enough to hold it.

Press and fold your napkins.  Add a ribbon to the stack for gift-giving.  These are great hostess gifts and housewarming gifts.  

They're quick and easy to make and people will think you've done something amazing.  Just don't tell them you're trying to save the planet, one cloth napkin at a time. 

Okay, now for some math.

One yard of fabric is approximately 36" x 42" (I say approximately because the lady at the cutting counter may cut your fabric really close to the 36" line, and do it poorly, or she may cut closer to 37" and cut rather straight.  This is why pressing and folding accurately is important.  If you're really worried by it, you can always buy more fabric.)

This will yield six napkins cut at 13" x 13", finished size 12.5" x 12.5"  (This is my preferred size, but feel free to pick your favorite.)

Or, this will yield eight to 12 napkins cut at 10" x 10", finished size 9.5" x 9.5" (NOTE: you have to be very careful with the cutting for this one, since the fabric is 42" or so wide, one little mistake and you won't get four napkins across the width-of-fabric.)

If you use the tutorial, please share your results.  I'd love to see what you've done!