.
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I don’t know about you, but I love cloth napkins. I even like to use them for our every day meals.
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I don’t know about you, but I love cloth napkins. I even like to use them for our every day meals.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
”
~ Mark Twain
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
Column contents © Deb Bosworth. All rights reserved.
Being a farmgirl is not
about where you live,
but how you live.
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
Column contents © Rebekah Teal. All rights reserved.
“Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away once in awhile to climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods, to wash your spirit clean.
”
~ John Muir
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Column contents © Cathi Belcher. All rights reserved.
“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
”
~ Anthony J. D’Angelo
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
Column contents © Dori Troutman. All rights reserved.
Previous Ranch Farmgirl,
Oct 2009 – Nov 2013
Wyoming cattle rancher and outpost writer (rider), shares the “view from her saddle.” Shery is a leather and lace cowgirl-farmgirl who’s been horse-crazy all of her life. Her other interests include “junktiques,” arts and crafts, glamping, collecting antique china, and cultivating mirth.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
Column contents © Mary Murray. All rights reserved.
Farmgirl
is a condition
of the heart.
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Column contents © Alexandra Wilson. All rights reserved.
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
June 2010 – Jan 2012
Libbie’s a small town farmgirl who lives in the high-desert Sevier Valley of Central Utah on a 140-year-old farm with her husband and two darling little farmboys—as well as 30 ewes; 60 new little lambs; a handful of rams; a lovely milk cow, Evelynn; an old horse, Doc; two dogs; a bunch o’ chickens; and two kitties.
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
April 2009 – May 2010
René lives in Washington state’s wine country. She grew up in the dry-land wheat fields of E. Washington, where learning to drive the family truck and tractors, and “snipe hunting,” were rites of passage. She has dirt under her nails and in her veins. In true farmgirl fashion, there is no place on Earth she would rather be than on the farm.
Farmgirl spirit can take root anywhere—dirt or no dirt.
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
Column contents © Nicole Christensen. All rights reserved.
Previous Suburban Farmgirl,
October 2009 – October 2010
Paula is a mom of four and a journalist who’s partial to writing about common sense and women’s interests. She’s lived in five great farm states (Michigan, Iowa, New York, Tennessee, and now North Carolina), though never on a farm. She’s nevertheless inordinately fond of heirloom tomatoes, fine stitching, early mornings, and making pies. And sock monkeys.
Great idea! Will be doing this from now on. I too, love cloth napkins. I purchased some recently from a well known name brand store (online). They advertised them as 100% cotton, but they feel more like rayon. I returned them immediately. Looks like I will be heading to the fabric store tomorrow. 🙂
As usual you make me want to run to my machine and make beautiful napkins!! And buy more Fiesta ware!!
Your porch meals will be ones to remember!!
Xoxo,
Kim
Your napkins are gorgeous!! I am going to have to try this after we get moved. My sewing craft stuff is all packed right now. You make it look so easy!!!
Dori do you make to sell. You made.me the potholders.and wash cloths. And if you do what is.the price. Thanks you are so talented. Pat Mitchell From Virgina
Love this idea! My sister has Fiesta Ware and I see a present coming up! Thx!
I have mixed pottery I have collected so….Boy am I into this to come up with the ideas…
I’m a Quilter and thinking of my “stash” as a source of awesome napkins…even if I pieced to get the 18 inch squares….(suggestion to sewers-shorten your stitch length on pieces to make them less inclined to come apart!)
I have a few cotton napkins that I use everyday. You have a great idea to line them. I have yardage left from making quilts so that would be easy to come up with contrasting fabrics. I will certainly be making some of these
Love these- thankyou!!!
Fabulous job and great job on your instructions.
A little tip to make the corners even sharper when turned is one extra stitch.
Sew as illustrated to your corner. Instead of rotating the needle 90 degrees rotate 45 degrees and take one or even two small stitches. Then rotate needle 90degrees and take off for the next corner.
This was taught to me years ago by national sewing educators. I
try to pass the tip on when teaching. It works because it provides room for the fabric to spread out a bit. Give it a try!
Hi Dori,
I too use cloth napkins for every meal. Many years ago, I made placemats and napkins to match and have been using them since then.
I use 1 yard of main fabric and 1 yard of lining fabric and get 4 lined napkins. I cut them the same measurements and make them exactly like you do.
It’s a joy to pass the shelf with napkins on it every time I go to the grocery store.
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
I made a mistake in my yardage… thanks for helping me catch that!!!
~ Dori ~
Forgot to tell you, I have gathered up several new fabrics and am ready to make me some new ones. The old ones have been used so long, they are wearing pretty thin.
I’ve been making cloth napkins for over 35 years now and still using some that long too. Batiks also make nice napkins with just a single ply and basic hem. I’ve never made 2 ply ones like this before but I think I will now. I raised my children with cloth napkins so they would always know how to handle formal situationa with ease. They still use them now in their homes. Plus they are so much fun to fold into fancy designs or into fans and put into glasses. Thanks for the additional ideas . Margaret
This is a great idea. Thanks for the how to!
Hi Dori, well that’s funny. I don’t know what got into me but last week I made cloth napkins! Yup, it’s true. And then I cut up some old t-shirts for our two bathrooms for cleaning clothes that are absolutely dedicated to the bathrooms. Life is sometimes so serendipitous. Thank you for your post. Small changes by many to help the planet (therefore its inhabitants) equal big changes. Blessings to all, Lorita
I love cloth napkins! I’ve made lots of them but never doubled ones like these. When winter is feeling long way up here in the north, this is northern Alberta I’m talking about, like close to the Northwest Territories border, then I like to sew some springy looking napkins and dream of meals outside on the deck! I’m going to try some like this!
The napkins are lovely. Thanks for the information.
Marilyn
Oh my heavens those are gorgeous!!! I totally agree with making your own and I can not wait to make me and several others a set for spring/summer!!! So inspirational and I am sure with a happy table setting the food sure goes down better too! Lol! Thank you Dori for sharing!!
Your articles are such a bright spot in my reading. Thanks for being “YOU”. It’s a treat to follow your ideas and listen to your dreams and creative endeavors.
Hi Dori– Love to use cloth, too. Your first instruction says your purchased 1/4 yd of each fabric then cut them into 18″ squares…..did you purchase fat quarters? Just checking….. since you can’t an 18″ square out of a regular 1/4 yd. Your colors are fabulous. I am going to go to my stash right now !! Thanks.
Hi Kerrie!
I made a mistake in the fabric amount. Ugh. Corrected my post!!! Thank you!
~ Dori ~
I use feistaware dishes and use cloth napkins too so we are farmgirl sisters for sure! I have made some of mine but get many at thrift stores. I’m going to look for fabric to go with the dishes and make more,they will be perfect for summer. Thanks for the tutorial!
I’m a quilter and hoarder of fabric. I’ve been trying to clean out some of my stash and this is the perfect project for some of my fabric pieces that I don’t know what to do with.
They will make wonderful gifts, too. Thank You.
Love this, thanks for the tutorial. Very easy to make.
Your napkins are lovely. I store cloth napkins also and have been making them for years. I don’t line mine. I want mine to be oversized and have a variety for all seasons and for various types of dishes. And you’re right about the quality of fabric. I’ve had many of mine for 10 years or longer. Thanks, Dori, for sharing these lovely napkins.
Funny how easy it is to forget that we don’t need to by buy everything. All of the things we now purchase ready made from stores were first created at home and are really so very simple to make ~ and they are so much nicer. Now I can’t wait for my machine to get out of the spa. I have some napkins to make!
Thank you, Dori. Now I know how to sew one thing; your directions made it dound do-able, even for me. I did not inherit my Grandma Mildred’s sewing gene! I can just imagine happy ladies chasing lovely napkins down your hill in the spring breeze. New game! Tee hee.
Had never thought of lining a serviette. Love the linen ones I have as they are so much more absorbent. Will be adding these to my “Must make” list.
Thank you
These are beautiful and so easy to make. I’m going to look for fabric . Thank you
This article could not have come at a better time.
I had a dinner party for eight last night and went to great lengths to plan and cook the meal. When I went to set the table, I pulled out my well worn ‘go to’ napkins. They were clean and pressed but looked worn and lacked the appeal to go with the enthusiasm I had put into this meal.
I am so excited about the possibilities of design and texture, I’m going to the fabric store Monday and shop for ‘good cotton’
Thanks for the inspiration!
Dori, I’m not seeing how you can purchase 1/4 yd (which is only 9 inches) of 2 different fabrics and be able to cut 18″ x 18″ square from each. If you purchased 1/2 yd of two different fabrics wouldn’t you be able to get 2 lined napkins from that?
Thanks Bonnie! I did make a mistake! Corrected!!!
~ Dori ~
Dori, i love this idea. I have some cloth napkins that I used once and had to throw away or put away and not use them. They bled colors when I washed them and shrunk also. So after I get my mini quilt done I will start making some napkins for my dinnerware. I also have Fiesta Ware dishes but have not used them on a daily basis, only for special meals and company. I love colors in my kitchen which is mostly black and white so I like my cookware in colors; bought the blue diamond pan set from Macy’s and I love them; they are blue. I also have Revere Ware cookware that have lasted for over 40 years and I will never get rid of them. Cloth napkins are so nice to use. Paper ones stick or fall apart and are a waste of money. So glad you posted this and I will be saving this post in a separate folder from my folder of MaryJane’s FarmGirl Bloggers so I can refer back to how you made yours. Thanks so much.
Too fun!! Thanks Dori, awesome as always. A great and conscientious way to use some favorite fabrics.
Sewing is like cooking and baking; it is the way to show my love for family and friends. My mother was a seamstress as part of her many jobs on the homestead and she taught us girls how to create as well as mend. I made my sisters and daughters some table runners and napkins this past year. It made me immeasurably happy to make them happy.
Great post, Dori! And just in time for Spring! I couldn’t agree more about the lack of quality in cloth napkins ( and so many other things, these days). There is nothing like homemade when you want quality and something that compliments your own personal style! I love that your napkins are double sided! Well done!
Happy Spring, my friend!
xo Deb
Hi Dori, thanks so much for always sharing your projects with us. I love it. Your instructions are so easy to follow. Cant wait to make some napkins, I have always used cloth napkins. And true, some you buy are horrible. Thanks for all your tips. Be Blessed. Neta
Dori,
Thank you for sharing. I think I can even make these with your tutorial. So easy!
I love this idea! I too use brightly colored cloth napkins everyday with my bright multi colored Fiestaware. It is so happy!
So pretty I love hand made stuff and I love to make aprons
Thank you for sharing this tutorial. With just the top stitch, do your napkins bunch up after multiple washing? I have not tried a lined napkin. I don’t think I want to iron napkins when I take them off the clothesline!
They don’t exactly bunch up, but I will admit that I love ironing cloth napkins… so yes I do iron them. However, I have folded them right out of the dryer and they were perfectly fine.
~ Dori ~
Hi there,
I use ONLY cloth napkins for everyday use and for special dinners. I have made both lined and unlined napkins. I’ve not had any problem with “bunching at the top stitch line. I’ve found that if I use a small amount of fabric softener or a softener sheet in the dryer, it helps.
The only time I would consider ironing a napking would be for the more “special” napkins that are used for “special” dinners.
What I do when removing the napkins from the dryer, is to flatten them on a hard surface, (table) while they are still warm and then while folding them, “hand press” then after each fold. They could easily pass for “ironed napkins”.
Good luck to you and enjoy those cloth napkins.