Montessori teacher says - Think Green!!!

Cloth Napkins...

Reduce disposables. When you throw things "away" - where is "AWAY"? The landfill! What are we teaching the next generation? Nothing good for the environment!!! Here is a great project. Cloth napkins to make with your kids, grandkids, teenagers, or for yourself. Use these napkins at home and pack one daily in your lunch box for work. Check out what the fabric store has to offer. Make napkins for each holiday, or choose special caracters on the fabric for the kids. These are great for gifts too!

Supplies

• Fabric - cotton
• Thread in a coordinating or contrasting color OR if sewing by hand with a running stitch, use embroidery floss (if using floss, you decide how many strands, 2-4, to use based on the fabric and effect you want to create)
• Poster board to cut the desired napkin size for easy tracing (cut pattern 1" larger than finished napkin size)

Get started!

1. Prewash fabric, dry
2. Press fabric (much easier to mark and cut)
3. Cut poster board pattern (make pattern 1" larger to allow for hem, 12" finished napkin size = 13" pattern square)
4. Trace napkins on fabric
5. Cut out napkins
6. Press hem under 1/4" on all sides
7. Press that edge under again
8. Top stitch the hem into place - either machine stitch or hand stitch
9. Enjoy!

Tips

• Christmas napkins - make 4 green and 4 red
• Great housewarming gifts, teacher gifts, wedding gifts, extended family favors
  
• Sewing increases manual dexterity
• This sewing project fosters creativity and curiosity, which spills over into all learning areas

Think Green! This week, notice how you could reduce disposables and recycle.

Hugs,
Gin

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