DIY Polka Dot Fall Napkin

It’s November friends! How did that happen?? Well, I guess it’s time to start thinking about how I might set the table for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner! I almost always change up the napkins, and more often than not I make them myself. Over the years I’ve had mostly solid napkins, but I thought this year I might try something different. I have really come to love using drop cloths as an inexpensive fabric. I have made several tablecloths over the years, so I figured it would make a great napkin as well.

DIY Polka Dot Fall Napkin

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I have been wanting to try this fabric ink for a while now. I found mine at Hobby Lobby. It comes in a myriad of colors, but today I went with some pretty basic fall colors – red, orange, and yellow.

The best part of this project really is that you could customize it for whatever occasion you would like by changing the colors of ink you use. 

I started by cutting out squares from my drop cloth. (I buy these from Home Depot.) There are two pretty common sizes of napkins – 18″x18″ and 20″x20″. I made mine 18″x18″. It’s a good size – not too big, not too small.

You will want to place something under the fabric to keep from getting the ink on your table. A paper bag, or a piece of poster board work well.

The next step is painting on your dots. These sponge circle daubers make this job super easy! (I found mine at Hobby Lobby. I really thought I got them in a package by themselves, but I can’t seem to find that online, but I found this combo pack which actually looks like it has a few more sizes.) Load with ink – not too much – then press firmly on fabric. Wiggle it around a bit to make sure you get a complete circle, even on the edges.

Space your dots randomly on the napkin until it is to your liking.

Then, all that is left is finishing the edges of the napkin. Oftentimes I use my serger, but today is was not cooperating, so a narrow hem did the job.

Black and white gingham is the best companion pattern with just about everything, don’t you think??

Now, time to start planning the rest of the table!