Serging and Racing

On Saturday I was brave and changed the factory settings on my serger. I changed it from 4-thread serging to 3-thread rolled hem. I was nervous, but forged ahead, thanks to encouragement given by Jessica.

I made a tablecloth first (below) from a thin thrifted sheet that I didn't realize was very thin and worn when I bought it a year or two ago. It was almost ditched when I was destashing a couple of months ago, but I held onto it for the specific purpose of making a tablecloth for the picnic table.

After I made the tablecloth (in about 5 minutes), I decided I may as well keep using the rolled hem before I had to change it back to serging. I made a large stack of napkins. In total I made 83 napkins, I think. I know what you're thinking: "Woman, why on earth do you need 83 cloth napkins?!?" And the obvious answer is that there are eight people in my family. The second answer is so I don't have to wash them as often.

The napkins are made entirely from scrap fabrics and thrifted sheets. They are all different sizes, including small (for tea parties and for Spenser and Sawyer) and there are normal-sized ones. There are squares and rectangles. Whatever scrap I could square up with my rotary cutter and mat, is what I made.

Spenser is in love with the Strawberry Shortcake ones. Do you blame her?

Here's a closeup of the tablecloth. It rained a lot over the weekend and the picnic table was wet at the time and it was too dark in my house.


And I just have to mention that on Friday Mason had his kindergarten play day. He ran the 200 meter. Do you see that boy in the green shirt all the way in the front? That would be him. He had a huge lead on the other boys and won first place amongst this group of boys. Woo-hoo, Mason! You obviously get your speed from Uncle Pete. I know it's not from me.

Comments

Lori B said…
Wow! I'm envious and encouraged! I have never changed my serger settings and I'm dying to make some napkins! Thanks!
Anonymous said…
yay! good job, lera! we are so loving the cloth napkins over here! and you'll totally need that many... or more...
dig this chick said…
you amaze me. A tablecloth and EIGHTY THREE napkins?! you are a rock star.

ps I learned to use a serger in my sewing class and holy hell is was wonderful!
misschris said…
I've got about 30 napkins of various shapes and colors and what not... and we use them constantly, although when they are all clean, they hardly fit in the drawer with the placemats. Where on earth do you store 83??

And go Mason!
Bonus Mom said…
I have been trying to comment since this morning.
Congrats to Mason! What a little superstar! I am so proud of all your napkins, but why stop at 83? Go for 100! Oh and I am still terrified of my serger. Why is that?
jessica said…
Hooray for your 83 napkins! I'm glad it was as easy breezy for you as it was for me!
nicole said…
I love how you rework old treasures into new treasures. Between my two little ones I have quite a few of the flannel type receiving blankets, do you have any suggerstions for reworking them?
Katie Jean said…
my oh my, you are quite impressive! That is a lot of napkins!!

way to go Mason!
Jo-Anne said…
Wow! That Mason is a speedy little guy!

Nice work with the 80+ napkins. Fabric napkins are a luxury in our house. If there aren't any paper napkins, a dish towel will suffice. In the event of not having a dish towel handy, one's shirt is the next option. :)
Berber said…
That's a lot of napkins!
I wish I had a serger!
Janet McKinney said…
Well done - the serger is a wonder isn't it. A little hint - use what we call in Australia "woolly nylon" as the top thread when you do rolled hems, and it really makes a lovely finish to the rolled hem.
Janet McKinney
Amanda Jean said…
I love your stack of cloth napkins. I recently dug out my stash of cloth napkins and started using them again. My boys prefer them to paper. they are funny boys. anyway, I don't know if I'll make 83, but I do think I need more than 12 for our family of 5. :) I don't do laundry that often.
Emily said…
Thanks for the tip! Now must take a closer look at my serger! And good idea about 83 napkins - enough is not a word to describe napkins!
I seriously don't know how you do it but you are really inspiring. I am too lazy...we just use tissues or disposable napkins here.

And congrats to Mason. A win by a huge margin!
Anonymous said…
Go, Mason! You little speed racer!

And Eliot's teacher asked me to make some cloth napkins for his class. I wish I had a serger, but I'll be doing it the old fashioned way. By Friday. Oh, lord help me. But I'll probably only make 20-something. Not 80-something.

Cheers, my friend!
Tonya said…
I'm impressed, I have been meaning to try the rolled hem feature on my serger, but I am too scared LOL What I am scared of, I don't know, it isn't like the serger is going to blow up or something LOL

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