HAND-STAMPED NAPKINS

These rustic linens have a pared-back coastal style and will suit an alfresco table

1 Lay one to two metres of unprimed cotton canvas flat on a table. Using a ruler and tailor’s chalk, measure out each napkin, deciding how many you will need and the size you would like. Napkins are usually between 45cm-50cm square. 2 Cut along the chalk lines using fabric scissors. 3 Machine-sew along all four sides of each individual napkin, 1cm in from the edges using blue thread. 4 Create the frayed edges by gently pulling out the threads from each edge, in the same direction of the cut canvas, removing the threads almost up to the stitched lines. 5 Choose the wording for each napkin. Descriptive quotes and favourite sentences from books, songs and poems can work well for this. 6 Use alphabet stamps and an ink pad suitable for use on fabric (available from englishstamp.com) and carefully print the wording onto each napkin. 7 Fix the ink in place using an iron. 8 Roll up each napkin and tie with string to finish before putting beside each table setting.