DIY Christmas Napkins with Holly Stick & Stitch Embroidery
Want to add a handmade touch to your Christmas table this year? Embroidering your own festive napkins is a lovely way to make your Christmas dinner feel extra special, and with my Holly Stick & Stitch embroidery patches, it's easier than you might think!
Whether you're hosting Christmas dinner, making a special table setting for a festive get-together, or creating a thoughtful handmade gift, embroidered napkins are a beautiful little project to try this Christmas.
My Stick & Stitch patches make it easy to add embroidery to fabric without having to trace or transfer a pattern yourself. Simply peel off the backing, stick the design onto your napkin, stitch over the printed lines, and rinse the patch away with warm water to reveal your finished embroidery.
It's a fun, satisfying project that's suitable for beginners and experienced stitchers alike. So, grab a cuppa, choose your favourite embroidery threads, and let's get stitching!
What you'll need
Plain cotton or linen napkins
Embroidery thread in your chosen colours
An embroidery needle
Small embroidery scissors
An embroidery hoop, if you'd find one helpful (optional)
Warm water for dissolving the patches
Top tip: Choose napkins made from a washable natural fabric, such as cotton or linen, and check the care instructions before you begin. Plain napkins work particularly well because they let the holly embroidery take centre stage.
Step 1: Choose where to place your holly
First, decide where you'd like your holly embroidery to sit on your napkins.
For a classic Christmas look, try placing a small design in one corner of each napkin. You could position it near the hem, decorate the corner that will be visible when the napkin is folded, or add a little sprig to the centre of a folded napkin for a pretty festive finishing touch.
If you're making a set of napkins, you could keep the placement consistent across all of them for a coordinated table setting.
Before peeling off the backing, lay your patches on the fabric to experiment with the positioning. It's much easier to plan your design before you start stitching!
Step 2: Peel and stick your patch
Once you're happy with the placement, peel the backing paper from your Holly Stick & Stitch patch and press it firmly onto the napkin.
The patch works just like a sticker, helping to hold your design in place while you stitch. There's no need to draw the pattern onto the fabric yourself, which makes this a particularly easy way to get started with embroidery.
Smooth the fabric around the patch so there are no large wrinkles. If you're using an embroidery hoop, position it carefully so the fabric is held comfortably taut without stretching it out of shape.
Step 3: Stitch your holly design
Now for the fun part! Thread your needle with your chosen embroidery thread and stitch directly over the printed design.
For a traditional Christmas look, you could use green thread for the holly leaves and red thread for the berries. Alternatively, try darker greens, muted reds or even a touch of gold for a slightly different festive style.
If you're not sure which stitches to use, here are a few ideas:
Back stitch: Ideal for outlining the holly leaves and creating neat, defined lines.
Satin stitch: A lovely option for filling in the leaves with blocks of colour.
French knots: Perfect for adding little textured berries.
Stem stitch: Another great choice for curved lines and delicate details.
You don't need to use lots of complicated stitches to create something beautiful. Even a simple outline in green with a few red berries can look lovely against a plain napkin.
If you're new to embroidery, my embroidery tutorials are a good place to start. Take your time, enjoy the process, and remember that handmade projects don't need to be perfect!
Step 4: Dissolve the patch away
Once you've finished stitching, it's time for the magic bit!
Place the embroidered area in warm water and allow the Stick & Stitch patch to dissolve. Gently rub the area if needed and rinse until all the water-soluble stabiliser has disappeared.
You should now be left with your holly embroidery sitting neatly on the fabric, with none of the original printed patch visible.
Follow the care instructions for your napkins and embroidery materials, and make sure all the stabiliser has been rinsed away before leaving them to dry.
Step 5: Dry, press and admire your finished napkins
Leave your napkins to dry, then press them according to the fabric's care instructions if needed.
And there you have it! Your very own embroidered Christmas napkins, ready to bring a little handmade charm to your festive table.
You could embroider a matching set for the whole family, make a pair for a cosy Christmas breakfast, or stitch a few extra napkins to give as thoughtful handmade presents.
I love how a small detail like this can make an everyday item feel a little more special. Plus, you can bring your embroidered napkins out year after year to become part of your Christmas traditions.
Why use Stick & Stitch embroidery patches?
Stick & Stitch patches are a brilliant way to make embroidery more accessible, especially when you're working on fabric that's awkward to draw on or you simply want to get straight to the stitching.
They're ideal for:
Adding a festive touch to napkins, tablecloths and other home textiles.
Creating personalised Christmas gifts.
Trying embroidery without having to transfer a pattern by hand.
Enjoying a relaxing Christmas craft project.
Making matching decorations and accessories for the festive season.
The best part? Once you've finished stitching, the water-soluble patch disappears, leaving just your embroidery behind.
Simply peel, stick, stitch and rinse!
Shop the Christmas Holly Stick & Stitch patches
If you'd like to make your own embroidered Christmas napkins, you can find my Christmas Holly Stick & Stitch embroidery patches in my Etsy shop.
They're a lovely way to add a traditional festive motif to napkins and other fabric projects, whether you're making something special for your own home or creating a handmade gift for someone you love.
You could even use the same holly designs to decorate tote bags, clothing, table linens and other washable fabric items, giving you plenty of ways to enjoy a little Christmas stitching.
I hope this inspires you to try something new with your embroidery this festive season. Handmade details don't have to be complicated to be beautiful, and a little holly embroidery is a lovely way to make your Christmas table your own.
Happy stitching, and have a wonderfully cosy Christmas!
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