DIY Rick Rack Napkins

Add a touch of vintage charm to your table with this easy and adorable DIY Rick Rack Napkin tutorial. These embellished napkins bring a pop of color and personality to any place setting. Mix and match napkin and trim combinations to suit your celebration, season, or style. It’s a whimsical handmade detail that’s simple to create and lovely to display.

Okay, ready to make some adorable Rick Rack Napkins? Me too! Recently, I put together the sweetest little afternoon tea—think dainty finger sandwiches, mini desserts, irresistible scones, and more. As I was bringing it all together, I knew I wanted to include a few handmade decor elements to give it that extra-special touch.

First up, I made a tiered serving tray using thrifted plates and teacups. It turned out so charming. However, I wanted one more handmade element, so I decided to embellish some napkins. And just like that, these Rick Rack Napkins were born! This project is super simple and only requires a basic understanding of how to use a sewing machine. With that being said, you could stitch them by hand if you’re feeling extra crafty.

I had found the most amazing vintage tablecloth, so I made napkins to match—pink with red rick rack, and blue with green rick rack to create a lovely combo. Little touches like these make your table feel thoughtful and your guests feel appreciated. It’s all in the details.

This fun and relatively easy project can work for any occasion or celebration. Just pick colors that match your decor, holiday, or event. There are even all sorts of other trims out there if you’re not into rick rack. No matter how you stitch it, this is a cheerful way to add charm and whimsy to your next get-together.

Why You’ll Love This Project

• Adding rick rack to plain napkins might seem like a small detail, but it instantly elevates your table setting. It’s one of those projects that looks like it took a lot of time and effort, even though it’s actually very doable with just a few materials.
• You can tailor the colors and trim to fit any celebration or holiday. Go bold and bright for summer, classic red and green for Christmas, or keep it soft and sweet. There’s plenty of room to play here, so it’s easy to match your personal style or the vibe of your event.
• There’s something really lovely and thoughtful about incorporating a little DIY into your gatherings. Guests notice these details, and the details make the moment feel more personal and warm. They can also be a conversation starter! 

Love adding quirky touches to your home decor?  Me too! If you want to gather some more ideas, check out this post about why I recommend a bit of quirky home decor and how to do it! 

Materials

Let’s get into the materials list for these charming napkins. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cloth napkins – Start with solid-colored cloth napkins for the best contrast and visual impact—cotton or linen works great for this project.
• Rick rack trim – Choose a rick rack that coordinates or contrasts with your napkin color. Many widths and colors are available, so you can make it your own.
• Thread – Pick a thread color that matches your rick rack to keep the stitching subtle and polished.
• Scissors –You’ll need a sharp pair to trim the rick rack and snip the thread as you go.
• Pins – Use straight pins to hold the rick rack in place on the napkin while you sew. It helps keep everything aligned, especially around the corners.
• Sewing machine – a sewing machine makes the stitching go quickly and gives you a clean, even finish. If you don’t have one, hand-stitching works too—it will just take a little more time.

How To Make

Okay, ready to sew up these Rick Rack Napkins? Let’s do it!  I’ll still take you through the steps below. I’ve also listed the materials needed and detailed instructions in the printable instructions card below. 

1. Start by selecting cloth napkins in a solid color. Then, pick a rick rack that either coordinates or contrasts for a fun pop. You’ll want enough trim to go around the entire napkin—one long piece per napkin works perfectly.
2. Lay one napkin flat and begin pinning the rick rack along the edge. You can place it right over the existing stitching that finishes off the napkin’s border. This gives it a clean, polished look and makes it easy to follow a straight path while sewing.

3. When you reach a corner, don’t cut the trim—just gently fold it to create a soft curve around the bend. It doesn’t need to be perfect; the wave of the rick rack naturally lends itself to this kind of detail.
4. Using your sewing machine, stitch the rick rack down the center, all the way around the napkin. Try to keep your stitches as straight and even as possible. If you don’t have a machine, you can do this by hand using a small, neat running stitch.
5. Once you’ve sewn all the way around, trim away any excess rick rack and tuck the end slightly under where you started to keep the finish clean. Give the napkin a quick press with an iron if needed, and you’re finished!

And that’s it! Aren’t they perfect!? I’m in love. 

It’s amazing how something as simple as a stitched-on trim can change the whole look and feel of your table setting.

Variations

Do you love this project and want to try other variations? I know, me too! Here are some additional ideas to explore: 

• Try different types of trim.
  While rick rack is playful and easy to work with, you’re not limited to it. Pom pom trim, lace, bias tape, or even small ruffled edging can add a completely different feel. Just be sure your chosen trim is washable and flexible enough to curve with the napkin edge.
• Use patterned napkins with solid trim.
  If you love prints, reverse the look—start with patterned napkins and use a solid-color rick rack to frame the design. This creates a fun contrast and gives you more room to play with color and personality.
• Make coordinating cocktail napkins.
  Use the same technique on smaller square napkins for drinks or appetizers. They’re quick to make and would be a fun addition to a themed party or gift set.
• Play with placement.
  Instead of outlining the whole edge, try running a strip of rick rack just along one side, or sew it diagonally across a corner. This gives a more modern or graphic look while still keeping things easy.
• Add an embroidered monogram or motif.
  If you want to go the extra mile, add a small hand-stitched or machine-embroidered initial, flower, or seasonal icon to one corner of each napkin. It’s a thoughtful detail that makes the napkins feel even more special and personalized.

More Handmade Decor Ideas You’ll Love

• Horse Drink Stirrers
• Decorative Taper Candles
• Dried Flower Napkin Rings
• Ironstone Flowering Bulb Planter
• Homemade Fire Starters

I hope this project inspires you to pull out your sewing machine (or needle and thread!) to give your table a fresh little update with some Rick Rack Napkins! Handmade details like these always go a long way in making things feel thoughtful and memorable—even if you’re just setting the table for a quiet dinner at home for yourself.

If you try this project, I’d love to hear how yours turns out and what colors you used. Please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

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DIY Rick Rack Napkins

Add a touch of vintage charm to your table with this easy and adorable rick rack napkin tutorial. These embellished napkins bring a pop of color and personality to any place setting. Mix and match napkin and trim combinations to suit your celebration, season, or style. It’s a whimsical handmade detail that’s simple to create and lovely to display.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Home Decor Craft

Cuisine: American

Keyword: home decor, napkins

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Ingredients

• Cloth napkins solid colors work best for a bold contrast
• Rick rack trim choose a color that complements your napkins or suits your theme
• Thread matching the rick rack
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine or a needle and thread for hand-sewing

Instructions

• Start by selecting cloth napkins in a solid color. Then, pick a rick rack that either coordinates or contrasts for a fun pop. You’ll want enough trim to go around the entire napkin—one long piece per napkin works perfectly.
• Lay one napkin flat and begin pinning the rick rack along the edge. You can place it right over the existing stitching that finishes off the napkin’s border. This gives it a clean, polished look and makes it easy to follow a straight path while sewing.
• When you reach a corner, don’t cut the trim—just gently fold it to create a soft curve around the bend. It doesn’t need to be perfect; the wave of the rick rack naturally lends itself to this kind of detail.
• Using your sewing machine, stitch the rick rack down the center, all the way around the napkin. Try to keep your stitches as straight and even as possible. If you don’t have a machine, you can do this by hand using a small, neat running stitch.
• Once you’ve sewn all the way around, trim away any excess rick rack and tuck the end slightly under where you started to keep the finish clean. Give the napkin a quick press with an iron if needed, and you’re finished!