Dear Canada: A step back in time

Monogrammed Napkin

Embroidering initials on one's belongings was an attractive way to mark them as one's own. You can embroider a cloth napkin with a friend's initial. It can be tucked into a lunchbox or used at the table.

Materials:

• Loose-woven fabric scrap and scissors
  (or a ready-made cloth napkin)
• A pencil
• A large-eyed needle and embroidery floss
• An iron (with adult supervision)

Directions:

1. Cut a 40 cm square of fabric (or use a ready-made cloth napkin.) To fray the edges of the napkin, pull out the threads running parallel to the edge until the frayed edge is about 2 cm wide.
2. Use the pencil to draw a plain or fancy initial at one corner.
3. Choose a contrasting colour of embroidery floss and separate the six strands into threes. Thread three strands onto a needle, and knot one end.
4. Stem-stitch along the pencil lines. (See diagram below.) Knot on the back of the napkin whenever the thread runs out. Try to make small, even stitches. Check the back of your work regularly to make sure that the thread is being pulled through completely.
5. With adult supervision, press your work with an iron when you're done.

Pioneer Christmas Crafts, text © 1999 by Heather Patterson and Joanna Rice. Photographs by Wally Randall and illustrations by Susan Gardos are copyright © 1999 by Scholastic Canada Ltd.