The tablecloth and napkins

A kitchen set includes a tablecloth and several small napkins (small towels); their colours and decoration should match. Napkins are decorated with appliqué or embroidery too. For an embroidered napkin, white or light linen is used, a flower (for example an iris) is copied onto one corner and the fabric is stretched in a hoop; the petals are sewn in raised satin stitch in two or three colours, changing colour from the edge towards the centre, and the leaves and stem in green. Counted stitch is done on canvas: canvas is a special open fabric whose squares are clearly visible. A piece of canvas is laid on the small towel, its edges are overcast, the floss is used double and the stitches are made by counting the squares of the pattern chart. When finished, the extra canvas is cut away, the edge is folded and tacked, and the decoration is stitched onto the towel first by hand and then by machine; the finished work is ironed from the back. Counting example: six napkins with 4 edges each give 6 × 4 = 24 edges. Safety: use a blunt-tipped needle for canvas; always keep the needle in a pincushion; repeat the machine and iron rules (lessons 48 and 56); sew delicate embroidery in good light, sitting upright, to avoid eye strain; pass scissors closed. Tell the teacher if you are allergic to terry-towel dust.