Fall Napkin Rings
Greetings, friends! It’s Belinda from Blue Ribbon Designs, here with a brand-new project tutorial featuring a few of my favorite HeatnBond products. Today, I’m excited to share my “Fall Napkin Rings” with you.
Fall has arrived, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner—what better time to add a handmade touch to your dining table? These DIY napkin rings are an easy way to make your place settings shine! I’ve created four free templates (oak leaf, maple leaf, acorn, and pumpkin) so you can mix and match or stick with your favorite.
Whether you sew by machine or prefer hand stitching, the directions are beginner-friendly and perfect for using up fabric scraps and small pieces of wool felt. Want extra sparkle? I’ll show you how to add Sparkle Paste for a shimmering finish that will wow your guests!
Let’s get creative! Gather the materials listed below, then download the pattern with PDF templates. I’ll demonstrate how to make one maple leaf napkin ring, but the instructions work for all four templates.
What you need:
- HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets
- 1 sheet
- SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Fabric Spray by HeatnBond
- HeatnBond Pressing Paper Fabric and Craft Sheets
- 1 sheet
- Optional: HeatnBond Sparkle Paste by Jennifer Long Sew A Story in coordinating color(s)
- Cotton Fabric in autumn color (models use Autumn Leaves Fat Quarter Sampler from Connecting Threads)
- Pieces approximately 5” square (some smaller)
- Wool Felt in autumn colors (models use Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design)
- Pieces approximately 5 ½” square (some smaller)
- Goody Hair Elastics, XL 10907 (model uses brown)
- Basic Supplies/Tools (small sharp scissors, embroidery needle, marking pencil, coordinating sewing thread, iron, paintbrush, etc.)
How to Make a Fall Napkin Ring
(assorted sizes, largest approximately 5” square)
1. Download and Print the Fall Napkin Rings PDF
Fall Napkin Rings – A Project for the Therm O Web Blog
- Print actual size – do NOT “fit to page” or “shrink to fit.”
- Print Page 1 (cover) on regular printer paper.
- Print Page 2 (templates) on a HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheet (or trace shapes on HeatnBond Lite).
2. Prepare Appliqué Shapes
- Apply HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive to the back of cotton fabric(s):
- Print or trace the appliqué shapes (page 2 in the pattern PDF) on HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive.
- Loosely cut apart.
- Preheat iron to medium heat, no steam.
- Place the printed/traced template shapes on the wrong side of fabric(s) (printed paper, smooth side, should be face up).
- Press iron on the paper for 2–3 seconds.
- Allow to cool.
- Cut or trim the shapes on the printed/traced lines. Leave paper in place until ready to fuse.
3. Prepare Wool Base
- Cut two coordinating pieces of wool felt at least ¼” larger on all sides than the appliqué shape.
(For the maple leaf example, cut wool felt pieces 5 ¼” square.)
4. Apply the Appliqué Shape
- Center and fuse the appliqué shape on one wool felt square:
- Preheat iron to medium heat, no steam.
- Remove paper backing from the template shape.
- Place the template shape, adhesive side down, on one square of wool felt.
- Press and hold iron for 6 seconds on each section until bonded.
- Draw leaf veins with a marking pencil (or pumpkin grooves/acorn cap diamonds for other templates).
- Stitch over the drawn lines by hand or machine using coordinating thread (models use a darker shade of thread).
5. Finish the Napkin Ring
- Spray the second piece of wool felt with SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Spray and apply it to the back of the first piece:
- Place second wool felt square on a protected surface. (Tip: Use HeatnBond Pressing Paper inside a box lid to shield your workspace.)
- Shake SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Spray well.
- Hold can upright, about 12″ from felt surface.
- Apply adhesive in a sweeping motion, ensuring even coverage.
- Sew around the entire perimeter of the appliqué shape to join both felt pieces. (Models used a straight stitch ⅛” in from the outside edge.)
- Trim around the appliqué shape, leaving about ⅛” of wool showing.
- Attach a hair elastic to the back center with a needle and coordinating thread (only through the back layer of wool felt, so stitches don’t show on the front).
6. Optional: Add Sparkle
- Apply HeatnBond Sparkle Paste for shimmer:
- Protect work surface with HeatnBond Pressing Paper.
- Apply Sparkle Paste with a small paintbrush. Wash tools immediately.
- Let dry 1 hour.
- Preheat dry iron to cotton setting, no steam. Cover design with HeatnBond Pressing Paper and press for 60 seconds.
- Let cure for 24 hours. Glitter finish will be permanent, machine washable, and won’t flake off.
I hope this project inspires you to add a little handmade charm to your fall table! These napkin rings are quick, fun, and a wonderful way to use up scraps while creating something truly special. Don’t be afraid to mix colors, play with textures, and add that extra sparkle for a festive touch. I can’t wait to see how you make these designs your own—so gather your supplies, download the templates, and start stitching today.
If you’d like to explore more of my creative work, be sure to visit my blog, website, or Instagram. I’d love to connect and cheer you on—so don’t forget to tag me in your creations. Happy crafting!
Greetings! - I'm Belinda from Blue Ribbon Designs. I am a needlework and sewing/quilting designer from Spring Hill, KS. I specialize in original counted thread cross stitch designs, quilting and sewing patterns, specialty hand finishing of needlework smalls, custom sewing/quilting, and teaching handwork/sewing techniques.
Etsy Shop: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com
Blog: https://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com