Accessorizing your table

These pretty napkins, designed and hand-painted by artist Dorotea Kemenczy of Mississauga, Ont., are perfect for summer picnics. And with a change of fabric and motifs, it's easy to make a set for any season.

Supplies
• 43 cm (17-inch) square of medium-weight plain-weave cotton, linen or tea toweling
• Lightweight checked, printed or plain fabric strip, 182 x 5 cm (72 x 2-inch), for border
• Dressmaker's chalk, pencil and ruler
• Colourfast fabric paints, artist's paintbrushes, block-printing stamps and/or stencils

Designer's tip: Choose smooth, densely woven cotton ticking for hand painting so water-based paints won't bleed.

Instructions (Makes 1 napkin)
Preshrink and press all fabrics. Paint, print and/or stencil desired design on 1 corner (1.5 to 4 cm/5/8 to 1-5/8 in inside cut edges) of right side of square. If necessary, set paint according to manufacturer's instructions. Measure and mark chalk line 1 cm (3/8 inch) in from edge on decorated side of square.

Press under 1 cm along 1 long edge and 1 short end of strip. With right side of strip to wrong side of square, edges even and beginning with pressed strip end, pin unpressed edge of strip around edge of square; overlap pressed end 1 cm and trim off excess. Stitch using 1 cm seam allowance. Fold pressed strip edge over chalk line on decorated side, mitring corners; edgestitch.

Classic tulip napkin fold
1. Diagonally fold lightly starched pressed napkin (approx 43 cm/17 in square) in half, then rotate it until folded edge is parallel to front edge of working surface.
2. Fold left-hand, then right-hand corner up to top point.
3. Fold left-hand, then right-hand edge over to align with vertical centre.
4. Pick up and fold to back, down vertical centre.
5. Holding folded napkin at bottom point, gently open and lay, folds up, on plate or at place setting; adjust centre fold to form symmetrical "tulip", if necessary.


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