I’ve been stitching napkins. Mostly because the linen/cotton napkins that I bought ten years ago have gotten unpleasantly stiff and non-absorbent. So I bought some linen thread and two yards of checked linen from Burnley and Trowbridge …
in order to have enough to make 8 napkins (with thanks to Mo for the idea to to use red thread, and to Hazel for the cross stitches and to Dana, whose table settings are aspirational) …
They washed up and air-dried beautifully. Which is important as I’m not a fan of dryers and definitely not one for taking the time to iron napkins since we use them at every meal.
And speaking of meals, here are two that I wanted to document for future reference.
Pork Meatballs (4 servings)
- 1 lb ground pork
- Hoisin sauce
- Minced ginger (bottled)
- Garlic (just a touch)
- Wasabi (buy at sushi counter)
- Sesame oil
- Panko
- 1 egg
Combine all ingredients. Form into 24 small meatballs and place on parchment paper. Brush with a mixture of hoisin and peanut oil. Bake in an air fryer or hot convection oven for 10 minutes or so.
Serve on stir fried vegetables (mushrooms, cabbage, snow peas, carrots, celery, and scallions sauced with ginger, hoisin, sesame oil, garlic, and mirin) or Asian-style slaw (shredded cabbage, carrots and scallions dressed with peanut oil, rice wine vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, and agave).
Bahn Mi
- Leftover pork meatballs
- Bolillo rolls
- Mayo
- Chili sauce
- Shredded carrots
- Mini-cucumbers cut into matchsticks
- Lots of cilantro leaves
- Finely sliced poblano
Heat leftover meatballs just enough to warm them. Split rolls, remove some of the bread in the middle to form a hollow, spread lightly with mayo and toast on griddle until edges are light brown (putting a plate on top to weigh them down works well). Combine chili sauce and mayo to spread on toasted rolls. Top with meatballs, carrots, cukes, poblano and cilantro. Delicious with Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic beer (a recent and much appreciated find).
Sorry, no picture … we dug in too quickly to get a good shot. Maybe next time 😉
I'm Going to Texas (version 2.0) 
Your napkins are charming. I have a napkin story too, but for now I’m off to work…
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Drive safe 😊
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gosh, I don’t like to stitch with linen thread, kinda stiff. And you reminded me, it is time to dig up the madder, been 3 years already, eek…
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I agree that linen thread isn’t fun to stitch with, but these napkins will get a lot of laundering, so I wanted to have compatible thread in the hems …
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P.S. linen thread is also uneven in the way that linen cloth is … slubby, which isn’t great
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Remind me not to read your posts when I’m hungry. My those dishes sound mouthwatering!
Love the red X’s.
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Sorry, not sorry 😉 … the meatball recipe was morphed from a recent Smitten Kitchen Italian chicken meatball recipe … I’m sure these aren’t as “healthy” but dang, they do taste great if I dare say so myself
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I’m confused why only 2 Red cross stitches?? Thanks for another recipe .. sounds really good.
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I’ve always signed missives to dear ones with an xxoo, so I guess I could have added two thread beads for the oo part, but xx just seemed right
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They look great! I have been stitching linen tea towels and serviettes from bed linen that is past its best. Finding the less worn parts and cutting and fringing has been fun.
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Once I get a supply of reliable napkins stitched up, I want to try making some bojagi-inspired napkins with pieces of deconstructed linen clothing … wish I could say I have bed-linen that was stitchable, but I only have high thread-count cotton that is very needle-averse
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Your napkins are so cheery with their red kisses!
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I do love my Kindred Spirits and their positive influences
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Yay napkins and tablecloths!! I love the little kisses you are adding to your table.
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Your table linens and settings are so beyond my humble offerings … but so it is that we each bring what we can to the table
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and a belated tip of the hat to your ongoing inspiration has been added to the original post
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Aw, thanks Liz.
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I come here often and don’t comment.. but this pillow and table dressings has inspired me to add to my tiny van some tiny homey touches! And oh my.. my mammograms are never pleasant.. i don’t think I could endure a yearly!!
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as I’m working on a couple of overly large projects, I must admit that I’m wondering why … tiny is so appealing … have fun!
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LA – I can’t add any stitching stories but I can say I like using the ones F has made from dress scraps and more recently bed sheet linen. B
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well now, I must beg to differ as you did a fine stitching job on this recent bowl … http://rustnstuff.blogspot.com/2022/08/stitched-metal.html … and yes, I too admire F’s recent stitchings
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Hi Liz…I just saved those two recipes (thank you!). The blue and white fabric looks like an order I purchased from them about two years ago. Intended use for a half apron sewn by hand. It awaits me to work on.
Sue xoxo
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it’s been lovely to work with … highly recommend it as being very easy on the fingers
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