Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins: Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins: Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass

ByDRAWings Embroidery Software Reading Time: 21 minutes
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“Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins” is truly an inspiring embroidery software masterclass that transforms ordinary table settings into something special. Among the many techniques available, scalloped edges stand out for their timeless elegance and vintage charm. In this comprehensive tutorial, I’ll walk you through creating beautiful scalloped edge napkins using DRAWings PRO embroidery software, – a technique that transforms ordinary table linens into conversation pieces worthy of your most cherished gatherings.

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Introduction: Why Scalloped Edges Napkins?

Scalloped edges have adorned fine linens for generations, adding a touch of sophistication to any table setting. This decorative finishing technique creates a gentle curved edge that’s both visually appealing and surprisingly practical – the satin stitch border not only beautifies but reinforces the fabric edge, extending the life of your napkins.

What makes this project particularly rewarding is how it combines digital precision with traditional aesthetics. Using our DRAWings PRO software, you’ll discover how to create perfectly symmetrical scallops that would be nearly impossible to achieve with manual techniques alone. The software’s powerful node editing capabilities allow for customization that meets your exact specifications – whether you prefer shallow, gentle scallops or deeper, more dramatic curves.

Setting Up Your Workspace for Precision

Enabling the Grid System

When working on detailed designs like scalloped edges, proper workspace setup is crucial. DRAWings PRO offers several features to ensure precision, with the grid system being particularly valuable for this project.

To begin, open DRAWings PRO and navigate to the View menu. Enable the Grid feature by selecting it from the dropdown menu. This action overlays a precise measurement grid across your workspace, creating a foundation for accurate design placement. The grid serves as our virtual ruler, ensuring that all elements are perfectly aligned and symmetrical – critical for professional-looking scalloped edges.

Benefits of Grid-Based Design

Working with the grid activated provides several advantages for this project:

  • It ensures both sides of your scalloped corner will be identical in length
  • It helps maintain consistent spacing between scallops
  • It guarantees perfect 90-degree corners where needed
  • It facilitates precise measurement for napkin placement later in the embroidery process

With our workspace properly configured, we’re ready to create the foundation of our design.

Designing the Perfect Napkin Corner

Creating the Foundation Lines

The first step in creating our scalloped edge is to establish the basic corner shape that will serve as the foundation for our design. This corner represents the actual edge of the napkin that we’ll be transforming.

Start by selecting the Outline Shape tool from your toolbar. This versatile tool allows us to create the precise lines needed for our napkin edge. To ensure perfect alignment with our grid:

Hold down both the Alt and Shift keys while moving your cursor. This key combination enables “snap to grid” functionality, forcing the cursor to connect precisely to the nearest grid point. This technique eliminates guesswork and ensures that our lines will be perfectly straight and positioned exactly where we want them.

Setting Precise Measurements

Move your cursor horizontally along the X-axis for approximately 13cm. This measurement creates a sufficiently large area for our scalloped edge while remaining practical for most standard embroidery hoops. Once you’ve reached the desired length, click to place a cusp node at the corner point.

Now, continuing to hold the Alt and Shift keys, move your cursor 13cm upward along the Y-axis and click again. This creates a perfect right angle that represents the corner of our napkin. The precision of this foundation is essential because every subsequent element of our design will build upon it.

Creating the Auto-Border

With our corner outline complete, we’ll create the framework for our scalloped edge. Select the line you’ve just created, right-click, and choose “Create Auto-border” from the context menu. In the dialog box that appears, check the “To the Outside” option. This setting ensures that our scalloped edge will extend outward from the napkin rather than cutting into the fabric.

Set the distance to 12mm – this measurement determines how far the scalloped edge will extend from the original napkin edge. Make sure the stitch type is set to “Running” and click OK. This running stitch line will serve as the foundation that we’ll transform into our beautiful scalloped edge in the next steps.

Crafting the Scalloped Edge

Working with Nodes

Now comes the truly creative part – transforming our straight lines into elegant scallops. This process utilizes the powerful node editing capabilities of DRAWings PRO, allowing for precise control over the curve of each scallop.

Begin by activating the Node Editor tool. With this tool selected, hold down the Shift key and select both the upper node and the corner node of our auto-border line. The Shift key allows us to select multiple nodes simultaneously, streamlining our workflow.

With these nodes selected, press the Num+ key on your keyboard. This action adds a midpoint node to each line segment, dividing them into equal parts. We’ll continue this process by pressing the Num+ key two more times, creating evenly spaced nodes along each segment. These nodes will form the framework for our scalloped edge, with each node representing either a peak or a valley in our scalloped design.

Enhancing the Aesthetic Balance

For a more aesthetically pleasing result, delete the two nodes positioned immediately before and after the corner. This strategic removal ensures that the central curve will be larger than the others, creating a more elegant and balanced design. This variation in scallop size is a hallmark of professional-quality embroidery work.

Now, select each of the newly created nodes one by one while holding the Control key. After selecting each node, right-click and convert them to Cusp nodes. This conversion is crucial because Cusp nodes allow for independent control of the curves on either side of the node, giving us greater design flexibility.

Creating Smooth Transitions

Next, select the Smooth nodes on one side of your design while continuing to hold the Control key. Right-click and convert these to Auto Smooth nodes. This conversion helps create flowing transitions between our scallops for a more refined appearance.

With our node types properly configured, we can begin shaping our scallops. Move the nodes vertically using either the arrow keys on your keyboard or by holding the Alt key and dragging them. Position each node so that it meets the original napkin edge line. This careful positioning ensures that our scallops will connect seamlessly with the napkin fabric.

Repeat this same process for the other side of the corner, selecting the smooth nodes, converting them to Auto Smooth, and adjusting their positions to touch the napkin edge. For the corner itself, convert the Cusp corner line to Auto Smooth as well. You’ll notice that the curve is created automatically, demonstrating the power of DRAWings PRO’s intelligent node handling.

Perfecting the Edge Connections

For the smoothest possible transition, carefully adjust the end nodes of the scallop design so they connect seamlessly with the napkin’s edge. This adjustment creates a continuous curve that will look natural and professionally finished once embroidered.

Creating a Professional Satin Stitch Finish

Setting Up the Satin Border

A beautifully finished scalloped edge requires a satin stitch border that not only looks elegant but also protects the raw edge of the fabric from fraying. In this section, we’ll create that finishing touch.

Begin by duplicating the scalloped line we’ve just created. This duplication preserves our original design while giving us a separate element to work with for the satin border. With the duplicated line selected, access the Properties panel and set the Type to “Satin Serial.” This stitch type creates a dense, smooth finish perfect for borders and outlines.

Set the Width to 3mm, which provides enough coverage to securely enclose the fabric edge while maintaining a delicate appearance appropriate for napkins. Right-click on the outline and select “Convert to Object,” then set the fill type to “Satin.” This conversion gives us additional control over the stitch properties.

Adding Artistic Variations

To add a refined touch to our satin border, we’ll vary its thickness slightly throughout the design. Start the Node Editor and adjust the middle node of each curve to create subtle variation in the border width. This adjustment makes the center slightly thicker than the edges, adding visual interest and a more handcrafted appearance to our design.

For a professional finish, carefully adjust the endpoints so the satin stitching fades out smoothly rather than ending abruptly. This tapering effect creates a more organic transition at the connection points. Repeat this same careful adjustment for both ends of the satin border.

Adding Decorative Motifs

Selecting the Perfect Corner Design

While scalloped edges alone create a beautiful finish, adding a decorative corner motif elevates the design to truly special status. DRAWings PRO includes a rich library of ready-to-use motifs that perfectly complement our scalloped edges.

From the Tools bar, select “Insert Clipart” to open the Clipart Library dialog box. In the search field, type “corner” to find decorative corner motifs specifically designed for this type of project. For this tutorial, we’ll use the “corners 11” clipart, but feel free to explore other options that match your personal style or the theme of your gathering.

Positioning and Formatting

Select your chosen motif and click Insert. Position the motif by clicking and dragging diagonally while holding the Shift key to maintain perfect proportions. Place it precisely at the corner of your design for a balanced composition.

With the motif properly positioned, we can now disable the grid view to get a clearer view of our design. Press Ctrl+Shift+G to toggle off the grid, revealing a clean workspace that makes it easier to visualize the final result.

Creating a Handcrafted Look

Select the motif and right-click to convert it to RedWork. This conversion prepares the design for our next step. Change the stitch style to Bean Cap stitch to achieve a handmade, traditional look that complements the elegance of the scalloped edge. This stitch type adds texture and visual interest to the motif while maintaining a cohesive look with the satin border.

Finalizing the Design Sequence

Optimizing Stitch Order

Proper stitching sequence is crucial for successful embroidery, especially for designs like this where certain elements must be completed before others. Let’s switch to Manual mode to double-check and adjust our sequence as needed.

Move the Satin line in the sequence so it comes before the decorative motif. The ideal sequence for our design is:

  1. Corner outline (placement line)
  2. Cutting line (scalloped edge)
  3. Satin scalloped finishing
  4. Decorative motif

This sequence ensures that each element is embroidered at the optimal time for the best results. For instance, the cutting line must be stitched before the satin border so we can trim the fabric precisely before finishing the edge.

Using Color Changes Strategically

To make the embroidery process more manageable, change the color of the cutting scallop line. This color change serves as a practical signal for your embroidery machine to pause, giving you time to remove the hoop, trim the fabric, and reposition everything before continuing with the satin border. This small but crucial step helps achieve clean, professional results.

Since we’re creating a monochromatic design for elegant simplicity, set the same color for both the satin border and the decorative motif. This color coordination creates a unified, sophisticated appearance.

Fine-Tuning the Final Details

Before finalizing the design, let’s make a couple of important adjustments to ensure perfect results. Select the cutting line and add a node at the beginning. Create a small corner to secure this point, which will prevent any gaps or misalignments in the final embroidery.

Next, select the satin scalloped line and extend it slightly past the cutting line. This extension ensures complete coverage of the raw fabric edge for a seamless finish. Repeat this adjustment for both sides of the design.

Reviewing and Preparing for Production

Use the Slow Redraw feature to preview how your design will stitch out, confirming that everything is in the correct order and properly positioned. Select an appropriate hoop size for your project based on the dimensions of your design.

Before proceeding to the embroidery phase, go to the Print menu, select “Design Only,” and save a printout of your design. This printout will be an invaluable reference during the preparation and embroidery process.

Preparing for Embroidery

Gathering Your Materials

Successful embroidery projects begin with thorough preparation. For this scalloped napkin project, you’ll need:

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins: Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass
  • An embroidery hoop appropriate for your design size
  • A plain cloth napkin
  • Stabilizer (water-soluble recommended)
  • The printed design template
  • Thread in your chosen color(s)

Preparing the Napkin Edge

Before beginning the embroidery process, we need to prepare the napkin corner. For the cleanest possible finish, use the printout of your design to mark the exact points where the stitches will meet the scalloped edge on each side of the napkin. At these marked points, carefully rip the existing seam of the napkin using a seam ripper.

When removing the existing hem, leave about 3 centimeters of thread uncut. This remaining thread will be used to tie a small knot that secures the original stitches and prevents them from unraveling further. This careful preparation ensures that your new scalloped edge will integrate seamlessly with the existing napkin.

Selecting Thread and Stabilizer

Since the embroidery will be visible from both sides of the napkin, use the same thread for your bobbin as you use for the top thread. This matching creates a crisp, professional appearance from every angle – an important consideration for table linens that are often viewed and handled from all sides.

Prepare your embroidery hoop by securing a piece of stabilizer. For this project, tear-away stabilizer can work, but water-soluble stabilizer is ideal as it completely disappears after washing, leaving only your beautiful embroidery without any stiffness. The choice of stabilizer significantly impacts both the embroidery process and the feel of the finished napkin.

The Embroidery Process

Initial Placement

With our design created and preparations complete, we’re ready to bring our scalloped napkin to life. Load your design into your embroidery machine and attach the hooped stabilizer.

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass 20

Begin the embroidery process with the placement stitch, which creates an outline showing exactly where the napkin corner should be positioned. This guide ensures perfect alignment of your fabric with the design.

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass 21

Apply a light coat of adhesive spray to the back of the napkin corner. This temporary adhesive helps keep the fabric in place during embroidery without leaving any residue. Carefully position the napkin corner inside the placement lines, aligning it precisely with the stitched guide.

Cutting the Scalloped Edge

Once positioned correctly, your machine will stitch the cutting line that defines the scalloped edge. This line serves as your guide for trimming the excess fabric. When this stitching is complete, remove the hoop from your machine.

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass 23

Carefully cut along the scalloped line, staying as close to the stitching as possible without cutting the threads. Precision at this stage is critical for achieving a clean satin border in the next step. Take your time and use sharp, fine scissors for the best results.

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass 24

Professional Tips for Perfect Results

Here’s a professional tip that makes a significant difference: Before returning the hoop to your machine, place a piece of water-soluble film on top of the design area. This additional layer helps smooth out any fraying edges and prevents them from poking through the satin stitching, resulting in a cleaner, more polished finish.

Return the hoop to your machine and continue with the satin stitch that will cover and secure the raw edges of your scalloped design. The machine will now create the beautiful satin border that gives your napkin its distinctive finished look.

Completing the Decorative Elements

Finally, your machine will embroider the decorative motif that adorns the corner of your design. This finishing touch adds personality and style to your creation, elevating it from simply functional to truly special.

Finishing Touches

Removing Stabilizer and Film

Once all embroidery is complete, remove the hoop from your machine and carefully take out the embroidered napkin. Gently remove the water-soluble film from the top of your design.

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins: Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass

Trim away any excess stabilizer from around the design, being careful not to cut too close to the stitches. If you used water-soluble stabilizer as recommended, rinse it away with room temperature water. Gently press out the excess water and allow the napkin to air dry or press it with a warm iron if your thread type permits.

Admiring Your Creation

The result is a beautifully embroidered napkin with elegant scalloped edges and a decorative motif – a custom creation that adds a personal touch to any table setting. The precision of the DRAWings PRO software combined with your creativity has transformed an ordinary napkin into an heirloom-quality piece.

Create Elegant Scalloped Edge Napkins: Inspiring Embroidery Software Masterclass

Customization Ideas

While our tutorial focused on creating a monochromatic design for classic elegance, don’t hesitate to experiment with different color combinations to match your decor or the season. For example, consider using lavender shades for a spring table setting, or rich burgundies and golds for holiday celebrations.

To make your napkins even more special, consider adding personalized elements. A festive message like “Happy Easter” or “Season’s Greetings” can make them perfect for holiday gatherings. Alternatively, embroidering monograms for each of your guests creates a thoughtful, personalized touch that can also serve as a take-home favor.

These customized napkins make your table setting truly unique and show your attention to detail. They’re perfect for special celebrations, seasonal gatherings, or simply elevating everyday meals with those you love.

Conclusion

Creating scalloped edge napkins with DRAWings PRO embroidery software combines the precision of digital design with the warmth of handcrafted elements. The result is beautiful, customized table linens that reflect your personal style and attention to detail.

The techniques you’ve learned in this tutorial – precise node editing, satin border creation, and decorative motif integration – can be applied to countless other projects beyond napkins. Consider using similar approaches for handkerchiefs, tablecloths, pillowcases, or garment embellishments.

We hope this comprehensive guide inspires you to explore the creative possibilities of your DRAWings PRO software. The combination of traditional embroidery techniques with modern digital precision opens up a world of design opportunities that can transform everyday items into personalized treasures.

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You can download the .DRAW file of the project and the image used, for free, from the link below:

It can open only with the XI and later versions of DRAWings embroidery software

We’d love to see your embroidered creations! Share your finished scalloped napkins with our community and don’t forget to follow us for more inspiration and tutorials that help you get the most from your embroidery software.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! The technique described in this tutorial can be adapted for napkins of any size. The key is to adjust the measurements proportionally while maintaining the same principles. For smaller cocktail napkins, you might reduce the corner length from 13cm to perhaps 8-10cm, and decrease the scallop depth from 12mm to 8-9mm for a more delicate appearance.

When working with larger dinner napkins or even tablecloths, you can either maintain the same scallop size for a more subtle effect on the larger piece, or scale up the scallops proportionally. The beauty of using DRAWings PRO is that you can easily experiment with different dimensions before committing to the final design, allowing you to preview how your scallops will look on various fabric sizes.

Medium-weight woven fabrics like cotton, linen, and cotton-linen blends work exceptionally well for this technique. These fabrics provide enough structure to hold the scalloped edge shape while being soft enough to drape naturally on your table. The tight weave also supports the dense satin stitching without puckering or distorting.

While you can attempt this technique on lighter fabrics like fine cotton lawn or even silk, you’ll need to use a heavier stabilizer and possibly adjust the satin stitch density. For heavier fabrics like canvas or denim, you may need to increase the satin stitch width to adequately cover the thicker raw edge. Always test your design on scrap fabric of the same type as your napkins before embroidering your final pieces – this allows you to make any necessary adjustments to achieve the best results for your specific fabric.

Puckering is typically caused by either insufficient stabilization or excessive stitch density. To prevent this issue, first ensure you’re using the right type and weight of stabilizer for your fabric – for medium-weight napkins, a medium-weight water-soluble stabilizer is usually ideal. The water-soluble film placed on top of the design before satin stitching also helps significantly by holding the fabric fibers in place.

Beyond stabilization, check your satin stitch density in the software before stitching. For napkin edges, a slightly lower density than you might use for patches or appliqué often works better, allowing the fabric to remain soft and drape naturally. Another technique is to ensure your hooping tension is even and firm without stretching the fabric. Finally, maintain consistent, moderate thread tension on your machine – too tight, and the fabric will pucker inward; too loose, and the satin stitches may not adequately cover the raw edge.

Definitely! While our tutorial focuses on a classic corner motif for elegant simplicity, DRAWings PRO offers endless opportunities for additional embellishments. Consider adding small floral elements or geometric designs along the scalloped edge itself, positioned between scallops for visual interest. You could also incorporate small decorative elements at each corner of the napkin for a cohesive design approach.

Another beautiful option is to add delicate running stitch borders parallel to the original napkin edges, creating a framed effect that draws the eye to your scalloped corners. For special occasions, you might even add tiny seasonal motifs – like small leaves for autumn, holly for winter holidays, or butterflies for spring gatherings. Just remember to keep additional elements proportionate to your scallop size and consistent with your overall design aesthetic for a professional, harmonious result.

Creating perfectly symmetrical scallops on all four corners requires some planning but is straightforward with DRAWings PRO. After perfecting your first corner design, save it as a separate file. Then, use this same file as the foundation for each corner, simply rotating the design 90 degrees for each subsequent corner. This approach ensures identical scallop depth, curve, and overall appearance.

When embroidering, mark the centers of each napkin side to help with accurate placement. If your embroidery machine allows it, you might consider using positioning stickers or the machine’s positioning features to ensure each corner aligns perfectly. For the most professional results, embroider similar elements of each corner consecutively – for example, stitch all placement lines first, then all cutting lines, followed by all satin borders, and finally all decorative motifs. This method helps maintain consistent tension and appearance across all corners.

For napkins that will be frequently used and washed, 40-weight polyester embroidery thread is often the ideal choice for the satin stitch border. It offers excellent durability, colorfastness, and a beautiful sheen that enhances the elegant appearance of the scalloped edge. The slightly heavier weight also provides good coverage of the raw edge while maintaining a smooth finish.

For special occasion napkins that will receive gentler use, you might consider 40-weight rayon thread, which offers an even more luxurious sheen than polyester. For a more traditional, matte finish that complements rustic or vintage-style napkins, 40-weight cotton thread creates a lovely effect, though it may show wear somewhat faster than synthetic options. Regardless of the thread type you choose, be sure to use the same thread in both top and bobbin for the most professional appearance, as napkin edges are visible from both sides during use.

For napkins with existing hemmed edges, you have two primary approaches. The first is to work with the existing hem by creating a scalloped decorative stitch that follows the hem’s outer edge, essentially embellishing rather than replacing it. In this case, skip the cutting step entirely and adjust your design to follow the straight hemline.

The second approach is to carefully remove the existing hem as described in our tutorial, but only in the corner areas where you’ll be applying the scalloped design. For this method, create your scallop design so that the ends align perfectly with the points where the original hem begins again. This creates a beautiful hybrid effect with scalloped corners and straight-hemmed sides. Make sure to secure the ends of the original hem with small knots before beginning your embroidery to prevent unraveling. This adaptation actually reduces your work, as you’ll only need to embroider the corners rather than the entire napkin edge.

While water-soluble stabilizer is ideal for this project, you can achieve excellent results with other stabilizer types. Medium-weight tear-away stabilizer is a good alternative – after embroidery, carefully tear away the excess from the back of your work, using tweezers to remove any small pieces caught in the stitches. For extra security, consider using two layers of tear-away to provide adequate support during stitching.


Another option is cut-away stabilizer, which provides excellent stability but remains permanently in place. If using cut-away, choose a lightweight version and trim it very close to the stitching line after completion. This option works well for napkins made from stretchy or very lightweight fabrics that need extra support. Regardless of which alternative stabilizer you choose, the water-soluble topping film remains essential for preventing the fabric fibers from poking through the satin stitches – if you don’t have water-soluble film, lightweight tear-away stabilizer can substitute as a topping, though it may be slightly more difficult to remove completely.

Yes, creating varied scallop sizes adds visual interest and sophistication to your design. In DRAWings PRO, you can achieve this by positioning your nodes at different distances when creating your scalloped line. For example, you might alternate between larger and smaller scallops, or create a graduated effect where scallops become progressively larger toward the corner.


For more advanced designs, consider creating a double or triple row of scallops, with each row featuring different sizes. This creates a layered, intricate look reminiscent of vintage linens. To implement this, simply create multiple auto-border lines at different distances from your original napkin edge, and shape each into scallops following the same node editing techniques. When embroidering multiple scallop rows, work from the innermost row outward, cutting the fabric only after the final placement line is stitched. This approach requires more time but creates truly distinctive, heirloom-quality napkins that showcase your design skills and the capabilities of your embroidery software.

If your satin stitches aren’t providing complete coverage, several adjustments can help resolve this issue. First, check that your satin stitch width is appropriate for your fabric – thicker fabrics generally require wider satin stitches (perhaps 3.5-4mm instead of 3mm). Also verify that you’ve extended the satin stitch line slightly beyond the cutting line as described in the tutorial, which ensures complete coverage of the edge.


Another common issue is insufficient underlay stitching. In DRAWings PRO, access the satin stitch properties and ensure that an appropriate underlay (like edge run or zigzag) is activated, which helps support and cover the raw edge before the final satin stitches are applied. Finally, consider adjusting your cutting technique – leaving a very small margin (approximately 1mm) between your cutting line and where you actually cut the fabric provides the satin stitches with just enough fabric to encapsulate without leaving a visible raw edge. For persistent coverage issues, try using matching thread color for both your cutting line and satin stitches, which helps camouflage any tiny areas where the fabric edge might be visible.

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