The napkin project is progressing nicely. I’ve ripped the seams along that crocheted ribbon, cut each napkin in four pieces, hemmed them all, and started embroidering.

The embroidery is a bit of an inside joke inspired by the name of the street we live in. I went with a very informal style, free-hand sketching each large star (so they all ended up slightly different and slightly wonky) and then improvising the smaller ones as I sewed. Each napkin will be different, so to reinforce that individuality I’m embroidering each one in a different colour.

Due to my Soviet childhood, I have a somewhat complicated relationship with five-pointed stars. These ones are different enough from the Soviet stars to feel OK, though. The wonky shapes help. But the red one is definitely going to be a dark red and not a “Soviet” red.

(Eric and Adrian are away visiting friends for a few days. Ingrid is at home but sleeps past noon and then spends much of the day up in her room. So I have oodles of time for sewing right now.)