The joy of the holiday season is nearly inescapable as is the sewer's and crafter's urge to make those holidays hand-made merry and bright. For your holiday table, sew (or no sew) to make your own holiday napkins and table runners.

Festive holiday print fabric is decidedly easy to turn into holiday napkins and table runners by sewing a few straight seams. No need for all fabric to match as a variety of coordinating holiday fabric scraps pieced together can look just as merry.

To make four napkins use 1 yard of 45-inch-wide fabric. Cut the fabric approximately 16 inches square for a small size or 18 inches square for larger size napkins. Iron a 1/4-inch fold around all edges of the napkins, then fold again 1/4-inch and stitch a straight or decorative stitch close to the edge. If sewing time is at a premium and a casual look is sought, simply cut out the napkins using pinking shears so the edges do not ravel. This easy to make no-sew napkin looks stylish when folded by holding the center, let the points fall into folds, grasp around the middle and secure with a ribbon or napkin ring. Tuck a candy cane or pine spring into the folds for a holiday look.

Plain fabric napkins already on hand can be dressed up by fusing on a red or gold edged ribbon to the edges. A no-sew fusible web tape in a narrow width makes it easy and fast to fuse on a ribbon edge.

For a simple time-saving no-sew solution to the plain napkin dilemma, just fold and tie with bright color ribbon a plain napkin or tie on a holiday print ribbon. Add a pine cone, pine sprig, or ornament for a décor touch.

To make one rectangular table runner, use 1 yard (or more if your table is longer) of 45 inch-wide fabric. Cut the fabric in half length-wise. You will have two equal pieces. Place right sides together and stitch all around in a 1/4-inch seam leaving a small opening to turn on one short end. Clip the seam allowance from corners diagonally (do not clip into stitches) to reduce the bulk of fabric when turning and to allow for crisp corners. Turn, press and hand-stitch the opening closed.

For a table runner that incorporates an easy decorative self-border, begin by using the half length of fabric, however, cut the second fabric piece 5-inches or 6-inches narrower lengthwise than the first. Right sides together sew the two long edges together on each side using a 1/4-inch inch seam, turn right-sides out, adjust so a neat border is evenly visible on each long side, press. The larger piece, if a complementary or solid color will show nicely at the long edges on the top-side. Finish the short edges by turning under and stitch closed for a straight edge or to make a traditional triangle point fold then stitch each short edge evenly toward the center short edges using a 1/4-inch seam, press to neaten the now pointed end.

Sew happy, sew inspired.